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Year 10 - Music

Salsa and merengue

Rhythms and conventions of Latin and Caribbean music

Unit Summary

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Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe the core features of salsa and merengue and can recreate a salsa groove.

Key Notes

  • Salsa and merengue are popular forms of music and dance that both use Latin percussion and syncopated rhythms.
  • Key features of salsa include the piano montuno, tresillo bass pattern and son clave rhythm.
  • Salsa often uses a large band, similar to a Western jazz 'big band' with saxophones, brass, and a rhythm section.
  • Merengue typically has a smaller group, using traditional Dominican instruments such as the tambora.
  • The quintillo is a defining rhythmic pattern in merengue.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Salsa: Salsa is a style of music and dance that developed from Cuban son music.
  • Montuno: A montuno is a syncopated, repeating piano pattern that is typical of salsa.
  • Tresillo: The tresillo is a three-note rhythm that is the same as the '3' of the son clave.
  • Merengue: Merengue is a style of music and dance from the Dominican Republic that often uses traditional Dominican instruments.
  • Quintillo: A quintillo is a rhythmic pattern of five fast notes that is a typical feature of merengue.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Latin dance music all sounds the same.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Salsa and merengue are popular forms of music and dance that both use Latin percussion and syncopated rhythms. Key features of salsa include the piano montuno, tresillo bass pattern and son clave rhythm.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Salsa'

Salsa is a style of music and dance that developed from Cuban son music.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Latin dance music all sounds the same. Correction: Many of the styles of music from this region include similar features, such as syncopated rhythms, Latin percussion, Spanish lyrics etc. However, they all have distinct differences that allow us to tell the different traditions apart.

More Lessons In This Unit

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