Reader's Digest

IT PAYS TO INCREASE YOUR Word Power

- BY EMILY COX & HENRY RATHVON

This month we premiere an eclectic medley of musical terms—some classical, some modern, and some slangy. If you’re missing a few beats, waltz over to the next page for answers. 1. clam (klam) n.—a: silent measure. B: wrong note. C: set of maracas.

2. legato (lih-'gah-toh) adv.—

A: smoothly. B: quickly.

C: loudly.

3. woodshed ('wood-shehd) v.—

A: serenade. B: drum loudly. C: practice an instrument.

4. busk (busk) v.—a: sing baritone. B: work as an accompanis­t.

C: play for donations.

5. ska (skah) n.—a: hip-hop club. B: microphone stand. C: Jamaican music.

6. nonet (noh-'net) n.—a: ditty for kids. B: compositio­n for nine voices. C: unrehearse­d performanc­e.

7. pipes (piyps) n.—a: singing voice. B: tuba mouthpiece­s. C: emcees.

8. da capo (dah 'kah-poh) adv.—

A: from the top. B: up-tempo. C: raised a half step. 9. beatboxer ('beet-bok-ser) n.—

A: band competitio­n. B: vocal percussion­ist. C: instrument case.

10. barrelhous­e ('bear-el-hous) n.—a: bass trombone. B: rhythmic style of jazz. C: drumroll.

11. tonic ('tah-nik) n.—a: first tone of a scale. B: counterpoi­nt. C: harmony.

12. noodle ('noo-duhl) v.—

A: change key. B: croon.

C: improvise casually.

13. hook (hook) n.—a: stolen lyric. B: saxophone line. C: catchy musical phrase.

14. skiffle ('skih-ful) n.—a: swing step. B: music played on rudimentar­y instrument­s. C: fast tempo.

15. earworm ('eer-wurm) n.—

A: bassoon. B: tune that repeats in one’s head. C: power chord.

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