CPE Essay Sample on Music

Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible, and include you own ideas in your answers.  

The effects of music  

We humans are a musical species no less than a linguistic one. This takes many different forms. All of us (with very few exceptions) can perceive music, harmony and rhythm. We integrate all of these using many different parts of the brain. And to this largely unconscious appreciation of music is added an often intense and profound emotional reaction. Shakespeare referred to music as the "food of love", and for most people their lives would be poorer without music. Music is capable of stimulating both passion and compassion, speaking to our very core and taking us to the heights and depths of emotion. 

Music in schools? 

There is little doubt that regular exposure to music, and especially active participation in music, may stimulate development of other abilities. Some argue that music is as important educationally as reading or writing, and suggest that a musical education advantages those with mathematical aptitude. What people do not agree about, however, is which kind of music is the most educationally valuable. Some regard classical music as the only kind of music that should be taught in schools. However, leaving aside the problem of defining "classical" in different cultural contexts, there is a strong case that all types of music are equally valid in stimulating an individual's potential. 

Write your essay. 

Humans and Music 

Music has accompanied human beings throughout history and has undeniably become an essential factor in our lives. Both pieces of text focus on the effects of music on us and discuss whether it should be taught in schools and why.

Let's start by stating that there is a strong connection between all kinds of music and the human emotions. We have an aptitude to appreciate the harmony brought by a series of carefully arranged rhythms, be it Mozart's nineteenth sonata or Justin Bieber's latest single.  It is currently widely accepted that music induces hormonal and thus, emotional responses in our brains. Some would even compare songs to drugs, since they could conceivably become addictive: take the case of any summer hit.

But not only is there a connection between music and our emotions; music is also linked to education. Opinions actually differ about which type of music is the most potential-stimulating, but all scientist agree it has a positive effect on students. For instance there are theories which suggest that young children who play a musical instrument are later  better at maths.

To conclude I would like to state that everybody is attracted to music. Everyone has a favourite style with which they feel identified, as well as a song that enables them to feel at ease during the toughest moments in life. The truth is that music makes memories more vivid, empowers long-time relationships and what is more, turns dull and mundane nights into special moments in our lives. 

Sent by Diana Yang
*Task taken from a Cambridge CPE exam past paper (2012)

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Fashion

Pity the poor necktie, hanging on for dear life. Consider that male attire, unlike female, is, unless completely wacko, basically standardized. The lapel may get narrower or wider, the indentation may be higher or lower. But the essential structure remains the same.

Which is where ties come in. It was the one area where a man could exercise his fantasy and good taste, if he had any. There were shapes, patterns and colors to play with, on a spot that attracted immediate attention. The necktie separated the boor from the connoisseur, the gentleman from the barbarian. And now that touchstone is pretty much gone.

Like so much in the field of fashion, it seems to have originated in Paris. Young, upper-class Frenchmen all of a sudden unbuttoned their shirt collars, and made it acceptable for all occasions. It was as startling as when they started refrigerating red wine, an innovation that happily did not catch on.

True, in the summer, a touch of bare neckline means less sweat. But what is a little bit of extra comfort compared to a great loss in elegance? It became hard to tell what kind of a man his clothes were making him. Remarkably, though, neckties are still being fabricated and displayed in large quantities, although leaving one wondering who is buying them.

I myself own hundreds—alas, yes, hundreds—of ties I bought mostly while I was a bachelor making a good living and squandering wage. My fellow critic and tie gatherer, Harold Clurman, commented on however many ties one owned, it was only a few of them one kept wearing. Nowadays, though, nothing makes me sadder than that, on top of the many ties prominently and expectantly parading in my closet, there are at least as many, equally desirable, squashed and entombed in plastic bags, transparent in painful reproof.

Fashions in general are a funny business, as they have evolved over the centuries, or merely seesawed over the years. I wonder, for instance, when and how the so-called play clothes made their debut. They surely weren’t with us all along—or can you imagine Francis Bacon or Walter Raleigh in play clothes? Even incarcerated in the Tower, they don’t seem to fit into T-shirts and dungarees.

To be sure, change seems to be a powerful human need. Just see in the Times pictures of what rages on the runways. It looks positively Martian even on young, beautiful women—not that some models couldn’t double as scarecrows. On older women it looks like a beret on a donkey.

