Inside: Música miércoles in Spanish class. What is música miércoles, why to do música miércoles, and ready to go música miércoles resources for Spanish class.
My first popular post on this blog was about baile viernes, our routine of starting every Friday dancing to a Spanish song. So, I decided to go into more detail with baile viernes‘ older sister – música miércoles. This is a routine that I created during my first year of teaching in 2012-2013. Yes, I know the name is not correct, but it was created by my students that year and stuck.
MIS CLASES LOCAS CLASSROOM ROUTINES
Get a year of Spanish class starters in editable Google Slides. Para Empezar 2022
- Monday – Weekend Chat
- Tuesday – Mapa del martes
- Wednesday – Música miércoles
- Thursday – Jaja jueves
- Friday – Baile viernes or alternate – future weekend chat
What is Música miércoles?
Música miércoles (music Wednesday) is starting class by watching a music video (or lyrics video for those with inappropriate videos) of a current or classic song in Spanish. It can then include answering questions or talking about the song in Spanish. Years ago I started a Youtube playlist to keep class favorites organized, and it is now huge! There are many other playlists on my Youtube now as well.
First, each week I picked either a favorite song of mine or one from Billboard Latino Top 100. I am always on the lookout for new music on Pinterest and Twitter as well, especially current and relevant, such as an upcoming World Cup or film. Then these videos get inserted into an editable Google Slideshow, along with the artist, title, and a couple of discussion questions.
I used to scramble each Wednesday morning trying to find a new song to add to my slides, but over the years I started putting together many at the start of the semester, to you know be a little more prepared. 🙂 The first paid resource I actually ever posted was the OG Música miércoles. Now you can see I have dozens of ready to go music resources. If I was starting this year I would get 2023 Música miércoles or if you want TONS of options Música miércoles Growing BUNDLE.
Why do Música miércoles?
In my first year of teaching, one of my biggest successes was música miércoles. Because of this tradition, many students’ favorite day of the week became Wednesday, as shared in their friday feedback. Week after week students would enter saying “Yeah, we get to listen to music today!” “Whooo, música miércoles!” I think this is because many students enjoy listening to music, and think they get to “waste” class time doing so. What they do not realize is this “waste” has the following benefits to them.
Benefits of Música miércoles
- Listening to the Spanish language through song
- Exposing them to new genres and artists of Spanish-speaking music
- Learning the geography of where the artists are from
- Hearing different accents and slang from various parts of the world
- Getting catchy music stuck in their head
- Cultivating an interest in new music, enough to start their own Spanish Pandora station at home
- Bringing up cultural similarities and differences
- Making learning Spanish fun
- Having students excited to come to Spanish class
How to take music in Spanish class even further?
The students enjoyed doing activities surrounding music so much during my first year that sometimes the entire class period was dedicated to music on Wednesday. (Especially since due to Wednesday’s short class period that year due to Mass, homeroom, and early release all fall on this day meaning around 27-minute class periods. After watching a video and talking about a little, there would barely be any time to do anything else anyway, so why not go deeper into the music?)
If you are going to spend the whole class period on a song each week, work to plan songs that would go with each level’s unit of study. Typically, I pick one song each week (for ease & planning’s sake) to show all levels and vary the questions I ask each class. Also, check out What to do with a song in Spanish class & 15 Ways to Use Authentic Music in Spanish Class
Chat about the music!
*Update – now have music question cards to help support students chatting about music. It includes 56 different questions related to music. The music task cards include the following types of questions.
- General personalized questions chatting about music.
- Basic questions to discuss any song in Spanish.
- Questions to compare songs for a music bracket. (See below for links)
- Intermediate-level questions to discuss any song in Spanish.
Or chat about music using the NEW Music Find Someone Who!
