This document provides an overview of a webquest on traditional Hispanic music and dance. The webquest includes four activities: defining key terms related to Hispanic culture; identifying traditional Spanish musical instruments; recognizing traditional Spanish dances; and researching modern Hispanic musicians. The activities utilize various online resources to teach students about the role of music in Hispanic cultures through history to modern times, covering topics like flamenco, salsa, instruments like castanets and bongos, and dances such as the flamenco, salsa, and rumba. The goal is to help students learn about and appreciate Hispanic musical traditions.

1. Español 3 La música y la danza en el mundo Hispánico
Nombre______________
http://www2.potsdam.edu/murphybj193/210webquest/
Objetivo: Imagine a world without music. In the Hispanic world, music plays a huge role. From Flamenco to Salsa
to the more modern music of Juanes, Spanish music has been through many changes. Throughout this webquest you
will learn about a few of the many instruments native to Spain and Latin America. You will also study the more
traditional types of music in the Hispanic world, and will even delve into the traditional dances that usually
accompany the music.
Activity One: Culture Terms ¿Qué Significa...?
Before we deal directly with the music, dance and tradition aspect, we must first study the various
palabras that describe certain music. Using Google, define the following words.
1.) Hispanic - Of or relating to Spain or to Spanish-speaking countries, esp. those of Latin America.
2.) Latino - A Latin American inhabitant of the US.
3.) Chicano - (in North America) A person of Mexican origin or descent.
Click here! / ¡Haz clic aquí!
This site gives a very thorough definition of these three very difficult words. The three are easily
confused, and the site definitely sets them straight. The site is reputable, and is a good help,
especially when it comes to a topic such as this. Although the author is not clear, the site is from
an accredited university.
4.) Tradition** - In this usage, the intention was to be historically accurate to what might have
been done at the time. For the most part, people generally use the word as a cute replacement for
"customary" and "recognized". That's how I always take the word initially. Hence, when a
traditional bagpiper is requested, I would intend to present someone dressed in a pleated kilt
playing a three droned instrument.
Click here! / ¡Haz clic aquí!
This site in particular provides a good sense of the word tradition. When it comes to cultures,
tradition can mean something totally different from what we think of in our everyday lives.
**It is 100% necessary to understand tradition under any and all circumstances**
Activity Two: La música tradicional

2. Español 3 La música y la danza en el mundo Hispánico
Nombre______________
Based on the descriptions of the traditional musical instruments of the Hispanic world, search the
provided websites to find the correct responses.
1.) This instrument is generally played by Flamenco dancers. It consists of two small pieces of
wood, and is played by clapping the two pieces together. The sound produces is much like that of a small,
high-pitched drum.
Answer/Respuesta Castanets
2.) This instrument is very common in most all societies, especially here in the U.S.! It is a crucial
part of Hispanic music, and its sound can easily be picked out of a piece. It is a six-stringed instrument
that is far from expendable in the music world. In Spanish music, there are many types of this instrument,
one of which is known as an Aragonese guitarro.
Answer/Respuesta: Guitar
Click here! / ¡Haz clic aquí!
This site provides a simple, basic overview of the traditional music of Spain. The vast
majority of the site deals with instruments that are a key component within the Hispanic
world of music. Although they take root in Spain, they can be found in many Latin
American countries as well, seeing as they are necessary to produce certain sounds
distinct to Latin music. This site could be understood by students as young as the
middle-school level, so long as they understand a bit about the culture of Spain. The
language is fairly easy to understand, thus applying it to any age group. The developer
is of direct Spanish descent, and has a degree in English Information Services and
Information Management from the University of Professional Education of Amsterdam.
3.) Salsa music’s key component lies within these essential instruments. These percussion tools
were, in the past, made out of fruit from the Higuera tree, but are now found made of plastic, for the most
part.
Answer/Respuesta: Maracas
4.) This instrument most likely originated in Cuba around 1900. An instrument of percussion, it
consists of two small, unequal sized drums and is played sitting down. It is yet another integral part of
Latin percussion.
Es posible que este instrumento originara en Cuba cerca de 1900. Un instrumento de
percusión, consiste en dos pequeños tambores de tamaño desigual y está tocado mientras
sienta. Otra vez, es una parte de la percusión Latino completamente necesario.
Answer/Respuesta: Bongos
Click here! / ¡Haz clic aquí!

