Conversations / Music
Music Conversation Questions for Adult ESL Classes
Use these 20 discussion questions about Music to run a full speaking lesson with adult learners (A1–A2). Each part opens with a vocabulary warm-up, every question is labelled with the thinking skill it practises, and each part fills roughly thirty minutes of class time on its own.
Reviewed by Brando Oxley · 13 Aug 2026
Part 1
Music I Like and Listen To
Focus: talking about favorite music, listening habits, people, places, and simple reasons for preferences
Think of one type of music, one action connected to music, and one place where people listen to music.
Describe each word without saying it directly. Your teacher or partner must guess the word.
PREFERENCE
What kind of music do you like most? Sentence starter: I like ... because ...
ROUTINE
When do you usually listen to music? Sentence starter: I usually listen to music ...
PLACE
Where do you usually listen to music? Sentence starter: I usually listen to music at ...
PEOPLE
Who do you sometimes listen to music with? Sentence starter: I sometimes listen with ...
PREFERENCE
Do you prefer fast music or slow music? Tell me one reason. Sentence starter: I prefer ... music because ...
FEELING
How does your favorite music make you feel? Sentence starter: It makes me feel ...
EXPERIENCE
Tell me about a song you remember from your childhood. Sentence starter: I remember ...
ACTIVITY
What do you like to do while listening to music? Sentence starter: I like to ... while listening.
COMPARE
Do you prefer listening with headphones or speakers? Tell me why. Sentence starter: I prefer ... because ...
PLAN
What new kind of music would you like to listen to? Sentence starter: I would like to try ...
Part 2
Songs, Singers, and Music Experiences
Focus: talking about songs, singers, live music, simple memories, choices, and future music activities
Choose one word from each group: Person: singer, friend, musician, fan; Action: sing, dance, listen, play; Place: concert, home, car, cafe; Feeling: happy, excited, calm, surprised. Use the words to make two or three simple sentences.
PEOPLE
Who is a singer or musician you like? Sentence starter: I like ... because ...
DESCRIBE
What is one song you can listen to many times? Sentence starter: One song I like is ...
EXPERIENCE
Have you ever seen live music? Tell me about it. Sentence starter: I saw live music at ...
PREFERENCE
Do you prefer music with words or music without words? Tell me why. Sentence starter: I prefer ... because ...
ACTIVITY
What song or music is good for a party? Sentence starter: ... is good for a party because ...
FEELING
What kind of music do you listen to when you want to relax? Sentence starter: When I want to relax, I listen to ...
PROBLEM
What can you do if music is too loud in a public place? Sentence starter: I can ...
ADVISE
What music would you recommend to a friend? Sentence starter: I would recommend ... because ...
LEARN
Would you like to learn to sing or play music better? Tell me why. Sentence starter: I would like to ... because ...
PLAN
What music event would you like to go to in the future? Sentence starter: I would like to go to ...