Personally, I recall accompanying a very rich and very chic lady to a number of Paris haute couture salons, where with a little effort she could have picked up some fairly bizarre outfits, but she stuck with the more reasonable, or even sedate. Assuredly, I have never seen anyone, anywhere wearing some of those outré duds, though it may be that I am not getting invited to the right parties.

Now, why exactly this need for change? Because boredom sets in far too easily, far too soon. It is one of humankind’s chief problems—just think what it does to marriages. I have even heard of a marriage where the wife wore a different wig to bed every night, and it worked wonders. But what happens to a wigless marriage? It would seem resignation or divorce.

In the play “The Audience,” Queen Elizabeth II says that she never allowed her televised Christmas greeting to run longer than eight minutes, which she  considered the limit of the human attention span. Granted, eight minutes may be excessive caution, rather like wearing both belt and suspenders, but the principle is sound; as she goes on to say in the play, never outstay your welcome.

Well then, let us admit that other than in marriage, there is no compelling reason to resist change. So in fashion, always presupposing that money is abundant, there is no reason for constraint; you are free to wear something different on the outside as often as you change underwear. In fashion, at any rate, you can play chameleon with impunity.

So, in women’s fashions at any rate, every change from hair ribbons to heels, is readily and regularly available. What really matters is personal style. That, however, is anything but facile. As the French sage Buffon remarked, “Le style c’est l’homme meme,” i.e., style is the man himself, and, a fortiori, the woman herself. But it is not as easy to come by as you might wish. Clothes will contribute to tour style, but are they the last impression, which may more likely be your conversation and your behavior? But they are very probably the first impression of style, and we know how important first impressions are.

Which brings me back to neckties. Suppose I were to advertise selling ties I bought for very considerable sums now for a mere ridiculous fraction of their price. Suppose further that buyers showed up. Wouldn’t you feel a huge pang anytime one of them was purchased? Wouldn’t they, a la Buffon, be part of your humanity, so that it would be like the buyer cutting off one of your fingers or toes?

To make a long story short—sort of like turning a four-in-hand into a bow tie (none of which I ever wore)—is there anything we can do to prevent the extinction of the necktie? The seemingly obvious answer is to keep wearing one. Yet what does that really do except make you look absurdly overdressed? Say, a stuffed shirt? Expose you to being laughed at? That, in what is far from a life-and-death cause, takes a lot of courage. Much easier to undo that top button and go tieless.

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Jeff's Things to Do Around NOLA - Part 8 - The CBD

The Civic is such a cool theater.
photo cred: brooklynvegan.com

Man, it has been a long time since I've featured one of New Orleans' best streets or neighborhoods in my TTDANOLA guide! Never fear, reader, for one of our favorite blogs is back. Lest you forget our visits from yesteryear, feel free to peruse them at the bottom of this page. Now, we dig into one of NOLA's hottest and most up-and-coming neighborhoods... the CBD!

There is no doubt that the Central Business District is one of NOLA's hottest neighborhoods right now. It's being called a full-blown urban renaissance, with more than 1,000 new residents moving into the neighborhood in the next 18 months alone. A huge influx of residential construction has led to a massive rejuvenation of this once sleepy part of downtown. Sure, the CBD was home to the majority of New Orleans' daytime business crowd (think oil and gas execs, banks, and general professional folks) but in the evenings it quieted down. But no more! Spurred by a brand new neighborhood affectionately known as South Market District, the CBD has seen a huge boost in nighttime residents, activities, restaurants and general awesomeness. In fact, always-on-the-move Jeff Schiffman found this neighborhood so enticing that last month I moved into a brand new apartment building called The Paramount, smack in the middle of South Market and the CBD. Who else is moving into my building? Only some of the most highly anticipated new restaurants in NOLA: Magasin (great Vietnamese place also on Magazine Street) Ursa Major (from the folks who brought you Booty's in the Bywater), world-famous chef John Besh's bakery Willa Jean, and most importantly, the Company Burger, arguably (well, not arguably) the best burger place in the state of Louisiana.

Whew, and that is just in my building alone! No, I am not accepting applications for roommates at this time. But while you can't live with me, you can enjoy all the incredible aspects that have made this part of town so neat. So... heading down my way to South Market District or the CBD? I got you covered. Let's go!

The International House. Who wouldn't want to stay here? Don't forget to call and ask for the Tulane rate!
Photo cred: travelpod.com

Where to stay:

International House: This hotel has always been one of my favorites in town. Sleek and boutique, it is one of the most "local" hotels in town, down to the art on the walls. You can read my previous blog all about the hotel here. Don't forget that they give you 20% off weekdays if you call them and mention Tulane!
The Hyatt Regency New Orleans: The opposite of the International House, it's massive, more convention-y, but equally as gorgeous. You've never seen a hotel quite like it- walk up to the main level and take it all in!