3. Español 3 La música y la danza en el mundo Hispánico
Nombre______________
l
This site provides an easy to follow description of many of the most important instruments in the
Hispanic world. They all play essential roles in the rhythm of Latin music. Any age group can
easily understand this site due to the fact that it uses very simple English, and is very straight
forward. The information is very well-presented. It is published through an educational resource
group headed by Evan Bailyn in order to spread appreciation for music in the Spanish world.
Activity Three: ¡Bailamos!
Using the pictures, brief descriptions, and websites provided, identify each of the traditional
Spanish dances shown below. Next, list one characteristic of the given dance.
1.)
This traditional Spanish dance originated with the gypsies or gitanos of Spain. It is still very
popular today.
Este baile tradicional originó con los gitanos o gypsies de España. Todavía está popular hoy.
This dance is / Este baile es: Flamenco
Characteristic/Característica? It is folk art and culture from Spain.
2.)
This particular Spanish dance is a mix of numerous dances. Its movement is generally side to
side whereas its cousin, the Mambo, moves generally forward and backward.
Este baile Español es una mezcla de muchos bailes. Generalmente, el movimiento es de lado
a lado, mientras el movimiento de su primo, el Mambo, es de adelante hacia atrás.
This dance is / Este baile es: Samba
Characteristic/Característica? rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin
3.)
This dance takes root in two cultures: Spanish and African. Its name is a generic term for a
type of West-Indian music. Its name also comes from the Spanish verb rumbear meaning “to
go to parties, to dance, to have a good time.”
Este baile es de dos culturas: español y africano. Su nombre es una palabra genérica para un
tipo de música “West Indian.” Su nombre también viene del verbo español “rumbear.”

4. Español 3 La música y la danza en el mundo Hispánico
Nombre______________
This dance is / Este baile es: Salsa
Characteristic/Característica? is normally a partner dance, although there are recognized solo forms
Click here! / ¡Haz clic aquí!
This website delves deep into the many dances of our time and speaks of how they have
developed. It gives more than enough background information and is very thorough. It offers
alternate websites to dance evolution, and is user friendly. The authors vary with topic, but, for the
most part, they seem to know exactly what they are talking about.
4.)
This dance is very similar to that of the Flamenco. It is a hybrid of two aforementioned dances,
and took root in Barcelona when Catalan dancers modified it to make it their own.
This dance is / Este baile es: ____________________________________
Characteristics / Características?
__________________________________________________________
Click here! / ¡Haz clic aquí!
This site is very well trusted. It is a well known company in the world of news, and offers very
accurate information. It gives background on this dance, though it is not well-known, and allows
the reader to learn something new. The author, Tom Pryor, uses words very well, and presents the
topic in a good light.
Activity Four: ¡Moderno!
There are many prominent singers within the world of music today. Some of the best come from Hispanic
countries. Through the exploration of each recording artist’s website, you will discover as much as you
can about them, their lives, their music, etc. For each artist, please write a short paragraph, anywhere
from 200-300 words on a separate sheet of lined paper. Topics to address may include the type of music
they produce, a short biography of their lives, when and where they will be touring, any hobbies they may
have, and any other interesting ideas.
1. Juanes - He was born in Medellin, Columbia on August 9, 1972. He was influenced by Carlos
Gardel. The Los Angeles Times newspaper named him "the single most important figure of the decade
in Latin music," while Rolling Stone magazine referred to him as "a superstar in Latin America [and]
one of the biggest rock star the world. " He started touring in the US on October 4th, 2011. His tour will
end in Mexico on January 1st, 2011.
2. Alex Ubago - http://www.alexubago.com/index.asp
He was born in Vitoria, Spain on January 29th 1981. He has no brothers and sisters.
When he was 4 him and his family moved to San Sebastian. He likes to go out every

5. Español 3 La música y la danza en el mundo Hispánico
Nombre______________
weekend if he has a test or not. He would write songs without knowing at age 15. He
started his career with his cousing David who was a musician and had a home studio.
He toured in August of 2011 in Spain.
3. Enrique Iglesias - He was born on May 8th, 1975 in Madrid, Spain. He is a SPanish singer,
songwriter and actor. He was the 3rd and last child of Julio Iglesias. He is of Filipino and Spanish
decent. His parents divorced in 1978. He grandpa was kidnapped by the ETA terrorist group so
Enrique and his brother moved to Miami with their father. He didn’t want his dad’s fame to make him
famous so he gave himself a fake name and dropped out of college and went to Ontario Canada to
record his first album.
4. Nelly Furtado - Born in Victoria, British Columbia on December 12, 1978, she grew up in a musical
household with her Portuguese parents. At 18, she entered a talent competition and was discovered by
the director. This led to a record contract and her debut album Whoa, Nelly! in 2000. Hit songs include
"I'm Like a Bird" (2000), "Promiscuous" (2006) and "Say it Right" (2007)
These websites are all for the artist’s professional use. They include almost anything a fan may
want to know, and one can learn a great deal through the exploration of these sites. They are well-
maintained, and can be understood by the vast majority of the populace, though some pages are
primarily in Spanish, but this is a Spanish course!