Reflect and Respond
·
I Given below are some stringed musical
instruments. Work in pairs and identify them by first letter of the spellings
of their names.
S 
Santoor S Sarangi S Sarod S Sitar
M Mandolin V Violin G Guitar B Banjo
II Do you play a musical instrument? If given a choice, which one would you choose and why?
Ans: Yes, I would love to play the guitar because its
relaxing music sounds wonderful and it is easy to carry around.
III Is there any difference in the choice of music between children and
elders? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Ans: Yes, children prefer fast and modern pop or fusion
music for energy, while elders prefer classical or devotional music for peace
and traditional roots.
IV Work in pairs to complete the paragraph given on the next page by choosing the correct phrases given in the box.
The theatre club was 1. winding up their practice. Anil saw Sunny
was 2. lost in his thoughts and not speaking to anyone. They had a
disagreement in the morning and since then, Sunny was 3. wearing a look of
distress. Anil did not want to 4. bring it up 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. Anil 7. sweating
on anxiety, he 8. throw a party. (Note: phrasal completion
follows the text boxes provided on page 2).
Page 174 Check Your Understanding
I Complete the table given below based on Act I of the play. Check your
answers with the teacher.
Setting - Where: Iqbal's room
Description of the room: a small rack, 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: Avinash
Words of the Speaker: Oh ho! Wow Shruti! You are a sensation now! The
least you can do is throw a party!
Reason: Her name and performance with her father were published in the local newspaper.
II Do you think Shruti will gather the courage to speak to her father? Give
a reason.
Ans: Yes, because her friends encourage her and she
knows she has to clear things up before the concert.
III What might be Shruti's father's reaction? Why?
Ans: He might get angry because he is very strict and
believes only classical Hindustani music should be played.
Page 177 –
178 Check Your Understanding
I Complete the summary of Act II by choosing the correct words from the box
given below.
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 her feelings
and is urged to go to bed by her mother.
II Will Shruti's father go for the rehearsal? Support your answer with a
reason.
Ans: No, because he completely hates fusion music and called it making noise.
III Do you think Shruti and her parents would understand one another? If
yes, why? If no, why not?
Ans: Yes, because deep down they share a mutual love for music and family
understanding.
Page 181 –
182 Check Your Understanding
I Work in pairs. Identify the true statements. Check the answers with your
teacher.
1.
[ ] During the rehearsal, Shruti's parents enter
the room and are overjoyed at her performance. (False for initial state)
2.
[x] Shruti initially considers telling her friends
that she can't join them for the performance, after practising one last time.
3.
[ ] Shruti's father expressed that she had sung a
few notes incorrectly during her performance.
4.
[x] Shruti's father had followed the family's
tradition of being a violinist and worked very hard to achieve all that he did.
5.
[x] Shruti's mother helped her husband realise why
he should support their daughter.
6.
[x] Shruti's father accepts that he underrated the
potential of classical music. (Note: underrated modern fusion/music power).
Page 182 – 184 Critical Reflection
I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. (i) Select the option that correctly identifies
Shruti's situation. D. in a dilemma
1. (ii) What does Shruti mean by 'the right way'? She means a polite and proper way to tell her
strict father without upsetting him.
1. (iii) Complete the following with a suitable reason. the younger generation wants to explore modern
fusion while the older generation strictly values classical traditions.
1. (iv) Explain how Iqbal's words were meant as an
assurance. He told her her father would understand
because he is a parent.
1. (v) Fill in the blank with a phrase from the extract. provoke thoughtful discussion
2. (i) Select the suitable option to complete the
sentence. B. traditional values and modern
expressions
2. (ii) Fill in the blank with a suitable phrase. musicality
2. (iii) Which word does not show what it conveys? duty
2. (iv) What can be inferred about Shruti's future in
music? Her future will be supported and successful
with her family's backing.
2. (v) Identify the phrase that refers to the uniqueness
of each artist's journey and style. each bay, its own wind
II Answer the following questions.
1. Justify the title ‘Twin Melodies’. How does the play explore the theme
of tradition and modernity?
The title reflects the harmonious blend of classical Hindustani music and
modern Western fusion. The play successfully explores tradition and modernity
by showing how these two contrasting musical styles can exist together without
conflict when family members learn to respect each other's unique artistic
choices and cultural backgrounds.
