Inside: The best Spanish songs for class. Engage Your Students with Songs with this Ultimate Guide to Spanish Class Music for Spanish learners. How to Use Spanish Songs to Enhance Student Learning and Engagement.
Author – Allison Wienhold
Published – February 3, 2025
How to Use Spanish Songs to Enhance Student Engagement
Music is one of the best tools I have found to make Spanish class more engaging and enjoyable. Incorporating Spanish class music into your lessons helps students improve their vocabulary, listening skills, and understanding of Hispanic culture. Long time readers know here on Mis Clases Locas I have many posts about using music in Spanish class.
Whether you’re playing a famous Spanish song like “La Bamba” or a trending hit by artists like Ela Taubert, the right music can transform your classroom. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use the best Spanish songs for class to create fun and effective learning experiences for your students.
Teaching Spanish Through Music Blog Posts
*Música miércoles
A Bell Ringers for Spanish Class. Project a slide with the artist, title, task & play music in Spanish. The embedded music video is playing Spanish music as all classes enter. Once the bell rings, watch the popular Spanish song as a class. You can discuss it briefly, and move on with the day. I like to use the same song in Spanish across all levels to make it easier to plan for many preps.
My newest Música miércoles has ready to go slides to project.
What to do with a song in Spanish class
Chat about Music in Spanish
Spanish Class Music Ideas
*Baile viernes
Another Spanish Class Routine is baile viernes. At the start of class, a dance video in Spanish is projected on the screen. The videos are usually easy Zumba or Just Dance in Spanish that play during passing time. If students are dancing and into it, the video will play again at the start of class.
Baile viernes 2025 has ready to go music slides you can use in class.
5 Ways to use Dance in any Classroom
Ultimate List of Just Dance in Spanish
*Spanish Class Music Brackets – Spanish Classroom Playlists
For many years I have put together a Spanish music bracket. We post the 16 songs on a bulletin board. All students vote for songs to advance in the bracket.
You can get my NEW 2025 Spanish Music Bracket mania musical or NEW YOUNG Spanish March Music Bracket 2025 mania musical. Each come with YouTube Spanish classroom playlists of popular songs in Spanish.
Hispanic Heritage Month Music Bracket
I also do another Spanish class music bracket for Hispanic Heritage Month with one song from each country. Get one song from each Spanish speaking country in the Hispanic Heritage Month Spanish Music Bracket.
Spanish Class Song Activities
It is one thing to listen to music in Spanish, but it is another teaching Spanish through music. For more in depth Spanish song activities read > What to do with a song in Spanish class
- Music as a brain break
- Spanish Music as a Time Filler
- Canción/Artista de la semana
- Celebrate diverse music – Afro-Latino Music in February for Black History Month
- Or for November, honor Native American Heritage Month with indigenous music
- Chat about a song using music question cards
- Spanish Music Find Someone Who
- Teach Geography with Music & pair with travel videos about each country as well.
- Movie talk a music video
- SpanishPlaylistParty
- Roxxem
- Señor Wooly
- Karaoke or Lip Dub
- Find Spanish Classroom Playlists on my Youtube channel
Top Spanish songs for beginners
If you are teaching Exploratory Spanish or Elementary Spanish Lessons and need Spanish songs for beginners check out these blog posts. Use if you want to play music in Spanish and teach basic Spanish to your kids or classes.
- Greetings Song in Spanish
- Alphabet Songs in Spanish Class
- Days of the Week songs in Spanish
- Happy Birthday Songs in Spanish Class
Classroom Spanish Playlists By Theme
If you want to play music in Spanish and need music for Spanish learners sorted by time of the year see these blog posts. Here you will find famous songs in Spanish based on holidays. Listen to music in Spanish based on a cultural celebration.
- Afro-Latino Music in Spanish Class
- 10 Spanish Class Love Songs
- Día de Muertos Songs for Spanish class
- Spanish Thanksgiving Songs
- Indigenous music
- Spanish Class Christmas Songs
- Spanish Songs for Hanukkah
The Best Spanish Songs for Class
When choosing music for your Spanish class, consider these categories. Some teachers focus on classic famous Spanish songs only. Others only play music in Spanish that are current hits. As with everything I think a balance of classic famous songs and new music for Spanish class is best when it come to music for Spanish learners.
Famous Spanish Songs
You might search Spanish song famous & want classics, so here you go. Listen to music in Spanish with classic cultural songs and famous songs in Spanish.
