Musical Explorers, Fall 2021 Unit 3 – Salsa with Gino Lesson 1: Learning “El Manisero”

Lesson 1: Learning “El Manisero”

Aim: What is the clave rhythm and where can we find it in “El Manisero?” 
Summary: Students learn to clap a basic clave pattern and sing the chorus of “El Manisero.” 
Materials: Music Explorers online audio
Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.CR.3, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.2 
SC: GM.CR.NL-AH.1, GM.CR.NL-AH.2, GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.CN.NL-AH.8 
Vocabulary: clave rhythm, claves, coro, salsa
See Glossary →

Sing “El Manisero”
  • “El Manisero” is Spanish for “the peanut vendor”—“maní” means “peanuts.” 
  • “El Manisero” is a famous song from Cuba. It is based on the cry of a street vendor selling peanuts (“Maní, maní, maní”) 

Track 10 – El Manisero

  • Learn and sing the first coro (Spanish for “chorus”), Track 11 and Track 12, and clap on the first and third beats.
  • “Que rico es el maní?” means “How delicious are peanuts?” in English. 

Track 11 – El Manisero (Coro 1 Pronunciation)

Track 12 – El Manisero (Coro 1)

  • Learn and sing the second coro, Track 13 and Track 14, and clap on the first and third beats.
  • “Ya se va manisero, ya se va!” means “There goes the peanut vendor, there he goes!” in English. 

Track 13 – El Manisero (Coro 2 Pronunciation)

Track 14 – El Manisero (Coro 2)

  • Listen to “El Manisero” again, Track 10, and sing along to each coro. Maintain the steady beat by either patting or walking on the first and third beats.

Track 10 – El Manisero

Explore the Clave Rhythm
  • Listen to Gino play the claves and say “bistec chuleta” in clave, and repeat along with Gino on Track 15.
  • “Bistec chuleta” is Spanish for “steak” and “pork chops”—two of Gino’s favorite foods! They also use these words to remember how to clap the clave pattern. 
  • What words or combination of words can you think of that also sound like the clave pattern? (e.g., “Hello! How are you?” or “Let’s go to the park!”) 

Track 15 – Bistec Chuleta Clave Rhythm

Track 16 – Clave Rhythm

  • Listen to “El Manisero” again, Track 10, and clap along to the clave pattern. 

Track 10 – El Manisero

  • Divide students into two groups and ask one group to tap the steady beat while the other group claps the clave rhythm. 

“Clave” (pronounced KLAH-vey) means “key” or “keystone” and is an Afro-Cuban rhythmic pattern that holds all salsa music together. This pattern is played on a percussion instrument called the claves (pronounced KLAH-veys) and contains five beats, or strokes. “El Manisero” and “Vamanos pa’l Monte” are both performed using the 2/3 son clave pattern. This can be remembered by repeated the 2/3 syllable phrase “Bis-tec, Chu-le ta.”

Creative Extension: Learn the Basic Sidestep in 2/3 Clave

  • Starting on your right foot, step to your right.
  • Bring your left foot together with your right foot.
  • Step out again with your right foot.
  • Touch your left heel in front of you.
  • Repeat this pattern on the left side, and add circular arm motions with the music.
  • Watch the video below for a sidestep video tutorial by salsa musician Bobby Sanabria:
Musical Word Wall

Add the words clave rhythm, claves, coro, and salsa to the Musical Word Wall. 
See Glossary →

PDF Downloads

SG23 – Learn the Clave Pattern ↓ Download File

Audio Tracks

Track 10 – El Manisero

Track 11 – El Manisero (Coro 1 Pronunciation)

Track 12 – El Manisero (Coro 1)

Track 13 – El Manisero (Coro 2 Pronunciation)

Track 14 – El Manisero (Coro 2)

Track 15 – Bistec Chuleta Clave Rhythm

Track 16 – Clave Rhythm

Lesson 2: Exploring “Vamanos pa’l Monte” →