2. What are the different perspectives of Peter, Iqbal, and Avinash
regarding confronting figures of authority? How do their attitudes towards
Shruti’s dilemma with her father provide insight into their own characters and
values?
Peter encourages Shruti to be bold and straightforward, showing his direct
nature. Avinash takes a casual approach, believing a little scolding is normal,
highlighting his carefree attitude. Iqbal is thoughtful and sensitive, advising
her to handle the situation gently, reflecting his deep respect for parental
feelings and interpersonal relationships.
3. Analyse the character of Nabin Sharma. How does his attitude towards
music evolve throughout the play?
Nabin begins as a rigid and strict traditionalist who strongly dislikes
modern fusion music. However, his perspective evolves completely after he
listens to his daughter perform live with her friends. Remembering his own
youth and parental struggles, he becomes open-minded, supportive, and proud of
her artistic dedication.
4. How does the play use Shruti’s internal conflict to explore the theme of
duty towards family versus personal passion?
Shruti deeply respects her father and values her classical training,
creating a heavy burden of family duty. At the same time, her strong passion
drives her to explore Indo-Western fusion. Her struggle highlights the
emotional dilemma young artists face when trying to balance parental
expectations with their own creative dreams.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the play’s conclusion. Does it
realistically address the conflicts presented?
The conclusion is very effective and realistic because Nabin's change of
heart does not happen instantly through argument. Instead, it stems naturally
from experiencing the soulful music firsthand and recalling his own past
struggles against his father, making the family reconciliation feel earned and
emotionally satisfying.
6. Assess how well the role of cultural diversity contributes to the
storyline of the play.
Cultural diversity in music serves as the main driving force of the plot.
By merging traditional Indian ragas with Western tunes, the storyline creates
initial family tension but ultimately brings everyone closer together, proving
that diverse art forms can enrich family bonds and mutual appreciation.
Page 184 – 187 Vocabulary and Structures in Context
I Read the highlighted word given in the brackets.
1.
What is 'aside' used for? (ii) shows what a character thinks or feels
and (iii) makes a direct link between the audience and the character.
II Read the following words from the text.
Why are they used? 1. to fill gaps while speaking.
Emoticons match: 1. err, 2. ahem-ahem, 3. arrgh, 4. whew.
III Match the meanings of other music-related words in Column 1 with their
meanings in 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
IV Write the meanings of the underlined phrases.
1.
drown your individual style losing your unique talent by blindly following
trends.
2.
sense of musicality a natural talent and feeling for music.
3.
go down the drain to be completely wasted or ruined.
V Read the dialogues given below.
Sentences 1. and 2. are exclamatory sentences.
Converted Declarative 1: Shruti exclaimed with joy
that she enjoyed performing that piece very much.
Converted Declarative 2: Nabin exclaimed with
appreciation that it was very soulful and that they all had done a wonderful
job.
VI Write the sentences given below in reported speech.
- 2. Iqbal exclaimed that it was an incredible achievement and he couldn't 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 stated that he basically had a little bit of scolding for breakfast every day.
- 5. Shruti apologized to her mummy, promising that she wouldn't hide from her again.
- 6. Avinash stated that she was a sensation then and added that the least she could do was throw a party.
VII Report the following dialogue in the indirect form of speech.
Asma exclaimed excitedly that she 1. had had a very 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 now looked better than her original plan. Deepa exclaimed that
4. that was incredible.
Page 188Listen
and Respond
I Look at the given stringed musical instruments and decide which one could
be the yazh [yal].
Instrument number 2.
III Complete the notes below with not more than three words.
1.
Type of instrument - The Indian harp. (i)
Was used in: ancient Tamil Nadu (ii) Earlier version of: Veena.
2.
Design (i) stem tip shaped like head of
mythological animal (ii) resonator A. shape of a boat B. material wood.
3.
Design variety (i) peacock, multi-colored
and bow string.
Page 193 Learning
Beyond the Text
I What do you notice?
1.
Inverted commas are not used because these are
stage directions for acting, not spoken words.
2.
Colons are used after character names to introduce
their dialogues.
3.
Actions and tones are written inside brackets to
show how to deliver lines.
4. It helps actors express the proper emotions and expressions on stage. ...
...
