Circle of Learning • New NCERT textbook "Kaveri" (2026-27) • Reflect and Respond, Check Your Understanding (Acts I–III), Critical Reflection, Vocabulary and Structures, Listening, Speaking, Writing, Learning Beyond the Text, and the poem "A Friend Found in Music" – complete answers
Reflect and Respond
Identify the stringed musical instruments by the first letter of their names (S, S, S, S / M, V, G, B).
Answer
First row (left to right): Santoor, Sarangi, Sarod, Sitar
Second row: M – Mandolin, V – Violin, G – Guitar, B – Banjo
(Note: in the second row, the first picture, with a round drum-like body, is the banjo, and the last picture, with a pear-shaped body, is the mandolin.)
Do you play a musical instrument? If given a choice, which one would you choose and why?
Answer
Sample answer: I play the keyboard a little. If given a choice, I would learn the flute because its sound is sweet and soothing, it is light and easy to carry, and it is used in both Indian classical and film music.
Is there any difference in the choice of music between children and elders? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer
Sample answer: Yes, usually. Elders often prefer classical music, old film songs and devotional music that they grew up with, while children like fast, modern songs, pop and fusion that they hear on the internet. Music is linked to the memories and trends of one's own time. However, many families share a love for some songs, and good music of any kind can be enjoyed by all ages.
Complete the paragraph by choosing the correct phrases from the box. Discuss whether the phrases have a literal or figurative meaning.
Answer
The theatre club was 1. winding up their practice. Anil saw Sunny was 2. wearing a look of distress and not speaking to anyone. They had a disagreement in the morning and since then, Sunny was 3. lost in his thoughts. Anil did not want to 4. bring it up and disturb Sunny further but he finally decided to 5. bite the bullet and speak to Sunny. He was sure if he apologised first, his friend would 6. come around. With a lot of anxiety, he 7. found words to apologise. And finally, Sunny smiled! Everyone clapped and asked them to 8. throw a party to celebrate.
Extra phrase: "sweating on". All the phrases used here are figurative (their meaning is not the literal meaning of the words), e.g. "bite the bullet" means to face a difficult situation bravely, not to bite a real bullet; "lost in his thoughts" means deeply absorbed in thinking.
Check Your Understanding (Act I)
Complete the table based on Act I of the play.
Answer
Setting | Where: Iqbal's room Description of the room: a small rack, and a wooden table stacked with books On the wall: posters of famous Indian flute players Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Shashank Subramanyam |
Children and the instruments they play | 1. Iqbal: flute 2. Avinash: tabla 3. Peter: keyboard 4. Shruti: violin |
Speaker | Words of the Speaker | Reason |
Avinash | Oh ho! Wow Shruti! You are a sensation now! The least you can do is throw a party! | The Parbatpuri Daily Clarion had praised Shruti's performance with her father. |
Shruti | There is need to worry Iqbal! You don't know papa. | Her father is very strict and believes playing Western tunes on the violin is a desecration; only classical Hindustani music is worthy. |
Peter | That's the spirit! | Shruti decided to "bite the bullet" and promised to tell her father about the concert at dinner. |
Do you think Shruti will gather the courage to speak to her father? Give a reason.
Answer
Yes. Her friends have encouraged her, and she has decided "it is time to bite the bullet", promising to bring up the topic at dinner that night.
Answer
What might be Shruti's father's reaction? Why?
He will probably be upset and refuse at first, because he is very strict and firmly believes that classical Hindustani music is the only music worth playing. He may feel that playing fusion music is a desecration of the violin.
Check Your Understanding (Act II)
Complete the summary of Act II with words from the box. There are two extra words.
Answer
Shruti seemed 1. absent-minded during dinner. She finally gathered the 2. courage to inform her father, Nabin, about her wish to participate in an upcoming Indo-Western fusion concert. Nabin reacted negatively, expressing 3. disapproval of fusion music and dismissed the idea. Despite Shruti's 4. plea to him to attend a practice before deciding, Nabin was 5. firm in his decision. Shruti's mother, Leela, 6. scolded her for not seeking permission earlier. The tension highlights the 7. clash between traditional and contemporary musical preferences within the family. Despite the 8. setback, Shruti promises not to hide again and is urged to go to bed by her mother.
Extra words: surprised, relief
Will Shruti's father go for the rehearsal? Support your answer with a reason.
