Ramón Rivera, honored with both the Alliance for California Traditional Arts Award and the Mellon Foundation Fellowship, is a pBone Music Educator Ambassador committed to broadening representation in music education. By incorporating accessible instruments from the pInstrument line, Rivera has been recognized for introducing Hispanic and South American traditions into school band programs while fostering stronger connections between teachers and their communities.
Few artists embody the power of cultural crossover in music like Carlos Santana. A living legend from San Francisco’s Mission District, Santana has earned a place alongside Michael Jackson as one of the most awarded Grammy winners of all time. His unique fusion of Latin rhythms and rock guitar brought songs like Oye Como Va into the mainstream, making them household favorites for audiences around the globe.
For teachers, Santana provides not only great music to study but also an opportunity to connect students with the rich traditions behind his sound.
Why Carlos Santana Matters for Students
Ramón Ramirez emphasizes the importance of including Santana in your classroom repertoire: “If you’re not teaching about Carlos Santana - especially since he’s from the U.S. - you’re missing a huge piece of music history.”
Santana is more than just a rock guitarist; his music bridges cultures. His Grammy-winning album Supernatural introduced a new generation to Latin rock, while his rendition of Oye Como Va opened the door to Cuban cha-cha rhythms for mainstream American audiences. Including Santana shows students that Latin music is not separate from American music - it is American music.
“Oye Como Va”: A Perfect Classroom Song
One of Santana’s most iconic hits, Oye Como Va, is often assumed to be his original work. In reality, it was written by Tito Puente, a legendary Puerto Rican bandleader, and it’s rooted in the cha-cha, a Cuban dance style. This backstory makes it a fantastic teaching tool for music educators.
Here’s why the song works so well in a classroom:
- Simple Chords: The piece is built on just two chords, making it accessible for beginning guitarists or keyboard players.
- Catchy Melody: Students can latch onto the iconic “bom bom bom bom bom bom” motif immediately. Even young beginners can sing or play along on pBuzz, Boomwhackers, or xylophones.
- Easy Vocals: With only a handful of words in Spanish, the lyrics are approachable for students who may be new to singing in another language. It doubles as a sing-along while also exposing students to authentic cultural content.
- Rhythm Lesson: The cha-cha rhythm—“one, two, cha-cha-cha”—is fun to clap, step, or drum out, making the music interactive and physical.
Ramirez shared how one teacher simplified the song by having beginners play just the main bass line, while more advanced students added the syncopated melody. This layering approach allows every student to contribute at their own level.
“Without Relationship, there is no learning” – Ramon Rivera
Music as a Cultural Bridge
Santana’s success with Oye Como Va is a reminder that music is universal. Ramirez puts it simply: “Everybody loves Latino music. Everybody loves Oye Como Va. You don’t have to know Spanish to connect with it.”
Using this piece in class opens discussions on:
- The origins of cha-cha and Cuban dance music.
- Tito Puente’s contribution to Latin jazz.
- How Santana blended Latin rhythms with rock guitar to reach new audiences.
- Why representation in popular music - and in school music programs - matters.
Expanding Your Classroom Repertoire
Santana’s music challenges us to expand beyond the classical canon and embrace the global influences that shape American music. Songs like Oye Como Va not only sound good, but they also carry stories of migration, cultural blending, and identity. For students, especially those from Latinx backgrounds, this representation can feel like a celebration of who they are.
As Ramirez reminds us, “We get stuck in the classical realm all the time, and I think we need to expand our repertoire. Representation matters.”
Closing Thought
Including Carlos Santana in your curriculum gives students more than just a fun tune to play - it gives them a lesson in history, culture, and belonging. Whether you’re layering the simple two-chord vamp across guitars, pBuzz or pTrumpet, and percussion, or teaching the cha-cha rhythm as a movement activity, Oye Como Va is an accessible, joyful, and deeply meaningful way to bring Latin music into your classroom.
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