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A Friend Found in Music Class 9 NCERT Solutions provides simple and easy-to-understand answers to all the questions and activities from the Class 9 English Kaveri poem A Friend Found in Music. The solutions cover Reflect and Respond, Check Your Understanding, Critical Reflection, Vocabulary in Context, phrasal verbs, listening, speaking, and writing activities.
A Friend Found in Music Class 9 NCERT Solutions
Reflect and Respond
I. Read the questions given below and share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
1. What kind of music do you prefer to listen to—vocal or instrumental?
Answer: I prefer instrumental music. It feels calm and helps me focus. The sound of instruments is smooth and peaceful.
2. Name your favourite musician(s).
Answer: My favourite musician is Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. He plays the flute very beautifully.
3. Give reasons for your choice.
Answer: I like him because his flute music is soft and touching. It connects with nature and gives peace to the mind. His music shows the beauty of Indian classical tradition.
Check Your Understanding
I. Read the poem again to complete the poet’s diary about her feelings on music. Fill in the blanks with words from the poem.
Today, I’ve been thinking about how essential music is to me. It is like an ocean that calls me to its 1. . Music is the 2. that harmonises with my 3. ,
moving me in ways I can’t explain. When I feel sad or upset about things, music is the 4. that eases the ache. It is amazing how music has the power to lift my 5. , and give me strength to pull through difficult times. I know that it is the effect of music whenever I feel 6. . Music is the much 7. , dependable friend when there is no one to 8. __. Thank you, my dear music, for being my all-time comfort.
Answer: Today, I’ve been thinking about how essential music is to me. It is like an ocean that calls me to its shore. Music is the rhythm that harmonises with my core, moving me in ways I can’t explain. When I feel sad or upset about things, music is the therapy that eases the ache. It is amazing how music has the power to lift my spirits, and give me strength to pull through difficult times. I know that it is the effect of music whenever I feel blue. Music is the much needed, dependable friend when there is no one to care. Thank you, my dear music, for being my all-time comfort.
II. Let us appreciate the poem.
1. The phrase ‘moves me’ in the line ‘That moves me to the core,’ is an example of _.
Answer: The phrase ‘moves me’ in the line ‘That moves me to the core,’ is an example of personification.
2. The poet uses metaphors for music. List these metaphors and rewrite them as similes. For example, Music is as as ___.
Answer: The metaphors are ocean, rhythm, therapy, and friend. As similes: Music is as vast as an ocean, as rhythmic as a heartbeat, as healing as therapy, and as loyal as a true friend.
3. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? What impact does it have?
Answer: The rhyme scheme is AABB. It makes the poem musical and easy to remember.
4. What is the poet’s purpose in using the word ‘music’ repetitively?
Answer: The repetition shows the importance of music in her life. It stresses that music is central to her feelings and gives her comfort and strength.
5. What is the message the poet wishes to convey through the poem?
Answer: The poet’s message is that music is powerful. It can heal sadness, give peace, and act like a true friend in difficult times.
6. Identify the mood of the poem from the options given below.
(i) nostalgic
(ii) thoughtful
(iii) amused
(iv) playful
Answer: The mood is thoughtful.
7. Give evidence from the poem to support that the speaker is the poet herself.
Answer: The poet uses personal words like “I” and “my”. For example, she says music is her dependable friend when no one is there to care. This shows she is speaking about her own feelings.
Critical Reflection
I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Music is the therapy
I need when I feel blue.
Music lifts my spirits
To make sure I pull through.
(i) Complete the following sentence suitably. The phrase ‘feel blue’ indicates _.
Answer: The phrase ‘feel blue’ indicates feeling sad or unhappy.
(ii) Identify the line which shows music makes the poet happy.
Answer: The line “Music lifts my spirits” shows that music makes the poet happy.
(iii) What does the last line of the extract signify?
Answer: The last line “To make sure I pull through” signifies that music gives the poet strength to overcome sadness and face difficulties bravely.
(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false. Music plays a vital role in the poet’s life.