Answer
Possibly yes. Though he left angrily, he loves his daughter and is a true music lover. Shruti's mother, who understands both sides, may persuade him to listen at least once, as Shruti requested.
Do you think Shruti and her parents would understand one another? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer
Yes. They love and respect one another. Shruti cares about her father's opinions and promises not to hide things again, and her mother is understanding. Once her father hears the group play, he is likely to see that she takes her art seriously.
Check Your Understanding (Act III)
Identify the true statements.
Answer
Statement | True/False |
1. During the rehearsal, Shruti's parents enter the room and are overjoyed at her performance. | True |
2. Shruti initially considers telling her friends that she can't join them for the performance, after practising one last time. | True |
3. Shruti's father expressed that she had sung a few notes incorrectly during her performance. | False (he said she did not lose sight of the notes of the raga even once) |
4. Shruti's father had followed the family's tradition of being a violinist and worked very hard to achieve all that he did. | False (his was a family of vocalists; he went against their wishes to play the violin) |
5. Shruti's mother helped her husband realise why he should support their daughter. | True |
6. Shruti's father accepts that he underrated the potential of classical music. | True ("I underestimated the power of our own music") |
True statements: 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Critical Reflection
Extract 1: "Shruti: There is need to worry Iqbal! ... Iqbal: All ways are right ways, Shruti. He is your father, he will understand."
Answer
(i) Select the option that correctly identifies Shruti's situation.
D. in a dilemma
(ii) What does Shruti mean by 'the right way'?
Answer
She means a respectful, gentle way of telling her father about the fusion concert so that he does not feel hurt or think she does not care about his opinions.
(iii) We can say that the extract reflects the generational gap in understanding art and tradition because ______.
the father believes only classical Hindustani music is worthy, while Shruti, from the younger generation, wants to experiment with Western and fusion music.
(iv) Explain how Iqbal's words were meant as an assurance to Shruti.
By saying "All ways are right ways" and "He is your father, he will understand", Iqbal tells her not to worry about the perfect words; honesty is enough, and a loving father will understand her in the end.
(v) The critics argued that only films which provoke thoughtful discussion are ______.
of any worth
Extract 2: "Nabin: I underestimated the power of our own music ... I will root for your group at the concert!"
(i) Nabin's breakthrough in his understanding of artistic freedom highlights a bridge between ______.
B. traditional values and modern expressions
(ii) The extract uses the word 'lost' both in the sense of losing ______ and physical separation.
one's roots (musical tradition and identity)
(iii) In the line 'Shruti hugs her parents', which word does not show what it conveys?
Answer
duty
(iv) What can be inferred about Shruti's future in music following her father's trust and support?
Answer
Her future looks bright. With her father's blessing and her strong classical training, she will be able to explore fusion music confidently while staying rooted in tradition.
(v) Identify the phrase that refers to the uniqueness of each artist's journey and style.
"each bay, its own wind"
Answer the following questions.
Answer
Justify the title 'Twin Melodies'. How does the play explore the theme of tradition and modernity?
Answer
"Twin Melodies" refers to two kinds of music – traditional Hindustani classical and modern Indo-Western fusion – and also to the two generations, father and daughter, who are both violinists. At first, Nabin sees fusion as a "desecration" and "noise", while Shruti wants to try something new. When he hears the group, he finds that Shruti "did not lose sight of the notes of the raga even once". He also remembers that he himself broke tradition by choosing the violin over vocal music. The play shows that tradition and modernity can exist together in harmony, like two melodies played as one.
What are the different perspectives of Peter, Iqbal, and Avinash regarding confronting figures of authority? How do their attitudes provide insight into their characters?
Answer
Peter is practical; he suggests she simply tell her parents she practises from 4 to 5, and cheers her on ("That's the spirit!"), showing he is supportive and positive. Iqbal is warm and trusting; he believes "All ways are right ways ... he will understand", and jokes that he gets scolding for breakfast every day, showing he is easy-going and humorous. Avinash is frank and direct; he says she is making matters worse by not talking and that the worst would be a little scolding, showing he is honest and realistic. All three are loyal friends who encourage her to be honest.
Analyse the character of Nabin Sharma. How does his attitude towards music evolve throughout the play?
