MERENGUE SIN LETRA

Lesson 11

Teaching Artist: Juan Manuel Trujillo

SUMMARY

This is the eleventh lesson from the Strumming Through The Americas ukulele course. Students will visit the Dominican Republic to learn about Merengue. They will learn to play two new chords, Am and E7, then apply them to a new song, “Merengue Sin Letra.” Students will then incorporate lyrics and perform the song as a group.

OBJECTIVE

  • Students will be able to locate the Dominican Republic on a map and relate it to their geographical location.

  • Students will be able to distinguish the important elements of the merengue musical style.

  • Students will be able to interpret Am and E7 chord diagrams.

  • Students will be able to utilize the new chords in a new song and performance context.

  • Students will be able to incorporate lyrics with the chordal accompaniment of “Merengue Sin Letra” for a performance.

MATERIALS

EXPLORE

  1.  Introduce the lesson by showing the Dominican Republic on the Map. Ask: What do you know about the Dominican Republic? Drag the cursor to show some of the other countries surrounding the Dominican Republic: the country it shares the island with, Haiti; Puerto Rico to the east; Jamaica to the west and Cuba to the north-west. Explain to students that today they will visit the Dominican Republic to learn about today’s musical style and associated song.

  2. Using the About Merengue handout, give students a brief background into the history of merengue. 

  3. Pointing out the two instruments pictured in the handout (tambora and güira), show excerpts of the two video links provided (Papilon Demonstrates Playing Tambora and Duo Güira Video) - engaging the students in a discussion of the sounds of the instruments and the way they are played. Ask: Has anyone ever heard or seen either of these instruments? When listening/seeing the güira, are there any other instruments that strike you as familiar? (Perhaps the güiro, found in Puerto Rican and Cuban music). What is the tempo of the music (fast/slow)? 

  4. Play Merengue Sin Letra by La Artilleria for the students. Connecting it with the final question in the previous discussion - point out to students the fast tempo of the merengue. Could you hear instruments that you’ve heard before? (i.e. electric bass and piano). Explain to students that today they will learn to play “Merengue Sin Letra.”

LEARN

  1. Play the Am - E7 Chords video for the students. Mr. Juan will instruct students on how to play two new chords (with provided chord diagrams). Pause the video at 0:31 to allow time for students to get comfortable with the first chord, A minor. Resume from 0:31 to move onto the second chord, E7. Pause the video again at 0:54, with the diagram displayed, to allow students time with the E7 chord. As this chord utilizes three fingers, remind students that using the fingertips as opposed to the “flat” of the finger will ensure that all the notes of the chord are ringing out clearly. Resume from 0:54 to provide an opportunity for the students to practice transitioning between the Am and E7 chords with Mr. Juan. Repeat the video from this point as necessary.

  2. In the Merengue Sin Letra Strumming video, Mr. Juan will begin by providing an aural context for how we “hear” the emotional content/implication of minor chord harmony. Pausing at 0:56, reiterate to the students the point Mr. Juan expresses about “context” - i.e. if we hear the Am chord at a very slow tempo, it may sound sad, but at faster tempos it can evoke a different emotion. It may be helpful to further demonstrate this to the students by strumming the Am chord first at a very solemn, slow tempo and then fast and jovial tempo. Resume from 0:56, from which students will learn the strumming pattern for the song, utilizing the Am and E7 chords. Repeat from the same point in the video to assist the students as necessary.

  3. Play the Merengue Sin Letra Lyrics video for the students. Pause the video at 0:55 and repeat from 0:26 so that the students can practice speaking the lyrics of the song. Resume the video from 0:55, where Mr. Juan will speak the lyrics of the song and provide accompaniment. Have students put down their ukuleles at first, so they can focus solely on speaking the lyrics in rhythm with Mr. Juan and his accompaniment. 

  4. Once the students are confident with the lyrics and how they are placed in the music - repeat the video from 0:55 - 2:03 to allow the students to play the accompaniment and speak the lyrics with Mr. Juan.

PERFORM+SHARE

  1. Create a class performance video of “Merengue Sin Letra.” Encourage the students to both play accompaniment and sing the lyrics. Assist the students by playing the accompaniment along with them to help provide a steady beat. 

  2. Create a video of the performances, and share via the S’Cool Sounds Padlet.

  3. Tell students in the next lesson they will return to the United States to talk about the blues.