are you seriously askihng these questions here, for a real answer? i sure hope not.
what i know:
theres no first 1/2 or second 1/2.
everyone listens to music on chol hamoed
there are two times people keep it,
1) from r”ch iyar- shvus (3 days before)
2) from pesach till lag baomer
then there are those who are makpid to keep the whole thing, i don’t know if it’s specifically the ari”zal i think its chassidish.
those who keep from pesach till lag baomer don’t cut their hair on lag baomer itself only after.
women are not obligated in counting sfira