Answer
Nabin is a master violinist, a strict principal and a loving but firm father. He is devoted to classical Hindustani music and has rules, like one performance every six months. At first, he rejects fusion music as "phoo music" and a loss of musicality, and leaves the table in anger. But he is also open-minded at heart: he comes to the practice, taps his feet, claps "furiously" and praises the children. Reminded by Leela of his own struggle against his family of vocalists, he admits his fears were baseless, offers the music room and promises to "root for" the group. He changes from a rigid traditionalist to an understanding, supportive father.
How does the play use Shruti's internal conflict to explore the theme of duty towards family versus personal passion?
Answer
Shruti loves and respects her father and says, "I don't want papa to feel that I don't care about his opinions, because I do." At the same time, she longs to "give this a try too". This conflict makes her hide her practice, and even plan to quit the group after one last practice (in her aside). The play shows that the solution is not to choose one over the other but to be honest. When she speaks openly and her parents see her passion, family duty and personal dreams come together.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the play's conclusion. Does it realistically address the conflicts presented?
Answer
The conclusion is warm and satisfying: the parents secretly attend the practice, are won over by the music, and Nabin offers support. It is fairly realistic because the change is explained – Leela reminds Nabin of his own past rebellion, and he actually hears that Shruti respects the raga. However, his change of heart happens quickly, and in real life such conflicts may take longer to resolve. Overall, it effectively shows that understanding comes from listening.
Assess how well the role of cultural diversity contributes to the storyline of the play.
Answer
The fusion group itself is diverse: Shruti, Avinash, Iqbal and Peter come from different backgrounds and play the violin, tabla, flute and keyboard, blending Indian and Western music. This diversity mirrors the play's message that different traditions can create beautiful harmony together. It also strengthens the theme that respecting differences – between cultures, generations and styles – enriches art and life.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
Answer
What is 'aside' used for?
(iv) (i), (ii), and (iii) – it enables characters to talk about the story, shows what a character thinks or feels, and makes a direct link between the audience and the character.
Why are words like "Ahem ahem, I … er…" used? Then choose suitable non-lexical fillers for the emoticons 1 to 4.
Answer
They are used 1. to fill gaps while speaking.
Emoticon | Non-lexical filler |
1. Face screaming in frustration | arrgh |
2. Face coughing / clearing its throat | ahem-ahem |
3. Face wiping sweat in relief | whew |
4. Thinking face | hmmm |
Extra word: err
Match the music-related words in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.
Answer
Column 1 | Column 2 |
1. rhythm | (iii) the pattern of beats or time intervals in music |
2. tempo | (iv) the speed or pace at which a piece of music is played |
3. bass | (i) the lowest tone or part in music |
4. baritone | (v) a male voice that falls between the higher and lower ranges |
5. cacophony | (ii) a mixture of loud unpleasant sounds |
6. pitch | (vii) the perceived frequency of a sound, how high or low a sound is |
7. scale | (vi) a series of musical notes moving upwards or downwards |
Write the meanings of the underlined phrases.
Answer
1. drown your individual style – lose your own unique way of doing things by blindly copying others
2. sense of musicality – a natural feeling for and understanding of music
3. go down the drain – be wasted completely
Sentences 1 and 2 are ______ sentences. Convert them to declarative sentences.
Answer
They are exclamatory sentences.
1. Shruti exclaimed with delight that she enjoyed performing that piece very much.
2. Nabin exclaimed with admiration that it was very soulful and that they had all done a wonderful job.
Write the sentences in reported speech.
Answer
2. Iqbal exclaimed that it was an incredible achievement and that he could not believe they had pulled it off.
3. Shruti's mother applauded that each note had been executed perfectly and the performance had been flawless.
4. Iqbal said jokingly that he basically had a little bit of scolding for breakfast every day.
5. Shruti apologised to her mother and promised that she would not hide from her again.
6. Avinash exclaimed that Shruti was a sensation then and that the least she could do was throw a party.
Report the dialogue between Asma and Deepa in the indirect form of speech.
Answer
Asma exclaimed excitedly that she 1. had had a unique experience at the art studio that day. Deepa urged her to tell her as she was eager to hear. Asma said that 2. she had accidentally spilled paint all over her canvas. Deepa pitied Asma. However, Asma replied to her not to worry as 3. the painting then looked better than her original plan. Deepa exclaimed that 4. that was incredible.
Listen and Respond
Look at the given stringed musical instruments and decide which one could be the yazh.
Answer
Picture 2 – the arched harp whose strings run from a curved stem down to a wooden, boat-shaped resonator. (Picture 1 is a lyre, picture 3 is a fish-shaped harp, and picture 4 is a zither-like instrument.)