Answer: The sentence “Music plays a vital role in the poet’s life” is true.
(v) Select the central idea of the extract from the following options.
A. Music brings comfort during sadness.
B. Music is a necessity in times of happiness.
C. Music improves our ability to pull heavy loads.
D. Music is a source of knowledge and excitement.
Answer: The central idea is A. Music brings comfort during sadness.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. How is music able to move the poet ‘to the core’?
Answer: Music is able to move the poet ‘to the core’ because it touches her deepest emotions and makes her feel peace and strength.
2. Why does the poet compare music to a ‘needed friend’?
Answer: The poet compares music to a ‘needed friend’ because it is always there to comfort her in lonely or difficult times.
3. Explain the poet’s attitude towards music.
Answer: The poet’s attitude towards music is full of love and respect. She sees it as therapy, comfort, and strength.
4. Support the opinion that this poem has a universal appeal.
Answer: The poem has universal appeal because everyone experiences the power of music to heal and bring peace.
5. Compare your experience of music with the feelings expressed in the poem.
Answer: In my experience, music also helps me relax and feel happy. Like the poet, I listen to music when I am sad, and it lifts my mood.
Vocabulary in Context
I. Read the following phrases from the poem denoting happiness and sadness.
Classify the words given in the box below as positive emotions and negative emotions.
Positive emotions (happiness): _________
Negative emotions (sadness): _________
Answer:
- Positive emotions (happiness): elation, jubilant, euphoric
- Negative emotions (sadness): nostalgia, despondence, anguish, melancholy, despair
Now, fill in the blanks by choosing the correct word from those given in the brackets.
1. The familiar tune stimulated a rush of _, transporting listeners back to cherished moments from their past. (nostalgia/elation)
Answer: Nostalgia
2. The soulful ballad expressed the singer’s _, leaving the audience moved by the intensity of their emotions. (despondence/anguish)
Answer: anguish
3. The pianist played a soulful melody on the stage, creating an ambience of __. (melancholy/despair)
Answer: melancholy
4. The festive symphony filled the air with _ tones, lifting the spirits of everyone present on the joyous occasion. (jubilant/euphoric)
Answer: jubilant
II. Read the highlighted word in the line given below.
To make sure I pull through
The meaning of the verb ‘pull’ is ‘move or remove something’. The preposition ‘through’ means ‘from one end or side to the other’. However, when they come together they convey a ompletely different meaning. Here, ‘pull through’ means ‘to succeed in doing something very difficult’.
Now, read the following lines from the poem.
Music is the rhythm
That moves me to the core.
The phrase ‘moves me’ means ‘to make somebody do something’.
‘Move’ also has different meanings. For example, to change position, to make progress, to take action, cause strong feelings.
Choose the correct meaning from the box given below for the underlined phrasal verbs in the
following sentences.
1. He’s planning to move out of his parents’ house next month.
Answer: Move out – to leave a place where you have been living.
2. Our new neighbours moved in yesterday.
Answer: Move in – to start living in a new house or place.
3. I’ve been in this job long enough—it’s time I moved on.
Answer: Move on – to leave one situation and start something new.
4. Can you move over a bit so I can sit down?
Answer: Move over – to change position to make space for someone else.
5. The police officer told the crowd to move along.
Answer: Move along – to go forward or leave a place.
6. The bus moved off as soon as all the passengers were seated.
Answer: Move off – to start moving or begin a journey.
| (i) to start doing or discussing something new (ii) to begin living in a new home or place (iii) to start moving; to leave (iv) to go to a new position, especially in order to make room for other people (v) to leave a place where one has been living (vi) to shift position to make space for someone or something |
IV. Create phrasal verbs from the verbs ‘put’, ‘get’, ‘look’, ‘break’. Find the meanings of the phrasal verbs you create. Make sentences with the phrasal verbs. Discuss them with your classmates and teacher.
