Portuguese for a Music Lesson: Instruments and Practice Instructions — Practice

Name your instrument and current level

Instrumento means instrument. Violão is an acoustic guitar common in Brazilian Portuguese usage; guitarra often refers to an electric guitar. Teclado is keyboard, bateria is drums, and flauta is flute.

When describing your level, say sou iniciante (I'm a beginner) or já tenho alguma experiência (I already have some experience). The teacher can then choose an exercise that fits what you know.

Ask about tempo and technique

Acorde means chord, ritmo means rhythm, and andamento means tempo or pace. To ask for a slower demonstration, say Você pode tocar mais devagar? Then ask whether you should repeat the whole passage or focus on one measure.

Faster and slower are mais rápido and mais devagar. Ask how to position your hands or breathe if a technique is unclear, and let the instructor demonstrate rather than guessing.

Confirm what to practice at home

Use praticar for practice and exercício for exercise. Ask which section to repeat and how often. A short practice goal is easier to remember than a general instruction to ‘play more.’

Write the task down and read it back to the teacher. This gives you a useful check before the lesson ends.

Remember: Tell the teacher your level, ask for a demonstration when technique is unclear, and confirm one specific practice task.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I'm starting to learn acoustic guitar.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estou começando a aprender violão.

2. I know a few chords, but I still read sheet music slowly.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Já sei alguns acordes, mas ainda leio partitura devagar.

3. What is the rhythm of this song?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Qual é o ritmo desta música?

4. Can you show that chord again?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode mostrar esse acorde de novo?

5. Which exercise should I practice this week?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Qual exercício devo praticar esta semana?

6. So, I repeat the four measures slowly?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Então, repito os quatro compassos devagar?

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Tell the teacher your level, ask for a demonstration when technique is unclear, and confirm one specific practice task.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Portuguese for a Music Lesson: Instruments and Practice Instructions lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.