Listen to a musician describing the yazh and check if your choice was correct.
Answer
Yes. The musician describes the yazh as an open-stringed Indian harp with gut strings, a wooden boat-shaped skin-covered resonator and an ebony stem, which matches picture 2.
Listen to the musician's description again and complete the notes with not more than three words.
Answer
The Yazh | Answer |
1. Type of instrument – The Indian ______ | harp |
(i) Was used in: ______ | ancient Tamil music |
(ii) Earlier version of: ______ | modern day veena |
2. Design – (i) stem tip – shaped like ______ of mythological animal | the head (of the Yali) |
(ii) resonator – A. shape of a ______ | boat |
B. material – ______ | wood (wooden, skin-covered) |
3. Design variety – peacock, ______, ______, and bow string | crocodile, fish (makara yazh and matsya yazh) |
Speaking Activity
Pick a few lines from the play and speak them aloud, focusing on stress and intonation. Practise a few other sentences on your own.
Answer
Sample practice with other lines:
• "No is the answer." (Nabin) – stress "No"; firm, falling intonation to show a final decision.
• "Please papa! I request you to consider." – stress "Please" and "consider"; pleading tone, rising slightly on "consider".
• "Wah, how soulful!" – stress "soulful"; warm, rising-then-falling tone of admiration.
• "Oh, how much I enjoy performing this piece." (aside) – stress "enjoy"; soft, wistful tone, as she is thinking aloud.
• "I underestimated the power of our own music." – stress "underestimated" and "our own"; slow, reflective tone with falling intonation.
Writing Task
Create a play script based on the beginning of the story about Anuradha, a tabla player whose father wants her to be a vocalist.
Answer
Model script:
The Beat of Her Heart
Characters: Anuradha (a teenage tabla player), Father (a vocalist and music teacher), Mother, Rohan (Anuradha's elder brother)
Setting: The living room of Anuradha's house in the evening. A tanpura stands in one corner; a pair of tablas lies on a mat.
(Anuradha sits beside the tablas, staring at an invitation card.)
Anuradha: (Aside) The Sur Sangam Festival… and they want me to play! But how do I tell Baba?
Rohan: (entering) Ahem-ahem! Is that the famous invitation? Show me!
Anuradha: Shh! Baba will hear.
Mother: (gently) Anu, you've earned this. Your father must know.
(Father enters, humming a raga.)
Father: What is all this whispering about?
Anuradha: Baba, I… er… I have been invited to play the tabla at the Sur Sangam Festival next Sunday.
Father: (frowning) The tabla? Again? You have a beautiful voice, Anuradha. A vocalist carries the raga; the tabla only follows.
Anuradha: (softly but firmly) Baba, the tabla speaks to me. I want to perform… with your blessings.
Father: (sighing) Hmmm… I cannot stop you, but do not expect me to be there.
(He leaves. Silence.)
Rohan: Don't lose heart, Anu. We'll be in the front row, cheering the loudest!
Mother: And who knows… your father may surprise you. Music has a way of reaching every heart.
Anuradha: (Aside, picking up the tabla) Then I will play so well that the beat reaches his heart too.
(CURTAIN DOWN)
Learning Beyond the Text
Study the words given in brackets in the dialogues. 1. Why do we not use inverted commas? 2. Where do we use colons? 3. What is written within the brackets? 4. How does it help the actors?
Answer
1. In a play script, the speaker's name is written first and the dialogue follows it directly, so it is clear who is speaking; inverted commas are not needed.
2. A colon is used after the name of the speaker, before the words he or she speaks.
3. The brackets contain stage directions – how the words should be spoken (e.g. "very loudly", "calmly but firmly") and what actions the character performs (e.g. "picking up a newspaper", "getting up"). They are not spoken aloud.
4. They guide actors on tone, emotion and movement, helping them perform the scene the way the playwright imagined.
Did you know? The Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, Paraguay.
Answer
This is an information section: the orchestra, formed in 2012, is made up of children who play instruments made from scrap collected from landfills, showing that music can be created from anything and can change lives.
Find out more about indigenous instruments used in your region.
Answer
Sample answer: (i) Ektara – a one-stringed instrument made from a gourd and bamboo, played by Baul singers of Bengal. (ii) Pena – a bowed instrument of Manipur made from a coconut shell and bamboo. (iii) Algoza – a pair of wooden flutes played in Punjab and Rajasthan. (iv) Thavil – a barrel-shaped drum of Tamil Nadu, made of jackwood and animal hide. (v) Bhapang – a single-stringed instrument of the Mewat region made from a gourd. These are made from natural materials and are closely linked to local folk traditions.
