Una canción a otro ritmo
A Song at a Different Tempo
El viernes, Clara llegó al centro cultural con su guitarra. Iba a tocar con otras personas por primera vez. Conocía bien la canción del día. La practicaba todas las noches después del trabajo. Sin embargo, estaba un poco nerviosa.
En el salón había cinco estudiantes y un profesor. Todos pusieron sus sillas cerca de la ventana. El profesor contó hasta cuatro y empezó la música. Clara tocó las primeras notas. Después dejó de tocar. Los demás iban demasiado rápido.
Clara miró su guitarra y pidió ayuda. "¿Podemos tocar más despacio? En mi casa practico a otro ritmo". El profesor sonrió. "Claro. Hoy vamos a escuchar a todo el grupo". Otro estudiante también tenía problemas con la velocidad.
Primero dejaron los instrumentos sobre las sillas. El profesor contó en voz alta. Los estudiantes siguieron el ritmo con las manos. Luego tomaron sus instrumentos y tocaron solo el principio. Esta vez todos terminaron juntos.
Poco a poco, tocaron la canción completa. Clara ya podía escuchar las otras guitarras. Al final, el grupo repitió la canción sin parar. Clara salió contenta de la clase. Ahora quería volver el próximo viernes.
On Friday, Clara arrived at the cultural center with her guitar. She was going to play with other people for the first time. She knew the day's song well. She practiced it every night after work. However, she was a little nervous.
In the room there were five students and a teacher. Everyone put their chairs near the window. The teacher counted to four and the music began. Clara played the first notes. Then she stopped playing. The others were going too fast.
Clara looked at her guitar and asked for help. "Can we play more slowly? At home I practice at a different tempo." The teacher smiled. "Of course. Today we are going to listen to the whole group." Another student was also having problems with the speed.
First they left their instruments on the chairs. The teacher counted out loud. The students followed the rhythm with their hands. Then they picked up their instruments and played only the beginning. This time everyone finished together.
Little by little, they played the whole song. Clara could now hear the other guitars. At the end, the group repeated the song without stopping. Clara left the class feeling happy. Now she wanted to return the following Friday.
Key Phrases
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por primera vez
for the first timeSays that someone has never done something before.
Hoy preparo pan por primera vez.
Today I am making bread for the first time.
pidió ayuda
asked for helpDescribes a completed request for assistance.
Andrés pidió ayuda con una caja pesada.
Andrés asked for help with a heavy box.
en voz alta
out loudDescribes speaking so other people can hear.
Marta leyó la dirección en voz alta.
Marta read the address out loud.
Poco a poco
Little by littleDescribes progress that happens gradually.
Poco a poco, aprendimos los nombres.
Little by little, we learned the names.
sin parar
without stoppingDescribes an action that continues without a pause.
Caminamos veinte minutos sin parar.
We walked for twenty minutes without stopping.
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