Goals:  Expose students to a variety of Latino music in Iowa and develop an understanding and appreciation of the instruments used.

Objectives:  Students will be able to

1. Identify communities in Iowa with large Latino communities.
2. Identify the countries in Latin America.
3. Identify the various instruments used in Latino music.
4. Explore the different types of Latin American music in Iowa.

Questions to be answered:

1. Which Iowa communities have large Latino populations?
2. Name some of the home countries of residents in those communities.
3. Latinos or Hispanics is an overall term for people from countries and regions in North, Central, and South America. List several of the places of origin for people of Latino/Hispanic heritage in Iowa. 
4. When, why, and where did Latinos first settle in Iowa?
5. What are some of the instruments used in Latino music and where do they originate?
6. What are some types of Latin American music?

Suggested Methods and Activities:

1. Students will study the demographics of various communities in Iowa and chart on an Iowa map the areas in which Latinos have settled. Discuss why there are larger concentrations in certain areas and from which countries. Visit  web sites:
   • Prairie Voices: Hispanics in Iowa
     
   • Iowa Division of Latino Affairs
     
   • Iowa State Fair: Music From the Heartland: About the Songs
     
   • Singing Stories of Mexican Americans
     
   • Martha Garcia: Mexican Food Expert
     
   • Sam Carbajal: Mexican Dancer
     

• Other resources about Latinos in Iowa:
  
  • Division of Latino Affairs
    
  • Latinos Unidos of Iowa
    

  *This activity can be modified for most grade levels.  Grades K-1 can work in large groups to answer the questions and grades 2-4 can work in smaller groups.  Older grades can work in pairs or alone to create presentations on specific topics.

2. Identify the various instruments used in Latino music pictured and described on this site and here. List some of the natural materials used in creating the instruments. Let students create their own unique instruments using materials found in nature or follow instructions here for making panpipes (click on that image) or here to make a guiro (gourd percussion instrument). Have students download some of the music and lead sheets here (part of panpipe page) and play their instruments. Invite some Latino musicians into the classroom for a demonstration and performance.

*This activity most appropriate for grade 3-8. 

3. Students will visit Latino radio and music sites and also listen to a variety of Latino music clips:
   • Artes Latinas
   • Folkways Latino
   • AOL Latino Radio
     

Have students describe the features of music from different countries in Latin America. Next, try dividing students into groups and ask them to determine the countries where the music might have originated:  Guatemala, Argentina, Brazil, México, etc. 

*This activity most appropriate for grades 4-8. Grades 9-12 could use it to write about and/or give students presentations comparing and contrasting traditional music from different Latin American countries and regions.

4. Explore the various types of Latino music by studying different Latino musicians and dancers in Iowa. Students will visit the websites noted below and search for various Latino traditional musicians and dancers.  They will discuss how Latino music has changed and remained the same over the years.  This activity may be a general class discussion, or more in depth paper/presentation. 
   • Latin America Music and Culture Kit
     
   • Singing Stories of Mexican Americans
     
   • Iowa State Fair: Music from the Heartland
     • listen to tracks 11 and 12 and read about musicians Adalberto and Eugenio Solis at
   • Iowa State Fair: Music from the Heartland: About the Songs
     
   • Jorge Morales: Mexican Guitarist
   • Las Guitarras de Mexico
     
   • Arnulfo Camraillo: Ballet folklorico
     
   • Karina Camarillo: Ballet folklorico
     
   • Nora Garda: Argentine Tango (soon to be added
     

   *This activity most appropriate for grades 7-12, but educators can play samples for younger students.