In groups of five, select objects around yourself to create a rhythm and present it in the class.
Answer
Sample: Our group used a steel tumbler tapped with a spoon, a pencil box shaken with coins inside, two notebooks clapped together, a desk drummed with palms and a plastic bottle filled with rice. We created a simple 4-beat rhythm (desk–desk–tumbler–clap) and repeated it, adding the shakers on the off-beat.
Read the book Rigmarole and Other Plays by Sai Paranjpye and enjoy the humour and wit.
Answer
This is a suggested reading activity for enjoyment.
A Friend Found in Music (Poem) – Reflect and Respond
What kind of music do you prefer – vocal or instrumental? 2. Name your favourite musician(s). 3. Give reasons for your choice.
Answer
Sample answer: 1. I prefer instrumental music. 2. My favourite musicians are Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (flute) and A.R. Rahman. 3. Instrumental music calms me while I study, and Chaurasia's flute is very soothing; Rahman blends Indian and Western music beautifully, and his songs are full of energy.
A Friend Found in Music – Check Your Understanding
Complete the poet's diary with words from the poem.
Answer
1. shore 2. rhythm 3. core 4. therapy 5. spirits 6. cheerful 7. needed 8. care
Let us appreciate the poem.
Answer
The phrase 'moves me' in 'That moves me to the core' is an example of ______.
Answer
personification – music, like a person, "moves" (deeply touches and stirs) the poet's feelings. It is a figurative use of "move", meaning "to cause strong feelings".
List the metaphors for music and rewrite them as similes.
(i) Music is the ocean → Music is like an ocean that pulls me to the shore.
(ii) Music is the rhythm → Music is like a rhythm that moves me to the core.
(iii) Music is the therapy → Music is as healing as therapy when I feel blue.
(iv) Music is the needed friend → Music is as dependable as a friend when no one seems to care.
Answer
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? What impact does it have?
Answer
The rhyme scheme is ABCB in each four-line section (shore/core, blue/through, there/care). The regular rhyme gives the poem a song-like, musical quality, which suits a poem about music and makes it easy to remember.
What is the poet's purpose in using the word 'music' repetitively?
Answer
The repetition emphasises how central music is in her life. It keeps the focus on music and creates a rhythmic, chant-like effect, like a refrain in a song.
What is the message the poet wishes to convey through the poem?
Answer
Music is a constant companion that comforts us in sadness, heals us, lifts our spirits, adds to our joy and stays with us like a true friend when no one else does.
Identify the mood of the poem.
Answer
(ii) thoughtful
Give evidence from the poem to support that the speaker is the poet herself.
Answer
The poem uses the first person throughout – "pulls me to the shore", "moves me to the core", "I need when I feel blue", "lifts my spirits", "The times when I'm most cheerful" – which shows the poet is sharing her own feelings.
A Friend Found in Music – Critical Reflection
Extract: "Music is the therapy / I need when I feel blue. / Music lifts my spirits / To make sure I pull through."
Answer
(i) The phrase 'feel blue' indicates ______.
feeling sad or low
(ii) Identify the line which shows music makes the poet happy.
"Music lifts my spirits"
(iii) What does the last line of the extract signify?
Answer
"To make sure I pull through" means that music gives her the strength to get through difficult times successfully.
(iv) True or false: Music plays a vital role in the poet's life.
True
(v) Select the central idea of the extract.
A. Music brings comfort during sadness.
Answer the following questions.
Answer
How is music able to move the poet 'to the core'?
Answer
The rhythm of music touches her deepest feelings. It connects with her emotions, calms her, heals her sadness and fills her with joy, so it affects her completely, "to the core".
Why does the poet compare music to a 'needed friend'?
Answer
Like a true friend, music is always there for her, especially "when no one seems to care". It comforts her when she is sad and shares her happiness, so it is the friend she needs most.
Explain the poet's attitude towards music.
Answer
Her attitude is one of deep love, gratitude and dependence. She sees music as an ocean that draws her, a rhythm that stirs her, a therapy that heals her and a friend that never leaves her.
Support the opinion that this poem has a universal appeal.
