Chapter 15 of 20
Chapter 15: I am the Music Man
Musical Instruments, Rhythm, Piano, Bass Drum & Faraway Lands | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Poem recitation: 'I am the music man, I come from far away, and I can play! What can you play? I play the piano!'
- Musical instrument sounds: Piano ('pia-pia-piano') and big bass drum ('boom-di-boom-di-boom').
- Identifying different musical families: strings, keys, percussion, and wind.
- Developing rhythm, music appreciation, and expressive body movement.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (15 Questions)
100% Complete Ingestion
Q1
Reading is Fun • The Music Man
Where does the Music Man come from?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The Music Man comes from far away.
• The Music Man comes from far away.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
From far away stated
1 M
Q2
Reading is Fun • Two Instruments
What are the two musical instruments that the Music Man can play in the poem?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
1. The Piano
2. The Big Drum.
1. The Piano
2. The Big Drum.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Piano named
1 M
Big Drum named
1 M
Q3
Sound Words • Musical Onomatopoeia
What sound does the piano make in the poem? What sound does the big drum make?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
• The piano goes: 'Pia-pia-piano, pia-piano, pia-piano!'
• The big drum goes: 'Boom-di-boom-di-boom-di-boom, boom-di-boom!'
• The piano goes: 'Pia-pia-piano, pia-piano, pia-piano!'
• The big drum goes: 'Boom-di-boom-di-boom-di-boom, boom-di-boom!'
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Pia-pia-piano for piano
1 M
Boom-di-boom for drum
1 M
Q4
Instrument Families • Classification
Classify the following musical instruments into 'String', 'Wind', or 'Percussion (Drums)':
(a) Flute (b) Tabla (c) Guitar (d) Dholak
[3 Marks]
(a) Flute (b) Tabla (c) Guitar (d) Dholak
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Classification:
• Wind: (a) Flute (blown by mouth)
• Percussion: (b) Tabla, (d) Dholak (struck with hands)
• String: (c) Guitar (strummed with fingers).
• Wind: (a) Flute (blown by mouth)
• Percussion: (b) Tabla, (d) Dholak (struck with hands)
• String: (c) Guitar (strummed with fingers).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Flute: Wind
1 M
Tabla & Dholak: Percussion
1 M
Guitar: String
1 M
Q5
Rhyming Pairs in Poem
Find words in the poem that rhyme with:
(a) Play — _______
(b) Come — _______
[2 Marks]
(a) Play — _______
(b) Come — _______
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Play — Away / Day / Say
(b) Drum — Hum / Gum.
(a) Play — Away / Day / Say
(b) Drum — Hum / Gum.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) Away
1 M
(b) Drum/Hum
1 M
Q6
Vocabulary • Piano Keys
What colors are the keys on a piano keyboard?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• A piano has white and black keys.
• A piano has white and black keys.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
White and black keys stated
1 M
Q7
Opposites • Story Words
Write the opposite of:
(a) Far × _______
(b) Big × _______
(c) Come × _______
[3 Marks]
(a) Far × _______
(b) Big × _______
(c) Come × _______
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Far × Near / Close
(b) Big × Small / Little
(c) Come × Go
(a) Far × Near / Close
(b) Big × Small / Little
(c) Come × Go
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) Near
1 M
(b) Small
1 M
(c) Go
1 M
Q8
Indian Musical Instruments
Name two traditional Indian musical instruments you have seen or heard.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
1. Sitar (or Veena)
2. Tabla (or Dholak / Bansuri).
1. Sitar (or Veena)
2. Tabla (or Dholak / Bansuri).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Two authentic Indian instruments named
2 M
Q9
Rhythm & Dance
How does listening to lively drum beats make children feel?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• Lively drum beats make children feel energetic, cheerful, and excited to tap their feet and dance.
