Tina Guo Biography & Music Worksheet for 11-Year-Olds — Cello, Comprehension & Activities

Instructions

Read the passage about the musician Tina Guo. Then, complete the activities that follow. Good luck!

Meet the Musician: Tina Guo

Have you ever heard a cello rock out like an electric guitar? If you've listened to the music of Tina Guo, you have! Tina Guo is a world-famous musician known for playing the cello, especially the electric cello. While many cellists play classical music, Tina is famous for blending different styles, from classical and rock to heavy metal and electronic music.

Born in Shanghai, China, Tina began her musical journey at a very young age. She started playing the piano at age three and the cello at age five. Her hard work paid off, and she became a master of her instrument.

You have probably heard her powerful music without even realizing it! Tina Guo has played the cello on the soundtracks for some of the biggest movies, TV shows, and video games. Her epic cello solos can be heard in the score for the movie Wonder Woman, the live-action version of The Lion King, and the sci-fi blockbuster Dune. Gamers might recognize her work from popular video games like Journey, Diablo III, and Cyberpunk 2077. In addition to the cello, she also plays a traditional two-stringed Chinese instrument called the erhu, adding unique sounds to her music.

Activity 1: Fact Checker

Read the statements below. Are they true or false? Circle your answer.

1. Tina Guo is only known for playing classical music.
   TRUE / FALSE


2. One of Tina's main instruments is the electric cello.
   TRUE / FALSE


3. Tina Guo started playing the cello when she was a teenager.
   TRUE / FALSE


4. You can hear her music on the soundtrack for the movie Wonder Woman.
   TRUE / FALSE


5. The erhu is a type of electric guitar.
   TRUE / FALSE

Activity 2: Word Scramble

Unscramble the letters to reveal words related to Tina Guo's career. Use the clues to help you!

• 1. L L E C O
  (Her primary instrument)
  Answer: ____________________


• 2. T R E C C E L I
  (A modern version of her instrument)
  Answer: ____________________


• 3. S M I C U
  (What she creates)
  Answer: ____________________


• 4. C U R D A N T S K O
  (The music for a film or game)
  Answer: ____________________


• 5. H U R E
  (A traditional Chinese instrument she plays)
  Answer: ____________________

Activity 3: Music and Media Match-Up

Tina Guo has played on many soundtracks. Draw a line to match the project in Column A with its description in Column B.

Activity 4: Creative Corner

Tina Guo is famous for blending different musical styles, like classical music and heavy metal. If you could create a brand-new style of music by combining two existing styles, what would they be? Describe what your new music would sound like.

My two music styles would be: ____________________ and ____________________.

My new style of music would sound like:

Answer Key

Activity 1: Fact Checker

1. FALSE (She is known for blending many styles, including rock and metal.)
2. TRUE
3. FALSE (She started playing the cello at age five.)
4. TRUE
5. FALSE (The erhu is a traditional two-stringed Chinese instrument.)

Activity 2: Word Scramble

1. CELLO
2. ELECTRIC
3. MUSIC
4. SOUNDTRACK
5. ERHU

Activity 3: Music and Media Match-Up

• 1. Wonder Woman → B. A superhero movie featuring a powerful Amazon warrior.
• 2. Cyberpunk 2077 → D. A video game set in a futuristic, high-tech city.
• 3. Journey → A. An award-winning video game known for its beautiful art and music.
• 4. Dune → C. An epic science fiction film set on a desert planet.

Activity 4: Creative Corner

Answers will vary based on the student's creativity. The goal is for them to think about how different sounds and styles could be combined.