Musical Explorers NYC: Chilean Folk Lesson 1

Lesson 1: Learning “Gracias a la Vida”

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Claudia Teaches “Gracias a la Vida” Sing “Gracias a la Vida” Explore the Lyrics of “Gracias a la Vida” Perform the Steady Beat and Rhythm in “Gracias a la Vida” Dance la Cueca Creative Extension

Aim: How can we express gratitude and joy through singing and dancing?
Summary: Students will learn to sing the chorus of “Gracias a la Vida,” explore call-and-response, and discover the cueca rhythm.
Materials: Musical Explorers digital resources, Musical Explorers Student Guide, handkerchiefs
Standards: National 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11; NYC 1, 2, 3, 4
Vocabulary: gratitude, steady beat, cueca

“Gracias a la Vida,” which means “Thanks to Life,” is one of the most famous and widely performed Chilean songs in the world. It was written by the legendary singer-songwriter Violeta Parra, a pioneering artist who helped shape the nueva canción chilena (new Chilean song) movement—a powerful musical tradition that blends folk music with themes of social and cultural identity. This deeply emotional ballad celebrates the simple joys of life, encouraging us to find gratitude in everyday moments and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

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Claudia Teaches “Gracias a la Vida”

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“Gracias a la Vida” Demonstration

Chilean folk artist Claudia teaches “Gracias a la Vida.”

Sing “Gracias a la Vida”

Listen to “Gracias a la Vida” to hear the full song.
Learn to sing “Gracias a la Vida” using “Gracias a la Vida” pronunciation and “Gracias a la Vida” refrain.
Listen again to “Gracias a la Vida” and sing along.
Notice how the song also has a bass line that is sung on the syllable “la la la.” Divide the class into groups and have one sing the “Gracias a la Vida” refrain and the other sing “la la la.”

Use the dropdown menu to select an audio track.

“Gracias a la Vida”

Text

Gracias a la vida (Gracias a la vida)
Gracias a la vida (Gracias a la vida)
Gracias a la vida (Gracias a la vida)

Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me dio dos luceros, que cuando los abro Perfecto distingo, lo negro del blanco
Y en el alto cielo, su fondo estrellado
Y en las multitudes, al hombre que yo amo

Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el oído, que en todo su ancho Graba noche y día, grillos y canarios
Martillos, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos
Y la voz tan tierna, de mi bien amado

Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el sonido, y el abecedario
Con él las palabras, que pienso y declaro Madre amigo hermano, y luz alumbrando
La ruta del alma, del que estoy amando

Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la ris, a y me ha dado el llanto
Así yo distingo, dicha de quebranto
Los dos materiales que forman mi canto
Y el canto de ustedes que es el mismo canto
Y el canto de todos, que es mi propio canto

Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Gracias a la vida (Gracias a la vida)
(x4)

“Thanks to Life”

Translation

Thanks to life (Thanks to life)
Thanks to life (Thanks to life)
Thanks to life (Thanks to life)

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It gave me two eyes that when I open them
I perfectly distinguish black from white
And in the high sky its starry background
And in the multitudes the man I love.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It has given me the ear that in all its breadth
Records night and day crickets and canaries; Hammers, turbines, bricks, showers,
And the tender voice of my beloved.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It has given me sound and the alphabet
With it the words that I think and declare
Mother, friend, brother, and light illuminating
The path of the soul of the one I love.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It has given me laughter, it has given me tears
So distinguish happiness from sorrow,
The two materials that form my song
And your song that is the same song,
And the song of all which is my own song.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
Thanks to life (Thanks to life)
(x4)

Download Lyrics (PDF)

Explore the Lyrics of “Gracias a la Vida”

Discuss the lyrics of the song.
- “Gracias a la Vida” is a song about gratitude—saying “thank you” for the wonderful things in our lives and finding beauty in everyday moments.
- What is something about your body that helps you every day? (Maybe your eyes for seeing, your hands for drawing, or your voice for singing!)
- What is something in your life that makes you happy? (It could be a person, a pet, a favorite place, or even a special memory.)

Perform the Steady Beat and Rhythm in “Gracias a la Vida”

Feel the steady pulse that you carry with you every day—your heartbeat! Gently tap your chest to match the steady rhythm: Boom-boom, boom-boom (tap-tap, tap-tap …). Try using different parts of your body to keep the beat. Clap your hands, tap your feet, or pat your legs.
Using “Gracias a la Vida” cueca rhythm, clap along with this triplet rhythm pattern that is commonly found in Chilean folk music.
- Clap (1, 2-and, 3 | 1, 2-and, 3) or speak (ta, ta-ka, ta | ta, ta-ka, ta) the rhythm and feel how it moves like a gentle wave.
Play “Gracias a la Vida” and clap along with the steady beat or cueca rhythm.
- Divide the class into two groups. Have each group take turns practicing the steady beat and cueca rhythm.

Use the dropdown menu to select an audio track.

Dance la Cueca

La cueca is a traditional Chilean folk dance that tells a story—like a rooster and a hen playfully chasing each other!
Learn the cueca movements for “Gracias a la Vida” in the video.
Have students find a partner and face each other. The partners will playfully “chase” and “follow” each other as they clap the beat and shuffle their feet.
- Start by clapping twice on each side of your body, then repeat (in a rhythm like your heartbeat): 1, 2 (right); 1, 2 (left); 1, 2 (right); 1, 2 (left)
- Then in small, rhythmic steps walk around your partner in a circle. One partner leads, the other follows.
- Add more energy to the dance by adding a brush of the feet, a light foot stomp, or a heel tap as you move around each other in a circle.
- As the music comes to an end, spin smoothly, and then strike a strong pose to show off your skills!
If you have handkerchiefs, wave them in the air as you dance—just like in a real cueca!

Creative Extension

Make a Gratitude Handkerchief

In Chile, the handkerchief is an important symbol used in la cueca, where it is waved to express joy and connection. Create your own el pañuelo de la gratitud (gratitude handkerchief).

Using Make a Gratitude Handkerchief (PDF), sketch your handkerchief, including traditional elements like embroidered flowers, initials, or meaningful designs.
Write a short message of gratitude or draw symbols that represent something or someone you appreciate.
Using a tissue or piece of cloth, create and decorate your handkerchief with drawings, and words to bring your design to life.
Fold and keep your pañuelo de la gratitud to remember what you are thankful for, wave it in celebration as you dance la cueca, or give it to someone as a token of thanks.

"Make a Gratitude Handkerchief - Un Pañuelo de la Gratitud" student activity with illustration of a handkerchief

Make a Gratitude Handkerchief (PDF)

Musical Word Wall

Add the words cueca, gratitude, and steady beat to the Musical Word Wall.

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Image Credits

Claudia by Hollis King; Background view of the watchtower of the Universidad de Concepcion, Chile by Christian Creixell / Alamy Stock Photo; Traditional homemade humitas of corn by Zoonar GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo; Claudia performance photo by Tracy Yarde.