National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. This is a great time for you to recognize, honor, and celebrate the many contributions and positive influences from Hispanic and Latinx communities in your music classroom.
CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Though many of these ideas are geared toward a general education classroom, they can be very easily and quickly adapted to a music classroom to celebrate Latin American History Month in music class!
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH - LATIN MUSIC USA
Learn more about the diverse cultures and experiences of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. Explore a special collection of stories that highlight their voices and contributions. Especially notable is the docu-series LATIN MUSIC USA - From Latin jazz and mambo to salsa, Tejano, Chicano rock, Latin pop and reggaeton, LATIN MUSIC USA tells the story of the rise of new American music forged from powerful Latin roots.
LATINO USA - LATIN HEROES OF ROCK & ROLL
When we talk about what made rock & roll as we know it, the most common description is: a mixture of R&B, a predominantly black genre, and country, a predominantly white genre. But the sound is not as black and white as many think.
In this episode, Latino USA explores the Latino influences that helped shape rock & roll dating back to the 1950s. We also profile unsung Latino rock artists who had a hand in crafting the sound—from riot girl Alice Bag to David Bowie’s right-hand man guitarist Carlos Alomar.
SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS - LATIN MUSIC LESSON PLANS
Check out the more than two dozen lesson plans and resources representing a variety of teaching levels and genres of Latin American music from Smithsonian Folkways!
18 LATIN COMPOSERS YOU SHOULD KNOW (BESIDES PIAZZOLLA)
While you may know names like Astor Piazzolla, Argentina’s king of the modern tango, you may not know some of the other composers who blended folk music traditions with classical music to create some amazing original works. We’ve put together a list of eighteen composers for you to listen to, introduce to your students and weave into your music classroom. (From Colorado Public Radio)