Music and Spanish

At Queensbridge we learn Spanish as our modern language. We celebrate Hispanic Day every year and love learning songs in Spanish, as well as music from Spanish-speaking countries around the world. Scroll down to find learning resources and some Spanish music projects that we have enjoyed. 

La Bamba
Our Year 3 children are currently learning this song to take part in the Spanish singing event of the upcoming Hackney Music Festival. You'll probably recognise it, and it's great fun to sing and dance along. Did you know that La Bamba is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz. It's a type of folk song called Son Jarocho which features the arpa jarochas (harp), and perhaps a traditional Mariachi band. Let's listen to some recordings! The first is the earliest known recording, from 1939 (when WWII started!). Then we have a recording by Ritchie Valens in 1958 which made the song famous across the world!

The next performances are more recent, featuring the Mariachis de Veracruz band on stage in 2015, and one mixed version from famous performers all around the world... such amazing playing! Which instruments can you spot?

See if you can learn the lyrics and sing along with the version from Hackney Music Service, below. The lyrics from the first verse and chorus are repeated and talk about dancing and how the singer is 'not a sailor but a captain'. Perhaps the song was made up by sailors in the busy port of Veracruz who wanted to show off their status as the Captain of the ship?
Can you keep up with the fast tempo of this version?

Queensbridge Primary · La Bamba by HMS

Verse: Para bailar la bamba, para bailar la bamba

Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia para mi para ya arriba y arriba
Y arriba y arriba por ti seré, por ti seré, por ti seré

Chorus: Bamba, bamba,  x 4

Yo no soy marinero, yo no soy marinero,
soy capitan, soy capitan, soy capitan

Bamba, bamba,  x 4

Carnegie Hall: Musical Explorers

We have been learning about and joining in with traditional music from all around the world with this wonderful online resource. Use the following links to hear music from Spanish-speaking countries. Once you get to the website, click on the introduction video, or lesson 1/lesson 2 links to find different songs and videos. 

Bomba and Plena music from Puerto Rico
Here's a recording of Estoy Buscando Un Arbol, which we have been learning in class with Y3 and 4. The repeated line means 'I'm looking for a tree to give me some shade.' What do YOU love about trees? Can you hear the call and response conversation between the solo and the chorus? The other video is about Bomba dancing. Can you see and hear how the dancers and drums are in conversation?

Cumbia music from Colombia and other parts of Latin America

Argentine folk music from Argentina

Canticuenticos Musica Para Chicos
This YouTube site has loads of lovely Spanish songs with beautiful animations and some great dancing: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNRD6I1Kzuw63yL35nAbWRQ

Chocolate! A Clapping Game
This clapping game works by taking a four syllable Spanish word, and breaking it down into three parts. So 'chocolate' becomes 'choco - la - te'. 'Amarillo' (yellow) becomes 'ama - ri - llo'. 'Mariposa' (butterfly) becomes 'mari - po - sa', and so on. You can also try it with 'uno, dos, tres'. Our wonderful Y2 bubble demonstrate a group version of the game:

Choco, choco, la, la
Choco, choco, te, te
Choco - la, choco - te
Choco - la - te!

Uno, uno, dos, dos
Uno, uno, tres, tres
Uno, dos, uno, tres
Uno, dos, tres!

Here's two super speedy clappers from Queensbridge! Can you keep up? The other video shows the same game but with a melody as well as a rhythm, and with everyone performing the same hand actions but on the floor.

Chocolate Molinillo
This is a song about Mexican hot chocolate. Mmmm... It's also a bit like the story of the Gingerbread Man, with the hot chocolate running away from the singer! Here is Year 2 Orange Class learning Chocolate Molinillo, with some Flamenco clapping thrown in! Can you join in? Backing Track courtesy of Sing Up.

Chocolate molinillo,
Corre, corre, que te pillo.
Correrás, correrás,
Pero no me pillarás.
Correrás, correrás,
Pero no me pillarás.

Chocolate! 
Yes - another song about chocolate :-) This time with José-Luis Orozco and a trio of young friends. 

Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas, Pies
You'll know this nursery song, but can you introduce the Spanish words too? Thanks to Chris Wilson/Hackney Music Service for the backing track. 

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes 
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes

Cabeƶa, hombros, rodillas,pies, rodillas, pies
Cabeƶa, hombros, rodillas,pies, rodillas, pies
Ojos, orejas, boca, nariz
Cabeƶa, hombros, rodillas,pies, rodillas, pies

Bajo El Fuerte

Bajo el fuerte arbol de la nuez,
Tu y yo, o yo y tu:
Jugamos con alegria,
Bajo el fuerte arbol de la nuez

Arroro Mi Niño
This is a beautiful Latin American lullaby. I learnt this from the Hackney Music festival, and learnt that it was from Mexico. There are also versions from Argentina and other countries in South America. In our version at school, we sing 'tesoro' (treasure) instead of 'pedazo' (piece)

Arroro mi niño

Arroro mi sol

Arroro pedazo

De mi corazón

(rough translation)
Rockabye my baby

Rockabye my sunshine

Rockabye little piece of my heart

La Morenada
We love this song about the traditional Morenada dance from Bolivia! Perhaps you can dress up for the carnival, or make a butterfly with your hands to dance along. Can you clap and stamp the pattern of 3 beats? Thanks to Chris Wilson/Hackney Music Service for the backing track. 

Come along and sing the Morenada
There's no need to fear
Come along and sing the Morenada
Now the carnival is here!

Con Las Manos
Con Los Pies
La Morenada, La Morenada

Come along and dance the Morenada....

Like a butterfly, the Morenada...

Soy Una Taza (Mexican Version)

Pulso y ritmo
Practise pulso y ritmo (pulse, or beat, and rhythm) with Carmen, the music teacher from Collegio Virgen de la Salud - a Spanish school partnered with Parkwood School in Hackney.

Watch and Listen!

We have been learning about flamboyant Flamenco dancing in Year 2. We found out that Flamenco is a type of folk music and dance from Southern Spain. The (often solo) dancer (male or female) is accompanied by la guitarra (guitar), las palmas (clapping, or 'palms') and la voz (voice). The feet also stomp or tap out a strong rhythm, and the dancer makes dramatic shapes with their arms. 

Watch London-born Yinka Esi Graves dance flamenco. Can you match her dramatic shapes, or create some of your own? Can you clap out the rhythms or sing the melody? How does the music make you feel?

Watch this interesting film with your family to find out more about Flamenco and its gypsy roots.

Venezuelan singer Luzmira Zerpa performs the iconic 'Manicero' (Peanut Vendor) right here in Hackney. The club Passing Clouds is just round the corner from school!