Answer
Almost everyone turns to music when they are sad, happy or lonely. The poem expresses this common experience in simple words – music as therapy, as a mood-lifter and as a friend – so readers of any age or culture can relate to it.
Compare your experience of music with the feelings expressed in the poem.
Answer
Sample answer: Like the poet, I listen to music when I feel low after a bad day; a favourite song always lifts my spirits. Before exams, soft instrumental music calms my nerves. At family weddings and festivals, music makes the happiness even greater. However, unlike the poet, I also enjoy music most when I share it with friends. So I agree that music is a needed friend, but for me it is also a way to connect with people.
A Friend Found in Music – Vocabulary in Context
Classify the phrases as positive and negative emotions. Then fill in the blanks.
Answer
Positive emotions (happiness): lifts my spirits, most cheerful
Negative emotions (sadness): feel blue
1. nostalgia 2. anguish 3. melancholy 4. jubilant
Read about the phrasal verb 'pull through' and the meanings of 'move'.
Answer
"Pull through" means to succeed in getting through something very difficult, such as an illness or a hard time. "Moves me" here means "causes strong feelings in me".
Choose the correct meaning for the underlined phrasal verbs.
Answer
Sentence | Meaning |
1. move out | (v) to leave a place where one has been living |
2. moved in | (ii) to begin living in a new home or place |
3. moved on | (i) to start doing or discussing something new |
4. move over | (vi) to shift position to make space for someone or something |
5. move along | (iv) to go to a new position, especially in order to make room for other people |
6. moved off | (iii) to start moving; to leave |
Create phrasal verbs from 'put', 'get', 'look', 'break'. Find their meanings and make sentences.
Answer
Phrasal verb | Meaning | Sentence |
put off | postpone | The match was put off because of rain. |
put up with | tolerate | I cannot put up with so much noise while studying. |
get over | recover from | It took her a week to get over the flu. |
get along | have a friendly relationship | Shruti gets along well with her bandmates. |
look after | take care of | Ravi looked after his grandfather during the holidays. |
look forward to | wait eagerly for | We are looking forward to the concert. |
break down | stop working | Our car broke down on the highway. |
break out | start suddenly | A fire broke out in the market last night. |
A Friend Found in Music – Listen and Respond
Before you listen, read the questions and guess the responses.
Answer
Students first write their own guesses for each question (any reasonable guess is acceptable at this stage). Check and correct them using the answers in Question 2.
Listen to the conversation, check your answers and rectify them wherever needed.
Answer
1. (i) parent-child (the boy, Jaspreet, is talking to his mother)
2. (i) music centre (the mother says the music centre is about to close for the day)
3. (ii) santoor
4. (ii) irregularity of the music class (the santoor teacher comes to the centre only twice a week, so regular practice is missing)
5. (iii) watching videos about playing the instrument
6. (iii) purchase the musical instrument (until they buy their own santoor, the mother will ask a friend to lend hers so that he can practise at home)
A Friend Found in Music – Speaking Activity
Role play in groups of four: Music teacher, Student 1 (confused about time for studies), Student 2 (convinced music is beneficial), Parent (initially doubtful, later supportive).
Answer
Sample role play:
Music teacher: I have heard you both sing in the assembly. Why don't you join the music classes this term?
Student 1: I would love to, ma'am, but I'm worried. Won't music classes take away time from my studies?
Student 2: I don't think so. I attend classes twice a week and still finish my homework. Music actually helps me concentrate better.
Parent: But Class IX is important. Is it wise to spend time on music now?
Music teacher: I understand your concern. Studies show that music improves memory, focus and reduces stress. The classes are only two hours a week.
Student 1: If Student 2 can manage, maybe I can too. Could I try it for one month?
Parent: That sounds reasonable. If your marks stay steady, you can continue. I'm happy to support you.
Student 2: Great! We can practise together and plan our study time.
Music teacher: Wonderful. See you both on Monday!
A Friend Found in Music – Writing Task
Draft an invitation letter requesting your grandparents to attend the musical evening on 21 June, World Music Day, where you are presenting a Sitar recital.
Answer
Model answer:
24, Rose Avenue
Sector 15, Chandigarh
10 June 2026
Dear Dadaji and Dadiji,
I hope you are both in good health and enjoying the mangoes from our garden tree. We miss you very much here.
I have some exciting news to share. My school is organising a musical evening on 21 June, World Music Day, and I have been selected to present a Sitar recital! The programme will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the school auditorium, Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, Chandigarh. I will be playing Raga Yaman, which you taught me to love, Dadiji.