Answer:
- Put: put off, put up with, put on
- Get: get along, get over, get by
- Look: look after, look into, look forward to
- Break: break down, break into, break out
Listen and Respond
I. Before you listen, read the questions and guess the responses to the given questions.
1. How are the two speakers connected?
(i) parent-child
(ii) teacher-student
(iii) brother-sister
Answer: (ii) teacher–student
2. Where is the conversation taking place?
(i) music centre
(ii) park
(iii) school reception area
Answer: (i) music centre
3. Which musical instrument is the reason for the problem?
(i) sitar
(ii) santoor
(iii) sarod
Answer: (ii) santoor
4. What is the problem being discussed?
(i) inability to play the musical instrument
(ii) irregularity of the music class
(iii) lack of choice of the musical instrument
Answer: (i) inability to play the musical instrument
5. What has been the unsuccessful solution?
(i) practising for longer hours
(ii) singing while playing the instrument
(iii) watching videos about playing the instrument
Answer: (iii) watching videos about playing the instrument
6. What is the final decision taken?
(i) change classes
(ii) pick a simpler instrument
(iii) purchase the musical instrument
Answer: (ii) pick a simpler instrument
II. Now, listen to the conversation between the two people.
As you listen, check your answers and rectify them wherever needed. Once done, discuss your responses with your classmates and teacher. (Transcript for teacher on page 270)
Answer:
How are the two speakers connected?
- Answer: Teacher–student.
Where is the conversation taking place?
- Answer: Music centre.
Which musical instrument is the reason for the problem?
- Answer: Santoor.
What is the problem being discussed?
- Answer: Inability to play the musical instrument.
What has been the unsuccessful solution?
- Answer: Watching videos about playing the instrument.
What is the final decision taken?
- Answer: Pick a simpler instrument.
Speaking Activity
I. Work in groups of four and choose a role each. Use the cues given below to present a role play in the class. Frame your responses logically in complete sentences. You may frame appropriate questions to ensure continuity in the conversation.
Answer: Role Play – Music and Choices
Characters:
- Student A (Anuradha)
- Student B (Father)
- Student C (Mother)
- Student D (Brother)
Setting: Living room with a tabla placed nearby.
Student A (Anuradha): Papa, I… er… want to talk. I was invited to play tabla at a big event.
Student B (Father): (firmly) No, Anuradha. I told you before. Singing is our family tradition. Tabla is not for you.
Student C (Mother): (calmly) Please listen. She has talent. Music is music, whether vocal or instrumental.
Student D (Brother): (excitedly) Papa, she is extraordinary! Everyone praises her tabla playing.
Student A (Anuradha): (aside, softly) Should I follow my heart or obey papa?
Student B (Father): (serious tone) I don’t want to hear more.
Student C (Mother): (gently) Anu, sometimes you must bite the bullet. Show your courage.
Student D (Brother): (cheerfully) Don’t worry, Anu. We are with you.
Student A (Anuradha): (decisive tone) Tonight… I promise… I will perform.
Writing Task
I. Your school is organising a musical evening on 21 June, World Music Day. You are presenting a Sitar recital at the event. Draft an invitation letter requesting your grandparents to attend the event.
Follow the guidelines given below to draft the invitation letter.
Format:
Sender’s address
Date
Salutation: Dear…
Body of the letter:
- Ask about their well-being.
- Mention the event and give details—date, time, and venue.
- Request them to attend.
- Complimentary close: Yours affectionately, Name of the sender
Language:
- Use first person—‘I’ and second person ‘We’ and ‘You’.
- Write in a warm and personalised style.
Answer:
Sender’s Address:
Pune, Maharashtra
PIN – 415022
Date: 10 August 2026
Salutation:
Dear Grandpa and Grandma,
Body of the Letter:
I hope you are both doing well and keeping healthy. I am writing to share some exciting news. Our school is organising a musical evening on 21 June, World Music Day, at the school auditorium. The programme will begin at 6:00 p.m.
I am very happy to tell you that I will be presenting a Sitar recital at this event. It would mean a lot to me if you could attend and bless me with your presence. Your encouragement will make the evening even more special.
Complimentary Close:
Yours affectionately,
Student Name
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