“I can't survive without music，” says fifteen－year－old Steve. In the morning, Steve wakes up to his favourite music radio station. He listens to rock on the radio while he eats his breakfast. He puts on his personal stereo before he leaves the house and carries his cassette player on the bus to                    school.

“Last week I put my headphones on in the maths class，” admits Steve. “The teacher was really annoyed. She took my headphones away and I couldn't use them for a week. It was terrible.” At home Steve does his homework to music—loud music.

“My mother usually shouts, ‘Turn it down！’” says Steve. “She can't understand how I can work with music on, but music helps me to fix my attention upon my studies.” Steve would like to make music himself. “I'm learning to play the guitar. Unluckily, it doesn't sound too good at the beginning. But I'm going to keep practising！”

For teenagers like Steve, music is a very important part of life. Music is social; it brings people together at discos, parties and concerts. Fast, light music is full of energy; it helps people to forget their problems and have fun. Music talks about love, freedom and imagination. There are always new songs and new styles.

Meanwhile Steve's mother agrees that music brings some problems. “Steve is a sensible boy,” she says. “I don't think he would ever take drugs hearing rock. But I do worry about his hearing with all that loud music. And it drives me crazy！”

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