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Mr. Mbagwu's ClassroomWings Academy
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Lesson 42 (Period 6): The 3-2 Son Clave
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Your Voice in Music Class
Tu Voz en la Clase de Música
The 3-2 Son Clave • Cuba's Heartbeat • Period 6
La Clave de Son 3-2 • El Corazón de Cuba • Periodo 6
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • Music Studio • Mr. Mbagwu
Unit 5: Music as Social Commentary • Week 13 • Lesson 42 (Period 6)
"Five strikes that changed music. From West Africa to Cuba to the Bronx — the rhythm that holds salsa, mambo, and hip-hop together."
"Cinco golpes que cambiaron la música. De África Occidental a Cuba al Bronx — el ritmo que sostiene la salsa, el mambo y el hip-hop."
03:00
▶ Start
↺ Reset
VIDEO
"Chan Chan" • Buena Vista Social Club • intro starting at 0:08 • listen for the wood-stick clicking pattern under the guitar
Stay seated. Tap a steady pulse on your desk while the song plays. Then write ONE sentence: "Underneath the guitar I hear ____________ ."
Siéntate. Marca un pulso estable en la mesa. Escribe: "Debajo de la guitarra escucho ____________ ."
I Can…
Yo Puedo…
I can read the 3-2 son clave on the staff, clap it from notation, and perform it as a class to "Chan Chan" by Buena Vista Social Club.
Puedo leer la clave de son 3-2 en el pentagrama, palmarla a partir de la notación y ejecutarla con la clase a "Chan Chan."
Period 6 • The Rhythm Behind Salsa, Mambo, and Hip-Hop
LEFT: 3-2 son clave (today’s pattern) • RIGHT: 2-3 son clave (the reverse) • source: Wikimedia Commons
Bar 1 = THREE strikes
Beat 1 • the "&" of beat 2 • beat 4. Two of the three strikes are syncopated — they fall OFF the beat.
Bar 2 = TWO strikes
Beat 2 • beat 3. Both ON the number. This is the "answer" to bar 1.
5 strikes per 2 bars. West Africa → Cuba → the Bronx. Salsa, mambo, Latin jazz, and early hip-hop are all built on this.
CLAP & ECHO • 8 MINUTES
08:00
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1. Slow Echo
Mr. Mbagwu claps the 3-2 from the staff. Class echoes 4 times. Lock in the order: 1 • &-of-2 • 4 / 2 • 3 .
2. Half & Half
Half the room claps Bar 1 only. Other half claps Bar 2 only. Switch. Then both halves clap the FULL pattern together.
3. Add a Step
Add a steady step on beats 1 and 3 (downbeats) WHILE clapping the clave. Feet on the beat, hands on the clave.
If the room desyncs: FREEZE. Mr. Mbagwu calls "1 — 2 — 3 — 4 GO" and we re-enter on beat 1 of bar 1.
PERFORM TO MUSIC • 10 MINUTES
10:00
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↺
VIDEO
Buena Vista Social Club — "Chan Chan" • World Circuit Records • starts 0:08 when the band drops in • the clave is audible — match it
What we do Stand. Drum sticks (or clap). Strike the 3-2 clave on every bar of the song. Step on beats 1 and 3. Two full passes.
What to listen for The actual clave instrument is audible — match it . The bass and tres guitar lock around it. The whole band lives on top of those 5 strikes per 2 bars.
EXIT TICKET
5 Points • Classwork (40%)
05:00
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Q1 — Bar 1 strikes (1 pt)
How many strikes are in Bar 1 of the 3-2 son clave? Where do they fall (on/off the beat)?
¿Cuántos golpes hay en el Compás 1 ? ¿Dónde caen (en/fuera del tiempo)?
Starter: "Bar 1 has ___ strikes. They fall on ___."
1 pt = correct strike count for Bar 1 + on/off-beat location named.
Q2 — Bar 2 strikes (1 pt)
How many strikes are in Bar 2 ? Where do they fall?
¿Cuántos golpes en el Compás 2 ? ¿Dónde caen?
Starter: "Bar 2 has ___ strikes. They fall on ___."
1 pt = correct strike count for Bar 2 + on/off-beat location named.
Q3 — What is syncopation? (1 pt)
In your own words, what does syncopation mean? Use what you felt today.
En tus propias palabras, ¿qué significa sincopación ?
Starter: "Syncopation is when ___."
1 pt = scholar names that strikes fall OFF the steady beat (or equivalent in own words).
Q4 — The lock-in moment (2 pts)
When you locked in with the recorded clave during "Chan Chan," what changed in the room? What changed in your body?
Cuando se sincronizaron con la clave grabada en "Chan Chan," ¿qué cambió en la sala? ¿En tu cuerpo?
Starter: "When we locked in, the room ___. My body ___."
1 pt = names a change in the room (sound/energy). 1 pt = names a body response.
The Year Is Not Over. Neither Is This Conversation.
El año no terminó. Esta conversación tampoco.
What you said today shapes what I bring to next year's scholars. The data, your words, and the commitments you write tonight will travel into September 2026 with me — and into whatever music classroom you walk into next.
Lo que dijeron hoy moldea lo que llevo a los estudiantes del próximo año. Los datos, sus palabras y los compromisos viajarán conmigo a septiembre 2026 — y a cualquier salón de música al que entren después.
Stick your one-sentence Post-It on the door on the way out: "What I need from any music class to feel like I belong is…"
Pega tu Post-It en la puerta al salir: "Lo que necesito de cualquier clase de música para sentir que pertenezco es…"
"Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth."
"Cantad a Jehová un cántico nuevo; cantad a Jehová, toda la tierra."
— Psalm 96:1
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