IELTS Reading: Music and the emotions

In this lesson, you'll learn how to use the words you DON'T KNOW to get the right answers!

It's a difficult Academic Reading Part 3, which contains several scientific terms that might cause confusion.

But I will show you how IELTS uses these words for gapfills, and you'll learn the 6 'triggers' that indicate the answer.

Get the full video lesson in the Bronze Membership on my website, and in the full Members Academy.

https://ieltsetc.com/ielts-tips-and-tricks/

Reading Summary

Music is a powerful force that affects our emotions. When we listen to music we love, our body reacts—our heartbeat increases, and our muscles receive more blood. Scientists have found that music directly influences the brain, especially by releasing dopamine, a chemical that makes us feel pleasure.

A study in Canada used brain scans to examine why music has such a strong effect. Researchers found that dopamine is released both when we hear a beautiful part of a song and before it happens. This suggests that our brain enjoys the feeling of anticipation, or waiting for something exciting.

The way music is structured also plays a role. If a song is too predictable, it is boring. Great composers, like Beethoven, create patterns in their music and then delay repeating them to build suspense. This delay makes the final moment of resolution much more emotional.

A famous music expert,Leonard Meyer, explained that the emotions in music do not come from its connection to real-life experiences but from how it plays with our expectations. Our brain enjoys the mix of predictability and surprise, which keeps us engaged and emotionally connected to the music.

Keywords:

• affects – Changes or influences something.

• reacts – Responds to something by changing in some way.

• anticipation – The feeling of excitement when waiting for something to happen.
• predictable – Easy to guess or expect.

• delay – To make something happen later than expected.
• suspense – A feeling of excitement or nervousness while waiting for something to happen.

• expectations – Beliefs about what will happen in the future.
• engaged – Focused and interested in something.