XP 3: How can music build community?

In many traditional cultures, music is not meant to be performed to an audience, it is meant to be collectively created, as a way to bring people together and build community.

Think About

How can music build community?
Why do people create and perform music?
When can music be used to build community?
How can I contribute to improving my community with music?

Get Started

Brainstorm with friends, family, and people who live near you answers to the following questions:

What examples can we find in our community of people using music to do positive things?
When does music bring people together in our community?
What would be an interesting way to use music to build community?

We are going to explore how Son Jarocho and Fandangos are examples of people creating music together to build community:

Watch and listen to this short documentary about Fandangos in San Antonio, Texas

Think about what you observed and answer the following questions:
1. What aspects of the San Antonio Fandangos are designed to help create a sense of community?
2. How might this differ from other types of music that are not designed to build community?
3. What do you think the relationship is between the music and dancing?
  1. What might that have to do with community?

Watch and listen to this example of Fandango (Martha Gonzalez & Fandango Without Borders) from 0:52 – 5:03 (keep watching after that if you like)

Think about what you observed and answer the following questions:

Why might people want to participate in Son Jarocho music or Fandangos?
What do you think the relationship is between the music and dancing?
- What might this have to do with community?
How are Son Jarocho and Fandangos related to the idea of community?

Watch and listen to the music and perspectives of people in a Seattle Fandango Group – from 6:05 – 9:30 (keep watching before or after that if you like)

Think about what the different people in the video said and answer the following questions:

What aspects of Fandango are important for building community?
How would someone who doesn’t know about Son Jarocho be able to participate?
- What does that have to do with the idea of building community?
What do you think the relationship is between the music and the dance?
- What might that have to do with community?
What makes Fandango and Son Jarocho different than some other types of music that you know about?

Here is some additional information on Son Jarocho and Fandangos

Son Jarocho is a music style that comes from Veracruz, in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico, where three different cultures, Spanish, Indigenous and African, came together more than 500 years ago. Fandangos are a collective practice of playing this music together, to preserve the cultural tradition, build community, and to create a culture of shared social justice based values.

Now that you have learned about Fandangos in different places, think about the following:

How are these Fandango groups building relationships with people?
How are they promoting positive things like joy, healing, and improving community?
How are they designing Fandangos to be welcome and inviting places for all people?

Now, think more broadly than Fandangos to answer the following questions:

What other cultures might take a similar approach to building community through music?
What are some ways you can build community and shared social justice values through collective music making?

Find out if there are any people in your local community who know about San Jarocho or Fandangos.
Bonus: If a Fandango exists in your local community, speak with a trusted adult about attending with you to see what it is all about
Find out what other types of collective music making groups exist in your community
1. Find out who is able to join and what joining involves
2. Speak with a trusted adult about attending with you to see what it is all about

Share What you Learned

If you are using the LRNG platform:

Go back, find out what to submit, and complete the XP
If you want, you can then learn even more with the optional “Go Further!” activities below

If you are not using the LRNG platform:

Continue below and share with your teacher or organization:

Sharing What You Learned

Describe some of the most important principles that people can use to build community through music
Identify any music groups or organizations that might share similar ideals of building community through music near where you live