- “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens
A classic, well-loved song that’s fun and easy for students to sing along with. (Fun fact La Bamba is my go-to Kareoke songs!) YouTube Link
- “Oye Cómo Va” by Santana
Introduces students to Latin rhythms and culture. (But it makes me think of an awesome tap dance from my days as a competive dancer). YouTube Link
- “Guantanamera” by Celia Cruz
A cultural classic that introduces poetic lyrics and traditional Cuban rhythms. I did a huge project on Celia Cruz in college & have loved her ever since! A character in he film Vivo is loosely based on her – YouTube Link
- “Cielito Lindo” (Traditional Mexican Folk Song)
This song is ideal for exploring Mexican culture and traditional music. I use this song for Tumba Chapter 5 – “Cielito Lindo” – YouTube Link
Top Authentic Spanish Songs for Beginners
If you want a popular Spanish song for teaching Spanish through music here are some favorites. These are the tried and true best Spanish songs for class as music for Spanish learners. These are the middle ground if you want to listen to music in Spanish that is not an ancient classic, nor a brand new famous Spanish song. They are appropriate & have a repetitive chorus to learn Spanish.
“Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony
A positive, upbeat salsa song with repetitive lyrics that are easy to understand. If you have taught voy a since Vivir mi vida was released in 2013, there is a hgh chance you have used this popular song in Spanish class.
“Soy yo” by Bomba Estéreo
A super positive, catchy, receptive song with an adorable video from 2015. If you have every used my popular High-Frequency Verb Unit to Start Spanish 1, you know Soy yo is the day 1 song to practice the phrase soy.
“Cuando Te Veo” by ChocQuibTown
ChocQuibTown is an excellent Afro-Latino Colombian group. This catchy tune is great to authentically teach teach the Sweet 16 verb ver & indirect object pronouns in context.
Popular Spanish Songs for Spanish Class 2025
If you are looking for a current popular Spanish song for class here are a few of my current favorites.
“No Se Vale” by Camilo
Colombian Camilo consistently puts out great songs for Spanish class. teach the idiomatic expresion no se vale with this catchy popular Spanish song. This song is a part of my YOUNG appropriate 2025 Mania Musical Spanish music bracket.
“¿Cómo Pasó?” by Ela Taubert
This new 2024 pop hit from Best New Artist Winner Ela Taubert is a super catch song for class. You can find this song as a part of my 2025 Mania Musical Music Bracket!
“Esta Vida (Versión Salsa)” by Farruko – Ft. Marlon Fernandez
This upbeat salsa song shows a positive representation of different Spanish cultures.
This phrase from the chorus has many high frequency verbs in context. Ay, esta vida. Cuando tienes, te quieren; cuando no, te olvidan.
You can find this song as a part of my Afro-Latino Music 2025 slides.
Want to learn more about Music in Spanish class?
Watch this 3 part video series.
Spanish Music Freebie
Want to try this in your classroom? Download my free Spanish class music sample! Sign up below to access it and start using music to engage your students.
Enter your email to get Free Spanish Music Google Slides emailed right to your inbox
The Best Songs for Spanish Class
Spanish class music is more than just a fun activity; it’s an essential tool for teaching language and culture. By using famous Spanish songs, trending hits, and educational tracks, you can create an engaging and effective learning environment. Music helps students connect with the language in a meaningful way and makes your Spanish class a place they look forward to.
So, grab your playlist, press play, and watch your students fall in love with Spanish through music.
What is Hot & New from Mis Clases Locas to shop for this Spring
BRAND NEW Para Empezar 2025 Bell Ringers for a year!
- NEW Afro-Latino Music Slides 2025 (great for Black History Month!)
- NEW Weekend Chat 2025
- NEW martes del mapa 2025 – Spanish
- NEW Música miércoles 2025
- NEW Jaja jueves 2025
- NEW Baile viernes 2025
Middle School Para Empezar for a Year
- NEW Middle School Novice Weekend Chat
- All Spanish-Speaking Places Travel Videos (great alternative for Exploratory)
- NEW Middle School música miércoles
- NEW Middle school 1 year of Jaja Jueves
- NEW Baile Viernes 1 year of Middle School
POPULAR SHOW RIGHT NOW FOR SPANISH 2-4 – Tierra Incógnita season 1 guide
GREAT MOVIE FOR SPANISH CLASS – McFarland USA
Bundles to Save Your Precious Planning Time
Other Top Bundles I suggest that will save you all the time at the best deal possible
- >>>>Mega Essential Spanish 1 – present tense novice bundle – popular for exploratory Spanish
- >>>>Mega Essential Spanish 2/3 – preterite/imperfect bundle
- >>>>Essential French Bundle– every French resource all together
- >>>>Spring Bundle – 2025 music bracket, Spring break chats & Las Fallas unit
- >>>>High-Frequency Verbs Mega Bundle
- >>>>Música miércoles Growing Bundle
