New September Store Update - Happy Hispanic & Latine Heritage Month!
Happy September! In honor of Hispanic & Latine Heritage Month, the Practice Space store is spotlighting a brand-new lineup of composer AND musician avatars who represent strong diversity and cultural richness. From Mexico to Puerto Rico, Argentina to Spain, these musical icons reflect how heritage can shape, inspire, and elevate classical music.
As always, avatars in the Practice Space store can be unlocked using Practice Gems: our in-app rewards students earn by reaching their daily practice goals. It’s our way of blending motivation with meaningful learning: students not only stay consistent with their practice, but also discover the fascinating lives and sounds of the composers behind the music.
This month’s featured composers include Manuel María Ponce, Angélica Negrón, Juan Orrego-Salas, Martha Argerich, and María Teresa Prieto. Each avatar comes with fun phrases and vivid character art, plus a YouTube listening link to a notable piece that brings their music to life.
Looking to go even deeper? Don’t miss our free downloadable PDF packet, filled with interactive activities, multiple-choice quizzes, short bios, and cultural music facts. It’s designed to help teachers and students explore how these composers used music to express their identities and elevate their cultures.
Browse the September avatars today and let your students be inspired by the rhythms, melodies, and stories of these incredible Hispanic and Latine musicians—all while staying on track with their practice goals!
Manuel María Ponce - A pioneering Mexican composer, Ponce blended classical styles with Mexican folk music and helped define the country’s national sound.
Facts in app:
Ponce’s song Estrellita became an international hit and has been performed by violinists, singers, and guitarists alike.
He collaborated closely with guitar legend Andrés Segovia, writing some of the earliest modern classical works for solo guitar.
He studied in Italy, Germany, and France, where he was influenced by Debussy and other Impressionist composers.
Ponce is often called “the father of Mexican musical nationalism.”
Check out this performance of Estrellita:
Manuel Ponce : Estrellita - YouTube
Angélica Negrón - A creative composer from Puerto Rico, Negrón mixes electronics, voices, and toy instruments to build imaginative and emotional soundscapes.
Facts in app:
Negrón often performs with plants connected to sensors that generate sound based on touch and light.
She co-founded Balún, an electroacoustic band blending indie pop with Caribbean rhythms.
Her music has been featured by the New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, and National Symphony Orchestra.
She once composed a piece for choir and robotic percussion instruments!
Check out this recording of Chorus of the Forest:
Chorus of the Forest by Angélica Negrón - YouTube
Juan Orrego-Salas - This Chilean composer fused traditional folk melodies with classical forms and played a key role in music education across the Americas.
Facts in app:
He founded the Latin American Music Center at Indiana University in 1962.
His sacred choral work Missa in tempore incerto was written during political unrest in Chile.
He received the National Prize for Musical Arts in Chile in 1992.
Orrego-Salas studied composition under Aaron Copland at Tanglewood.
Check out this performance of Adagio Pensieroso de la Partita:
3) Adagio pensieroso de la PARTITA, Op. 100 de Juan Orrego-Salas (1919) - YouTube
Martha Argerich - One of the world’s most celebrated pianists, Argerich is known for her passionate, lightning-fast performances of Romantic and modern music.
Facts in app:
Argerich won the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw at age 24.
She is especially admired for her recording of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
Despite her fame, Argerich prefers chamber music and often performs in duos and trios.
She once said, “I’m not a pianist, I’m a musician who happens to play the piano.”
Check out her performance of Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3:
Martha Argerich Plays Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.3 | Singapore International Piano Festival 2018 - YouTube
María Teresa Prieto - A Spanish-born composer who lived in Mexico, Prieto wrote bold symphonic music inspired by both Spanish and Mexican folk traditions.
Facts in app:
She fled Spain during the Spanish Civil War and became a citizen of Mexico.
Her Sinfonía Breve showcases both Spanish rhythm and Mexican melodic influence.
She studied with composer Manuel Ponce and later with Carlos Chávez.
Prieto helped pave the way for other female composers in Latin America.
Check out this performance of Poema Sinfonico:
Chichen Itza, Poema Sinfonica, Maria Prieto DCS 2023- 24 Symphony Concert 1 - YouTube
Background Update
Some other fun additions
These all cheer the student on but also talk about tempo and other musical terms!
