Latin Music Performance Styles
This class is geared toward all instrumentalists and singers and covers various aspects of several different African-Diasporic Latin American music styles and their most important artists. Styles will be arranged by country of origin and their differences and similitudes will be explored.
Strong emphasis will be placed on breaking with the Euro-Centric predominant approach, by understanding first the rhythmic elements particular to each style. These elements will be first examined away from the instruments, potentially using percussion instruments, clapping, singing and/or movement. The rhythmic elements will be translated into melodic elements, to then work on the specific stylistic melodic considerations and lastly developing the harmonic concepts.
Through theoretical and technical studies, analysis of music examples, and performance, students will develop an informed perspective on the origins of these music styles as well as a deep understanding on how to apply the different elements to their own art.