Name: Juan Rivera

District: LAUSD
School: Nora Sterry Elementary
Subject: General Music
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Date of lesson: 11/12/15
Lesson Plan: No. 2

Music of Mexico: Mariachi

National Standards for Music Education

Imagine:
o MU:Cr1.1.Ka With guidance, explore and experience music concepts (such as beat
and melodic contour)
o MU:Cr1.1.Kb With guidance, generate musical ideas (such as movements or motives
Connect #11:
o MU:Pr4.2.PKa With substantial guidance, explore and demonstrate awareness of
musical contrasts.
Analyze:
o MU: Re7.2.Ka With guidance, demonstrate how a specific music concept (such as
beat or melodic direction) is used in music.

California Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards

1.0 ARTISTIC PERCEPTION - Processing, Analyzing, and Responding to Sensory

Information through the Language and Skills Unique to Music.
1.2 Identify and describe basic elements in music (e.g., high/low, fast/slow, loud/soft, beat).

2.0 CREATIVE EXPRESSION - Creating, Performing, and Participating in Music

2.3 Play instruments and move or verbalize to demonstrate awareness of beat, tempo, dynamics, and
melodic direction.

3.0 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT- Understanding the Historical

Contributions and Cultural Dimensions of Music
3.3 Use a personal vocabulary to describe voices and instruments from diverse cultures

4.0 AESTHETIC VALUING

Responding to, Analyzing, and Making Judgments about Works of Music
Students critically assess and derive meaning from works of music and the performance of
musicians according to the elements of music, aesthetic qualities, and human responses.
 4.1 Create movements that correspond to specific music.
4.2 Identify, talk about, sing, or play music written for specific purposes (e.g., work song,
lullaby).

Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students will be able:

To become familiar with the musical traditions of Mexico

To identify and name the different instruments associated with mariachi
To discriminate between fast and slow tempi through movement

Equipment and Supplies:

1. Laptop
2. PowerPoint presentation of Mariachi music
3. Traje or Charro suit (Traditional mens Mariachi suit)

a. Moo
b. Jacket
4. Guitar
5. Recordings:
a. La Negra
b. La Mananitas
c. Jarabe Tapatio
d. La Llorona
e. El Cascabel
6. Masking tape

Procedures:

1. Greet class and introduce myself

2. Sing good morning song
3. Ask class, What am I wearing? (I will be wearing clothing used in a traditional mariachi
ensemble to segue into my topic of mariachi music.)
4. Introduce mariachi music with talking about the culture and where it originated in Mexico
through visual and auditory example through PowerPoint.
5. Introduce the various instruments by providing visual and auditory examples of each.
Supplemental website: http://www.folkways.si.edu/flash/mariachi.html

6. Play for class the song La Negra and then talk about how mariachi can be danced to as
well.
7. Activity #1: Demonstrate and explain the use of a Grito and ask students to try it out.
8. Tell class and demonstrate the different occasions mariachi music is used for.
a. Ex. Weedings, Funerals, Quinceaera, and Birthdays.
9. Activity #2: Sing for the class Las Mananitas (Happy Birthday Song) and have them sing
with me.
10. Activity #3: Show them Jarabe Tapatio or more commonly known as Mexican Hat Dance.
a. Demonstrate the dance that goes along to the song first and then ask class to join in.
b. Give some examples of fast and slow mariachi songs.
Ex of slow: La Llorona, Ex. of fast song: El Cascabel
11. Review what students have learned
12. Sing goodbye song

Evaluation:

1. The students learned the different instruments found in a traditional Mariachi ensemble. They
asked questions and were able to identify the names of these instruments. It was successful
though I could have done a better job in describing the characteristics of each instrument.
2. The students gave very unique and individual interpretations of el grito when asked to
demonstrate to the class.
3. Students responded well to the dance but there were some points were they werent dancing
to the tempo of the song and doing the dance correctly.
4. Could have been better at demonstrating things as some students werent able to see what I
was doing clearly.
5. I could have been more relaxed and not as rushed in getting through the lesson.

Extension:

1. Bring an example of each instrument to demonstrate to the class and play either by myself or
ask classmates.
a. Play a live version of one of the songs played in class
2. Introduce more songs used for special occasions like a weeding or Quinceaera to sing as a
class.
3. Learn an authentic dance related to a song.
4. Wear an authentic Charro outfit to demonstrate to the class.
5. Have an activity where the students get to compose or create something related to Mariachi.