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The Latin Rhythms of Despacito - Teach Rock

Grades
4 to 8
   
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The Latin Rhythms of Despacito lesson plan from TeachRock introduces students to four Latin American music styles- Reggaeton, Musica Jibara, Cumbia, and Salsa- and examines their...more
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The Latin Rhythms of Despacito lesson plan from TeachRock introduces students to four Latin American music styles- Reggaeton, Musica Jibara, Cumbia, and Salsa- and examines their influence on Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's hit song "Despacito." Through video content and musical analysis activities, students learn how producers Mauricio Rengifo and Andres Torres incorporated elements from these genres into the track. This lesson encourages students to identify and discuss the integration of these musical styles within "Despacito" and to explore the broader impact of Latin American music on popular culture.

tag(s): hispanic (46), music theory (47), rhythm (22)

In the Classroom

Play short clips of Reggaeton, Musica Jibara, Cumbia, and Salsa to introduce students to the rhythms discussed in the lesson. Ask students to identify the unique rhythm patterns in each style and discuss how these rhythms are used in modern music. Divide the class into small groups, each assigned to one of the four Latin genres (Reggaeton, Musica Jibara, Cumbia, Salsa). Have groups create a playlist of songs that exemplify the genre and explain why these songs fit within the musical style. Introduce students to the dance styles associated with each genre (e.g., salsa dancing and Reggaeton movement). Discuss how music and dance are culturally interconnected and how they reflect the communities from which they originated. Have students listen to "Despacito" and analyze the lyrics for their cultural references, themes, and storytelling techniques. Students could compare the lyrics of "Despacito" to another popular song, discussing similarities and differences in themes, cultural references, and music styles. Compare lyrics using a tool such as ClassTools Interactive Venn Diagrams reviewed here. You can click on the right side to choose between a two or three-circle Venn diagram.