It would mean the world to me if you could come and bless me on this special day. Papa will pick you up from the station on 20 June. Please do come – your presence will give me courage on stage.
With lots of love,
Yours affectionately,
Meher
A Friend Found in Music – Learning Beyond the Text
Find out how music is used as an alternative therapy in the present times.
Answer
Sample answer: Today, music therapy is used by trained therapists in hospitals, schools and rehabilitation centres. Soft music helps reduce anxiety and pain in patients before and after surgery. It helps children with autism communicate, aids memory in people with dementia, and helps stroke patients regain speech and movement through rhythm. Ragas are also used in some centres for relaxation and to improve sleep. Many people use music and meditation apps to manage stress.
Find out about the origin of the seven swaras (notes) of Indian classical music.
Answer
Sample answer: The seven swaras – Sa (Shadja), Re (Rishabha), Ga (Gandhara), Ma (Madhyama), Pa (Panchama), Dha (Dhaivata) and Ni (Nishada) – are believed to have developed from the chanting of the Sama Veda. Traditionally, each swara is linked to the sound of a creature in nature: Sa with the peacock, Re with the bull, Ga with the goat, Ma with the heron, Pa with the cuckoo (koel), Dha with the horse and Ni with the elephant. This shows the ancient belief that music comes from the rhythms and sounds of nature.
Share poems and songs about music and create a collection.
Answer
Sample collection: "Music" by Walter de la Mare; "The Solitary Reaper" by William Wordsworth; Hindi songs such as "Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai" and Tamil songs about the veena or yazh. Students may compile these in a class scrapbook with short notes on their meaning.
Read and enjoy the poem 'Music' by Walter de la Mare.
Answer
This is a reading-for-enjoyment activity. The poet describes how, when music plays, the world around him becomes lovelier and magical – flowers glow, trees seem still with ecstasy, water nymphs rise – and he feels transported to a timeless state.
Extra Important Questions
Short Answer Questions
What did the Parbatpuri Daily Clarion write about Shruti?
Answer
It wrote, "Melody runs in the veins of Miss Shruti Sharma, daughter of the master violinist Nabin Sharma!"
What was Nabin's rule about performances, and why?
Answer
His rule was one performance in every six months, because he believed that "familiarity breeds contempt" and that one should focus on working on one's art.
How did Leela tease Shruti at dinner?
Answer
She joked that if Shruti was trying to tell her father that Leela made better dosas than him, she should abandon the mission, as he did not have the strength to face the truth.
Why had Nabin's own father been hurt by his choice?
Answer
Nabin came from a family of traditional vocalists, and at that time the violin was not yet part of classical Indian music, so his father saw his choice as a betrayal of family values.
What does "each bay, its own wind" mean?
Answer
It means that every person has his or her own path and style; what suits one may not suit another.
Long Answer Questions
What role does Leela play in resolving the conflict in the play?
Answer
Leela is the calm, wise link between father and daughter. She lightens the tense dinner with humour, scolds Shruti gently for hiding the practice but also makes her promise honesty. Most importantly, she "opened" Nabin's eyes by reminding him of his own past: he too had gone against his family of vocalists to play the violin and had "worked his fingers to the bone" to succeed. Her reminder helps Nabin see that Shruti's choice is not a betrayal but her own journey. It is she who brings him to the practice, leading to the happy ending.
"History repeats itself" – how is this true of Nabin and Shruti?
Answer
Nabin's family were traditional vocalists, and his father felt hurt when Nabin chose the violin, a Western instrument not yet part of Indian classical music. Years later, Nabin reacts in the same way when Shruti wants to play Indo-Western fusion music. Just as Nabin proved himself through hard work, Shruti proves that she has not lost "the notes of the raga". When Nabin realises he had "forgotten my own past", he breaks the cycle by trusting and supporting his daughter. The play shows how each generation must be allowed to find its own expression.
How does the poet show music as a "friend" in "A Friend Found in Music"?
Answer
The poet describes music as an ocean that pulls her to the shore and a rhythm that moves her to the core. When she feels blue, music is the "therapy" she needs; it lifts her spirits and helps her "pull through". She notices that in her happiest moments, "music was there". Finally, she calls music "the needed friend when no one seems to care". Like a loyal friend, music comforts her in sorrow, shares her joy and never leaves her alone.