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” →