• Lively drum beats make children feel energetic, cheerful, and excited to tap their feet and dance.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Energetic and cheerful feeling described
1 M
Tapping feet / dancing movement
1 M
Q10
Sentence Construction
Make a sentence using the word 'melody'.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Sample Sentence:
• The flute player played a sweet, soothing melody that calmed everyone.
• The flute player played a sweet, soothing melody that calmed everyone.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Meaningful sentence with 'melody'
2 M
Q11
Grammar • Modal Verb 'Can'
Complete with 'can' or 'cannot':
(a) A piano _______ make sweet musical notes.
(b) A stone _______ play a drum.
[2 Marks]
(a) A piano _______ make sweet musical notes.
(b) A stone _______ play a drum.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) A piano can make sweet musical notes.
(b) A stone cannot play a drum.
(a) A piano can make sweet musical notes.
(b) A stone cannot play a drum.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) can
1 M
(b) cannot
1 M
Q12
Action Verbs • How Instruments are Played
Match the instrument with how it is played:
(a) Drum (b) Flute (c) Violin
Actions: (1) Blown (2) Bowed / Strummed (3) Beaten / Struck
[3 Marks]
(a) Drum (b) Flute (c) Violin
Actions: (1) Blown (2) Bowed / Strummed (3) Beaten / Struck
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Matching:
• (a) Drum — (3) Beaten / Struck
• (b) Flute — (1) Blown
• (c) Violin — (2) Bowed / Strummed
• (a) Drum — (3) Beaten / Struck
• (b) Flute — (1) Blown
• (c) Violin — (2) Bowed / Strummed
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
All 3 correctly matched
3 M (1 M each)
Q13
Spelling Check • Music Words
Fill in the missing letters: P _ A N _ (keyboard instrument).
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• P I A N O = PIANO.
• P I A N O = PIANO.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
PIANO correct
1 M
Q14
True or False
State True or False:
(a) The Music Man can only play the violin.
(b) Music brings joy and harmony to people of all ages.
[2 Marks]
(a) The Music Man can only play the violin.
(b) Music brings joy and harmony to people of all ages.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) False. In the poem, he plays the piano and the big drum.
(b) True. Music is a universal language of joy.
(a) False. In the poem, he plays the piano and the big drum.
(b) True. Music is a universal language of joy.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) False with correction
1 M
(b) True
1 M
Q15
Poem Reflection
Why does the poem 'I am the Music Man' use repetitive, rhythmic sounds?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Summary:
• The repetitive words ('pia-pia-piano', 'boom-di-boom') imitate the actual musical rhythm and tempo of the instruments, encouraging young learners to chant, clap, and sing along.
• The repetitive words ('pia-pia-piano', 'boom-di-boom') imitate the actual musical rhythm and tempo of the instruments, encouraging young learners to chant, clap, and sing along.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Imitation of musical rhythm and tempo explained
2 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
School Annual Day Music Troupe
During the annual school concert, a lively performer dressed as the 'Music Man' walked onto the stage. He announced: 'I come from far away and I can play!'. First, his fingers danced across the black and white keys of a gleaming grand piano: 'pia-pia-piano!'. Then he struck a massive red bass drum with wooden mallets: 'BOOM-DI-BOOM-DI-BOOM!'.
Analytical Task: Which two musical instruments did the Music Man play? What sound words describe their music in the poem? Why is music joyful?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
1. The Music Man played the Piano and the Big Bass Drum.
2. Sound words: Piano = 'pia-pia-piano, pia-piano'; Big Drum = 'boom-di-boom-di-boom'.
3. Music brings joy because rhythmic melodies stimulate our imagination, lift our spirits, and invite us to sing and dance happily together.
2. Sound words: Piano = 'pia-pia-piano, pia-piano'; Big Drum = 'boom-di-boom-di-boom'.
3. Music brings joy because rhythmic melodies stimulate our imagination, lift our spirits, and invite us to sing and dance happily together.
Rubric: 1 M for piano and drum + 1 M for 'pia-pia-piano' and 'boom-di-boom' + 1 M for emotional/rhythmic value of music