Does Latin music sound unfamiliar to your ears?

When I took the first steps towards learning Latin dances, I couldn’t even distinguish Salsa from Merengue.  Although I spent 20 years playing different instruments, Latin music was unfamiliar to my ears. I’m therefore quite able to understand the rhythm-related problems that my students experience. Before going into further technical details about music, I often tell my students to start by listening to a lot of Latin music. Whether it is at home, at the gym or in the car, you need to immerse yourself in this new musical world in order to train your ears by subjecting them to the new sounds and instruments. Our musical culture in North America is mainly influenced by Pop and Rock. The distinct rhythms often accompanied by regular percussions characterize modern Western music. When we first listen to African or Afro-Cuban music, we are unfamiliar with the instruments used, and even less accustomed to the new different rhythms and musical structures. In other words, before exploring the matter in depth, you need to have a brief glimpse of the dance and accustom your ears to the flow of this wonderful music.

Here are some of my favourite songs

Spanish Fly from Eric Benét is a smooth and groovy cha-cha with a hint of sweet sauce. A wonderful discovery!

Salsa’s extensive family tree encompasses Timba that originated in Cuba. It a musical style characterized by growing percussion and drum sounds. The song Cana Quema from Son de Madre will leave you breathless.

Simply great to listen to by the pool, the song Como Me Duele Perderte by Gloria Estefan is perfect for beginners, for professionals looking for a slow-paced song to practice, and also for teachers who want a slow song for teaching purposes.

Thanks to Juan Luis Guerra I fell in love with Merengue. The song Vale la Pena is one of my favorites.

Here’s our Spotify Playlist.. a good place to start exploring

Stay tuned as the next chapter on music will come out shortly.

Ilias Director –  Baila Productions

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