NARRATOR:
You will hear a woman asking her friend Coleman about a guitar group he has recently joined.
NARRATOR:
First you have some time to look at questions one to six.
NARRATOR:
Now listen carefully and answer questions one to six.
WOMAN:
Hi Coleman, how are things?
WOMAN:
I wanted to speak to you because Josh mentioned that you'd joined a guitar group.
WOMAN:
It sounds interesting and I'd really like to learn to play.
COLEMAN:
Why not come with me?
COLEMAN:
I'm sure the group can take one more person.
WOMAN:
Who teaches the classes?
COLEMAN:
His official role is the coordinator.
COLEMAN:
His name is Gary Mathieson.
WOMAN:
I'll write that down.
WOMAN:
Gary, how is his surname spelt?
COLEMAN:
M-A-T-H-I-E-S-O-N Got it, thanks.
COLEMAN:
He's retired now, but he's very friendly and used to perform with several bands.
WOMAN:
How long have you been attending?
COLEMAN:
For about a month.
WOMAN:
Could you already play before you joined?
COLEMAN:
Only a handful of chords.
COLEMAN:
Nothing more than that.
WOMAN:
I'm worried everyone there will be more capable than I am.
COLEMAN:
I had exactly the same concern.
COLEMAN:
When I first phoned Gary, he explained that the class was for beginners.
COLEMAN:
I still expected the others to be ahead of me.
COLEMAN:
But once I arrived, I discovered we were all equally inexperienced.
WOMAN:
That makes me feel better.
WOMAN:
Where does the group meet?
COLEMAN:
When I enrolled, the sessions were held at Gary's home.
COLEMAN:
As membership increased though, he booked a room at the college in town.
COLEMAN:
I much prefer the new venue.
WOMAN:
I know the college.
WOMAN:
I took tap dancing lessons there during secondary school, although I haven't visited for years.
WOMAN:
Which road is it on?
COLEMAN:
It's a little farther on, at the end of New Street.
COLEMAN:
Close to the city roundabout.
WOMAN:
Yes, I remember now.
COLEMAN:
The group uses room T-347 on the first floor.
WOMAN:
And when are the meetings?
WOMAN:
Are they at the weekend?
COLEMAN:
They're on Thursday mornings.
COLEMAN:
We previously began at 10.30, which was convenient for me.
COLEMAN:
But the start time is now 11.
COLEMAN:
The class before hours asked to keep the room for an extra half hour.
WOMAN:
I'd love to join, but I don't own a guitar.
COLEMAN:
You could get a used one.
COLEMAN:
A website called The Perfect Instrument sells guitars, violins, and similar items.
COLEMAN:
So you should be able to find one there.
NARRATOR:
Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.
NARRATOR:
Now listen carefully and answer questions 7 to 10.
WOMAN:
What normally happens in one of Gary's lessons?
COLEMAN:
He begins by asking everyone to tune their guitars, which takes roughly five minutes.
COLEMAN:
Some learners use an app, while others tune by ear.
COLEMAN:
Gary walks around helping them, and at the same time he outlines the plan for that day's lesson.
COLEMAN:
We then spend around 10 minutes practicing how to strum chords.
WOMAN:
Do you use those small things, plectrums?
COLEMAN:
No, we simply use our thumbs.
WOMAN:
That sounds easier.
COLEMAN:
Gary shows us where our fingers should go for each chord, and then we play together.
COLEMAN:
Our timing is often so poor that we all start laughing.
COLEMAN:
So Gary begins clapping to keep us together.
WOMAN:
Do you practice complete songs as well?
COLEMAN:
We work on at least one song that includes both lyrics and chords, and it's more difficult than it sounds.
COLEMAN:
That section lasts about 15 minutes.
COLEMAN:
Gary often plays us a recording first.
COLEMAN:
He then gives us the song, and if it contains an unfamiliar chord, we practice that before attempting the whole piece together at a very slow speed.
WOMAN:
Is finger-picking included?
COLEMAN:
That comes during the final 10-minute activity.
COLEMAN:
We pick out individual notes from a simple tune Gary has composed.
COLEMAN:
It still sounds challenging.
COLEMAN:
It is, but people enjoy it because they can focus closely, and when everyone plays accurately, the result sounds impressive.
COLEMAN:
The uncomfortable part is that Gary sometimes asks us to perform one at a time.
COLEMAN:
In other words, alone.
WOMAN:
That would make me nervous.
COLEMAN:
It did at first, but I'm accustomed to it now.
COLEMAN:
During the last five minutes, Gary tells us what we should practice before the following session.
WOMAN:
I think I'll have a look at that website.
NARRATOR:
That is the end of part one.
