Afro Latin American Music

and Popular Music

What is Latin American Music?

The rhythm and styles of Latin American music are influenced by United
States and other countries in Europe like Spain and Portugal.

Latin music is the combination of four musical elements: Musical styles,

cultural backgrounds, language, and geography.
 What are the different instruments used in Latin American Music?

 Bombo – it is a dual headed drum

made from deep tree trunk with
patches made up of calf or goat
skin; it is played by using two
sticks.
 Chajchas – it is a rattle made of
dried hooves from sheep, or goat
and is worn in wrist cloth bracelet.
 Zampoñas – it is a panpipe-type
of reed made of pieces of
bamboo that are tied together.
 Charango – This is a 10-
string guitar made from the
shell of an armadillo.
 Quena – It is a flute
made of bones or
bamboo
 Maracas – These are instruments
made of gourd-like coconut
shells with beans, seeds, or
small pebbles placed inside;
they are played by shaking.
 Cajon – It is a rectangular box
made of wood and played and
used as a drum. It is used by
tapping its front part while the
musician sits on it. Also known as
“beatbox”.
 Claves – These are a pair
of hardwood sticks played
by striking them together.
 What are the vocal and dance forms of Latin America?

1. Cumbia – It is a type of dance and

music similar to salsa and uses
instruments like accordions, guitars,
and percussions.
2. Tango – This is a lively and spirited
dance of two people. It is a passionate
kind of dance that shows expression and
connection, and is performed in a
traditional modern style.
 3. Cha-cha – This is a Latin
American ballroom dance with a
fast basic pattern of three steps
with a shuffle. It also has a fast
rhythmic pattern.
4. Bossa Nova – This is a style of
music that was derived from
samba, which is an original
Brazilian music. It gives more
emphasis on percussion and
melody.
5. Paso Doble – It is Spain’s
traditional couple dance. It uses
music that is traditionally played
in bull fighting.
6. Reggae – This is a Jamaican
from of music and dance with
strong accented and supplementary
beats. The most popular artist of
this genre was Bob Marley.
7. Rumba – This is a kind of song
and dance which originated from
Cuba. It has a percussive rhythm and
a combination of Cuba’s musical and
dance traditions.
Foxtrot – The foxtrot is a graceful
ballroom dance, in which couples use a
combination of long walking movements
and short quick steps to glide across the
dance floor.

-it is a ballroom dance of two quick slow

steps and two quick steps and is executed
alternately in 4/4-time signature.