Alegría Musical: Latin American Stories
Step-by-step lesson plans for grades K-3
Teaching Artists Juan Manuel Trujillo and Hery Paz team up with puppets, Pepe and Tito, to introduce the musical influences of México, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Argentina.
Students will hear stories, learn rhythmic patterns, and sing along to these Latin American music traditions.
LESSONS
This is the first lesson from the Alegría Musical unit. Students will visit the island of Cuba with puppets Pepe and Tito to learn about the traditions of Son Cubano and rumba music. Then they will sing the chorus of “Guantanamera,” and clap clave rhythms and musical patterns.
This is the second lesson from the Alegría Musical unit. Students will visit Mexico with puppets Pepe and Tito to learn about the traditions of son jarocho and música norteña. Then they will perform the son jarocho and norteña rhythmic patterns as an ensemble.
This is the third lesson from the Alegría Musical unit. Students will visit the Dominican Republic with puppets Pepe and Tito to learn about the traditions of merengue and bachata music. Then students will participate in bachata rhythmic activities.
This is the fourth lesson from the Alegría Musical unit. Students will visit Puerto Rico with puppets Pepe and Tito to learn about the traditions of plena and bomba music. Then students will participate in a bomba rhythmic activity as an ensemble.
This is the fifth lesson from the Alegría Musical unit. Students will visit Venezuela with puppets Pepe and Tito to learn about the traditions of joropo and Afro-Venezuelan music. Then students will perform a song using call and response.
This is the sixth lesson from the Alegría Musical unit. Students will visit Colombia with puppets Pepe and Tito to learn about the traditions of cumbia and vallenato music. Then students will perform a vallenato song.
This is the seventh lesson from the Alegría Musical unit. Students will visit Peru with puppets Pepe and Tito to learn about the traditions of huayno and festejo music. Then students will repurpose objects and create musical instruments.
This is the eighth and final lesson from the Alegría Musical unit. Students will visit Argentina with puppets Pepe and Tito to learn about the traditions of chacarera and tango music. Then students will perform tango and chacarera rhythms as an ensemble.