An advanced B2 set on music and entertainment covering orchestras, genres, live performance, recording, and nuanced film and TV terms.
Free Music & Entertainment vocabulary flashcards at the B2 level — all 35 words with definitions and examples. Study them with spaced repetition and recognize and use these words confidently in real conversations.
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symphony
a long piece of music written for a full orchestra.
venue
a place where a concert or show happens.
encore
an extra song played after the main show ends because people ask for it.
rehearsal
a practice session before a real performance.
percussion
the group of instruments that are hit to make sound.
amplifier
a device that makes sound louder.
subtitles
the written translations of speech shown at the bottom of a screen.
premiere
the first public showing of a new film.
critic
a person whose job is to give a public opinion about music and films.
plot
the series of connected events that make up a film's story.
conduct
to direct a group of musicians while they play.
improvise
to create music without preparing it first.
harmonize
to blend musical notes so they sound pleasant together.
release
to make a song or album available to the public.
orchestral
written for a full orchestra to play.
instrumental
having music but no singing.
gripping
extremely exciting and able to hold your full attention.
off-key
not sung at the correct musical pitch.
dubbed
having the original speech in a film replaced with words in a different language.
backstage
relating to the area behind a stage where performers get ready.
virtuoso
a musician with extremely impressive technical skill.
ensemble
a small group of musicians who perform together.
tempo
the speed at which a piece of music is played.
arrangement
a new version of an existing song, often for different instruments.
setlist
the list of songs a band plans to play at a show.
riff
a short, repeated pattern of notes, usually played on guitar.
bridge
a section of a song that connects the verse to the chorus.
discography
the complete collection of recordings released by an artist.
tribute
a performance or work created to honor someone admired.
medley
a piece of music made by joining parts of several songs together.
remix
to change a recorded song by altering or replacing parts of it.
headline
to be the main performer at a concert or festival.
sample
to use a short part of one recording inside a new song.
a cappella
sung by voices alone, without any musical instruments.
unplugged
performed using only acoustic instruments, without electronic amplification.