More ways to Mix it up with Music
Music Brackets
- **Try Hispanic Heritage Music Madness Fall Music Bracket using Hispanic Heritage Month #7 2022 or the growing Hispanic Heritage Month Song Bundle
- **Or try a Spring March Music Bracket using the new 2023 Music Bracket (for HS) or for Middle/Elementary School Music bracket for YOUNGER Spanish class 2023 or the growing Music Brackets for Spanish Class – March Growing Bundle
Intentionally diversify your representation
- Afro-latinx – BUNDLE
- Newest Afro-Latinx Music 2022, Afro-latino del día 3, Afro-latino del día 2 & Afro-latino del día
- Indigenous Peoples in Spanish class – music resource
Dance!
- Baile viernes Bundle, the newest Baile viernes 2023
Other Music resources from Mis Clases Locas you might enjoy
- Mis Clases Locas Mega Music Bundle
- Música miércoles Growing BUNDLE.
- For younger students or more conservative schools, I have Música for middle school & Música for Elementary Spanish
Video 1 – Music in Spanish Class – Why Use Music & How to Find it
Video 2 Music Weekly Routines – How to do música miércoles & baile viernes
Want to try out free Spanish music slides?
Let me know if you try música miércoles!
– Allison
Música miércoles was originally posted June 25, 2014, by Allison Wienhold
I do weekly "coros" where students spend 3 days learning a catchy chorus. It's based on a literacy expert's technique for improving fluency in *reading*, but I think it works just as well for L2 fluency! But my kids, too, come to class just for the song!
I like the idea of learning the chorus!
Also, excellent choice of image for the post! Es mi novio 😉
Allison, your blog is just a GOLD MINE for me. Every post has me thinking, "Why didn't I think of that?!" ha ha. I LOVE this idea. I am on a double block schedule so I can't always have it on a Wednesday but I am definitely using this somehow.
Thank you so much! I am glad someone is finding it useful!
I love it too!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you for reading! Have a great year! – Allison
Do the students respond to any activities after listening? Or is it just to expose them to new music/culture/etc? Thanks 🙂
Hi Emily,
I have done this many different ways. Sometimes it is just to quickly start class to expose them to new music and we talk in Spanish about what we liked, saw, and felt during the song. Other days we spend the entire class period on just one song listening, answering questions, discussing, putting lyrics in order, reflecting, or focusing on repeating one target structure.
I hope that helps!
Allison
Hola. Gracias por estos recursos fantásticos. 🙂
Which levels of Spanish do you use this with?
Hola!
I teach Spanish 1-4 and have done a variation on this with all levels. I usually pick 1 song for the week and then just change the questions and discussions to fit the level.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Allison
Thank you! I love your ideas! You're a life saver!!!
Thank you! I love your ideas! You're a life saver!!!
Thank you so much! Let me know if you need anything at all!
Allison
This is the first year that I've tried Música Miércoles and most of my students have hated every song I've played (I've been playing many different genres, artists, etc). We have 5 minute passing periods, so it's hard to just have the song playing as they come in as some have to use the entire 5 minutes to get across campus (the school is enormous!). I usually wait until they're in the room before starting the song. Should I just play it on loop as they walk in? I love the idea, but I feel like I'm doing it wrong.
There is no wrong way to do it!! I usually have it playing on a loop during passing time & then restart it once class starts. A new trick I have is using google slides, insert the video so side by side you can have the video playing on a loop and the info and questions to write down. Once everyone is settled, you can make it full screen and then go back to questions after to discuss if needed.
As for choosing songs, let the kids have input. Make it a job of your most opinionated music lovers to find songs THEY think the class would like in Spanish. As an assignment, kids could post a song in Spanish they like, and you(or your class DJ) could use these options to pick.
Just some ideas!
Allison
I usually show videos with the lyrics due to inappropriate videos, like you do, but this year more than ever I have students really getting into the music and doing their own research. They find the bad videos or the remixed, inappropriate versions and come back to class telling me about it. How do you handle this? I have 8th graders.
I think it is great they are listening to Spanish music out of class! Personally, what they do on their own time is their choice. If it ever comes back to you, you can show that you used an appropriate option 🙂
What questions do you put up on the board?
Thanks!
What questions do you create for novice students especially?
You can see them in my many ready to use slideshows on TPT!