And talking about growth, how neat are these two other hotel projects in the works in the CBD: Joie de Vivre and ACE.

Here is the truffled mac and cheese from Capdeville. Talk about NOM.
photo cred: opentable.com

Where to eat:

Haro Coffee: Delicious chocolate, amazing coffee and great paninis. And they are open late!
Pulp and Grind: Full disclosure: I haven't been here yet, but it's from the guys behind Satsuma, (aka one of the best spots in town) so I know it must be good! It just opened last week.
Capdeville: Incredible food in an awesome ambiance (think speakeasy meets gastropub). The truffled mac and cheese will change your life. I think this is one of the most underrated restaurants in NOLA.
Peche: Just won the James Beard Award for best new restaurant in the country, and there is a reason why. Try anything from the raw bar!
Johnny Sanchez: Brand new high-end Mexican spot just opened by chefs John Besh and Aaron Sanchez. Tacos and more.
Rouses: Okay, fine, I know it's just a grocery store, but it's my grocery store and I love it. Great for people watching, too.

Cellar Door is in this cool old house. One of the best new spots in town
Photo cred: cellardoornola.com

Where to Drink/Chill/Jam Out:

Cellar Door: This is one cool spot. Located in the oldest house in the CBD, you gotta see this place to believe it. Great food and one of the best ambiances around town.
Walk On's: Perfect place for any game day, ESPN voted this the best sports bar in America.
The Little Gem Saloon: The Little Gem is my favorite music venue in NOLA. The upstairs lounge is epic, especially when Kermit Ruffins is jammin' out (on a few Saturday nights per month.)

Is there a yoga studio more gorgeous than Reyn? I submit that there is not.
photo cred: yogatrail.com

What to do:

Reyn Yoga: This is my joint, and you'll find me here nearly every week getting my sweat on. One of the most gorgeous yoga studios I've ever been in.
The Civic Theater: This brand new(ly renovated) theater has great shows every week, from Elvis Costello to Mary Chapin Carpenter to the Pixies or Lord Huron (all coming soon!)
Champions Square: The best spot in the city to tailgate. Also great for concerts, King Cake festivals, glow runs, and general hanging out. It's the front steps of the Superdome and is the perfect spot to gear up on gamedays.
The Superdome: Needs no introduction.

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome in all her glory, with Champion's Square right out front.
photo cred: Superdome.com 

There is so much to do in this part of town, this is just a small sampling of my favorite spots. The brand new Loyola Streetcar line runs straight through this neighborhood, so it's easy to get around. See more here, and stay tuned for another TTDANOLA blog that will feature all the great stuff in the Warehouse District, which seamlessly blends into the CBD (even I don't really know where the border is). Also, check out this killer map of South Market District for all the neat stuff you can do around here. Even cooler? All of South Market is being developed by a pair of Tulane alumni. So any visit to the CBD and South Market District is supporting our awesome alumni, right?

It's fun to be living in a neighborhood here in NOLA that is so quickly on the move. My FB newsfeed is packed with daily postings about new hotels, shops, restaurants and living spaces that are moving into the CBD. Come on down and check this hotspot out!

The Little Gem Saloon is such a neat spot.
photo cred: flickr

Inside of Capdeville. Great food and never too long of a wait for a table.
photo cred: nolapage.com

My man Kermit Ruffins at the Little Gem. We PARRTYYINNNN!
Photo cred: Little Gem Saloon

The Hyatt. She's a beaut.
photo cred: Tripadvisor.com

It's me! At one of those glow/paint/warrior/neon/whatever runs that ended in Champions Square.

TBT to when Tulane used to play at the Superdome, here was our little tailgate at Champions Square. That is the Hyatt in the back. 

In case you missed previous TTDANOLA....

Part 7- Maple Street
Part 6- The Bywater
Part 5- Oak Street
Part 4- Freret Street (on second thought, don't even bother with that one. So much has been added to this awesome street, walking distance from Tulane, that we need to write the sequel to that blog)
Part 3- Mid City
Part 2- Frenchman Street
Part 1- Magazine Street (this one also needs an update, RIP Martinique Bistro!)

PS- I can't help if it I love Rouses. 

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