The weather may still feel like spring, but outdoor events are starting! If you enjoy music, you can listen for free - or play yourself! Two special events in June: 1) FREE concerts by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, 2) 51 "Sing for Hope" pianos are available to the public on NYC streets.
1) The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks take place in all five NYC boroughs from June 12-17. For the exact schedule, visit their website:
All performances begin at 8:00 p.m. except the Free Indoor Concert in Staten Island, which begins at 3:00 p.m. There will be fireworks after the performances in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.
2) "Sing for Hope" will put 51 artistically-decorated pianos on the streets of New York City! Go play one yourself or listen to someone playing! The first piano will be available on June 4 at 12:00 noon at 28 Liberty Plaza. For a complete schedule of the piano locations, visit this website:
https://www.singforhope.org/pianos/2018-artists-map/
You can enter your zip code at the site to find a piano near you!
And to learn more about this event, visit this website:
https://www.6sqft.com/51-stunning-sing-for-hope-pianos-will-hit-the-streets-of-nyc-this-summer/
Let’s learn and practice some vocabulary to talk about these events!
(You can download a copy of these exercises - go down to the black button at the bottom: DOWNLOAD PDF.)
INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED English learners: Go down to Exercise 2 below for a more difficult activity.
BEGINNER English learners: Exercise 1. Choose ONE correct word to fill-in-the-blank. (Answers are at the bottom of the page.)
1. Every _______ (winter / January / June), people can go to FREE concerts in New York City parks.
2. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra plays ________ (baseball / classical music / soccer).
3. The FREE concerts are outside! Bring a _________ (blanket / car / computer) to sit on.
4. You need to pay _________ ($10 / $20 / nothing) because the concerts are free.
5. If you want to eat during the concert, bring _________ (picnic foods / a restaurant / nothing).
6. If you want to drink a ________ (hamburger / beverage / hotdog), bring some water, juice or soda.
7. After the concert, they have a noisy and pretty display of ________ (paintings / fireworks / books). Beautiful!
INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED English learners: Exercise 2. Write in the missing words. Choose from the list below. (Answers are at the bottom of the page.)
beverages fireworks no matter opportunity performs picnicking popular recommend sets rain or shine
The New York Philharmonic Orchestra ____________(8) free concerts in NYC parks every June. This provides a very special _____________(9) to sit outside and hear classical music by a world-class orchestra.
We ____________(10) that you go early to get a good place to sit. The concerts are very _______________(11), so they are usually very crowded. They do place speakers around the area so you can hear reasonably well ______________(12) where you sit.
Do you enjoy eating outside while sitting on the ground? This is called _____________(13). Bring food and _____________(14) to the concerts and have a picnic with your friends. The music will wash over you as the sun ________(15). And by the way, the concerts usually take place ______________________(16), so bring an umbrella if rain is expected!
Immediately after the 90-minute concerts, in all boroughs except Staten Island, there is a display of ______________(17) as a grand finale!
Have a wonderful time at the concerts! Go play or listen to some of the 51 pianos! Free music in NYC - let's go!
And check back here soon to practice your English and learn about more summer events in NYC!
ANSWERS: 1. June 2. classical music 3. blanket 4. nothing 5. picnic foods 6. beverage 7. fireworks 8. performs 9. opportunity 10. recommend 11. popular 12. no matter 13. picnicking 14. beverages 15. sets 16. rain or shine 17. Fireworks
NY Philharmonic on the Great Lawn in Central Park!
Sing for Hope Piano near Lincoln Center and West 62nd Street
