IELTS Speaking, parties 2 et 3 : Describe a music event that you didn't enjoy

Nowadays people enjoy a lot of different music events. Popular choices are outdoor festivals, small club gigs and stadium concerts for big acts. Some people still go to classical concerts or jazz nights. There’s also a lot of online streamed shows that people watch from home.

Today audiences go to a broad mix of events: huge multi-day festivals, intimate acoustic gigs in small venues, and themed club nights with DJs. There’s also a growth in hybrid events — live shows that are streamed to online viewers — and immersive concerts that combine visuals and lighting to create an experience rather than just music. People pick events depending on budget, social plans and the kind of atmosphere they want.

Yes, I think children should learn some music. It helps them with rhythm and listening and can be fun. Lessons like singing or recorder in school give them confidence and teamwork skills. Even a little music education is better than none.

Absolutely — basic musical education offers clear benefits beyond just learning songs. It can boost language development, concentration and memory, as well as social skills through ensemble work; for instance, singing in a school choir teaches children to listen to others and keep in time. Even short, regular lessons in primary school—learning rhythm, simple instruments or notation—can spark a lifelong interest and open up opportunities later on.

Young people usually prefer pop, hip-hop or electronic dance music, while older people often like classical, jazz or music from their youth. But tastes overlap — many older people enjoy modern artists and young people sometimes like old classics. Personal taste and experience matter a lot.

Differences often come from life stage and exposure: young people tend to favour contemporary genres like pop, hip‑hop and EDM, which are promoted heavily on social media and streaming platforms, while older generations often prefer the music that defined their youth — be that rock, soul or classical. Nostalgia plays a big part for older listeners, whereas younger audiences chase novelty and trends. That said, tastes are fluid: some older people adopt new styles and younger listeners explore older music, especially as playlists make everything accessible.

In my country there are big summer festivals, city concerts, classical orchestra seasons and small gigs in pubs or clubs. You can also find charity concerts and school performances. Many towns hold open-air music events in the summer.

There’s quite a wide range: large outdoor music festivals in the summer attract international acts, while urban centres host regular theatre and concert-hall seasons for classical and contemporary music. Smaller venues offer weekly live gigs and jazz nights, and community choirs or amateur orchestras run concerts throughout the year. We also see multicultural festivals that showcase music from different communities, and charity benefit concerts are common, especially around major holidays.

People like music while exercising because it motivates them, makes exercise less boring and helps keep a steady pace. Fast tracks can make you move quicker and singing along can distract you from tiredness.

Many people use music as a psychological tool during exercise: it can lift mood, increase motivation and mask discomfort, which helps you push harder. Tempo matters too — runners or cyclists often choose tracks with a matching beats-per-minute to keep cadence steady. Playlists tailored to different workout phases, and easy access via phones and streaming services, make it simple to use music to regulate effort and enjoyment during sport.

Listening at home is relaxed and you can control the volume, choose songs and repeat them. A live concert has more atmosphere, energy and you can see the performers on stage. At a concert it’s louder and more social, but you have less control.

The key difference is control versus atmosphere. At home you can choose tracks, adjust sound levels, use high‑quality equipment and listen closely to production details; it’s private and convenient. A live concert, meanwhile, offers an immersive, communal experience — the physical presence, the visual staging and spontaneous moments like improvisation make it unique, even if sound balance isn’t perfect. Live events also create strong memories and a sense of connection you don’t get from a streamed version at home.