Mariachi means so much to so many.
It is the music of Mexico. It is the celebration of an entire country’s heritage. It is the fastest-growing band program in the United States.
Wait, Mariachi is the fastest-growing band program in the United States?
Yes, one of Mexico’s finest exports is increasingly becoming part of the musical education conversation in the USA.
Much of this demand for Mariachi comes from the increasing numbers of Latino learners in classrooms across the United States. More than 60 million people are of Hispanic origin, and Mariachi provides a cultural bridge for many. But the joy of Mariachi is also finding a whole new audience.
Passionate teachers like Ramón Rivera, with the help of pBone Music, are sharing their love of Mariachi with teachers new to the genre. As classroom demographics change, educators are looking for new ways to bring music to their students. Mariachi music can energize and engage the growing numbers of students from Hispanic communities.
Educators wanting to reach these kids and teach Mariachi may feel daunted by the challenge. So how do you start a Mariachi program in your school? What instruments do you need? What music and resources should you use?
Read on to find out how to start your school's Mariachi program.
Inside The Mariachi Classroom
Ramón Rivera is the Director of the Mount Vernon (WA) School District Mariachi Program. In 2022, he was named Music Educator of the Year in Washington state. For more than twenty years, Ramón has delivered Mariachi programs, along with Latin leadership and dance. His passion for Mariachi and inspiring others to play has put him at the forefront of the Mariachi movement in the United States. That is why as well as teaching students, he is sharing his expertise with other educators. And he’s doing so with his trusty pTrumpet, making Mariachi opportunities even more accessible.
“I get to spread joy not just in my classroom, but to teachers nationwide,” says Ramón, “which is really awesome that I get to inspire other teachers to include pTrumpet in the curriculum, and include Mariachi too.”
Ramón’s Mariachi program has shifted the focus from traditional music programs in schools - “you know, band, choir, orchestra” - and is delivering something different to his students. He wants to cast the net further, including more than the usual European-centric orchestral music, and teach students a range of music “from Mozart to Mariachi.”
It is allowing beginners a new pathway to learning an instrument, with a style of music familiar to many of Ramón’s Hispanic students. It is also introducing this rich heritage to a whole new demographic of young learners. “What’s cool about Mariachi is that it used to be passed on as a tradition,” says Ramón. “Your mum and dad would know Mariachi and you would learn by that route and pass it on.”
What trumpet is best for Mariachi?
One of the key parts of Mariachi music is, of course, the trumpet, and Ramón utilizes pTrumpet in his lessons. The lightweight and robust design of pTrumpet makes it great for the classroom. It is ideal for smaller hands and for allowing kids to start sooner but is strong enough to stand up to repeated use...which means no costly repairs and tricky maintenance.
pTrumpet is also an affordable option to get your Mariachi band program started. "People could try it because pTrumpet is so affordable," says Ramón. "You could have 10 trumpets and guitars. Guitars are very affordable too. So you could have a great music program for less than $1000 or $2000."
Ramón's approach has many benefits. In schools where there are budget concerns, educators can provide lessons for an entire class. "There was one school I work with and we had 17 trumpets sign up. I went to my principal, and said, 'You know, we can't buy 17 trumpets because 17 times $500 is ridiculous.' So, I told them about pTrumpets and we got 17 of them."
Along with offering more opportunities for children from lower-income families the chance to learn an instrument, it also increases the number of musicians who will continue to play, rent, and buy instruments in the future. "Every kid gets access to music education," he says, "and that's the important thing is that you get them started."
Ramón is not content with empowering his students to pick up their pTrumpets and play Mariachi. He is giving educators the tips, tools, and training to start their own Mariachi band programs. By introducing five simple 8-bar phrases and guitar chords, he is helping teachers without previous experience in Mariachi find a pathway to introduce the music to kids.
"This is something elementary school teachers could do. With five songs, I demo it, I do it, but it also has the guitar chords on it. So half the class is on trumpet, half the class is on guitar, and then they switch."
These songs can even be introduced without traditional Mariachi instruments. "One teacher used her xylophones or her boomsticks or had kids clap the rhythms. I really think it's a good resource to inject Mariachi, even if you don't have a full Mariachi program, at least you could include it in the curriculum."
Ramón's passion for Mariachi is spreading fast. Educators are looking for new ways to teach music to Latin children in areas that have seen a growing Hispanic population, such as Idaho, the setting for Ramón's latest Mariachi Classroom training.
"There was a teacher who came to all four of my sessions. Wow! And so I ask her, 'Why are you coming to all of my talks? I mean, there are other presenters.' She said, 'No, you're doing something that no one else is doing: you're connecting me to my students. I have a big Latino population at my school and I want to introduce this music, but I don't know how."
It is these educators who are looking to Mariachi - and experts like Ramón - to inspire their children through a musical language that resonates. "The biggest thing for teachers is what is the hook to get kids to enjoy music or fall in love with music," says Ramón. "And so I try to pick songs that are really popular, that are really simple, that are two or three note songs. That way, kids can learn a song that their grandma played, a song they hear at the family party. That's a great way to introduce it."
It is an approach that is working, as children and educators from all backgrounds play Mariachi in classrooms across the United States.
"It doesn't matter what music you teach. There are non-Latinos too who love it. It's a style of music. And what's special is that you're keeping the old school and the new school together. I really love that our students have this opportunity and also that I get to teach it and spread the gospel to other teachers in different areas of the country."
"More children get to play. So more children keep playing music. And it's great for retention. It makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? Getting this early development stage right and making it really accessible for all. It's really exciting."
It really is an exciting time for the Mariachi band program, with vast potential for music educators to work with their students.
- To find out more about our Mariachi Classroom sessions, get in touch.
- You can find out more about our Mariachi instruments and resources by heading to the Mariachi page.
- Want to get started with five easy-to-learn songs? Watch our video with Ramón.
