Carnaval: Music and Rhythm
Objective
As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Describe in musical terms the 2006 Carnaval theme songs for Olinda, Brazil and Mazatlan, Mexico.
- Create dance movements to selected songs.
Material
Activities
- Emphasize that music and dance play an important role during Carnaval.
- Play the audio version of the 2006 Carnaval song from Olinda, Brazil.
- Ask students to list the key elements and characteristics.
- Play the video of Mazatlan’s 2006 Carnaval.
- Direct students to listen to the music as they view the video and to list key elements and characteristics of the music.
- Ask students to compare the two the music from the two Carnavals. What are the similarities and differences? What role does music appear to play in both Carnavals?
- Divide students into small working in small groups.
- Direct students to choose one song from the musical selections provided and to create their own dance steps and/or movements that could be used during the Carnaval celebration.
- Allow sufficient class time for each team to perform their dance steps for the class as a whole.
- (Teacher note: If this lesson is completed in conjunction with the Carnaval: Artistic Creations lesson, students can wear their masks/fantasia for the performance.)
