Top Ten Instrumental Mariachi Songs
September 11th, 2024 | 4 min read
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in your classroom with the vibrant and energetic sounds of instrumental Mariachi music can be both an educational and enjoyable experience. Instrumental Mariachi music not only offers a rich cultural insight for yout students but also serves as an excellent teaching tool to introduce children to different musical styles and rhythms. They also make great starter activities to bring some magical music into your mornings!
With the careful curation of pBone Music Ambassador Ramón Rivera, we’ll explore the top ten instrumental Mariachi songs that every educator should consider for their lesson plans.
Why Incorporate Instrumental Mariachi Music in Your Lessons?
Mariachi music is a crucial part of Latin culture, embodying a blend of indigenous, African, and European influences. By integrating instrumental Mariachi songs into your classroom, you’re providing your students with a unique opportunity to appreciate the diversity and depth of Hispanic heritage. Plus, the lively rhythms and catchy melodies can make learning more engaging, especially when teaching music theory, history, or even social studies.
Instrumental songs can provide a backdrop for other activities away from music, to spark an interest in Mariachi and to introduce some of the themes of Hispanic Heritage Month to children. Because there are no lyrics, they are child-friendly with no inappropriate language or themes. Ramón has selected these songs for their musical merit and to give educators a full taste of Mariachi music for the classroom.
The Top Ten Instrumental Mariachi Songs
Let’s dive into the top ten instrumental Mariachi songs that are perfect for classroom use. These tracks have been carefully selected to represent a range of styles, tempos, and moods, ensuring there’s something to fit every educational moment.
You can click the links to view the videos on YouTube, or download the entire Top Ten Instrumental Mariachi Songs playlist on Spotify.
1. El Tao Tao by Banda Sinaloense MM
“El Tao Tao” is a dynamic piece that captures the essence of traditional Mariachi music with its upbeat tempo and engaging brass sections. This track is perfect for introducing students to the basic structure of Mariachi music, focusing on the role of different instruments and the interplay between melody and rhythm. It's an ideal starter song for bringing some buzz to the school day!
2. Juana la Cubana by Banda Sinaloense MM
A fusion of Latin rhythms and Mariachi tradition, “Juana la Cubana” is a lively song that brings energy to any classroom. It’s ideal for a lesson on syncopation and rhythm, allowing students to clap along and learn about different time signatures. This also makes it a fun way to add some Mariachi to Math lessons, too!
3. El Coyote by Banda Sinaloense MM
“El Coyote” is a spirited instrumental with a distinctive, fast-paced rhythm that highlights the trumpet (along with some incredible drumming for good measure!) This piece can be used to teach about the call-and-response style often found in Mariachi music, showcasing how different instruments can “talk” to each other within a piece.
4. El Ahualulco by Banda Sinaloense MM
This song carries the vibrant energy typical of Mariachi. “El Ahualulco” is great for lessons focusing on dynamics and tempo changes, allowing students to explore how music can convey different emotions and stories without words.
5. El Pato Asado by Banda Sinaloense MM
“El Pato Asado” is a lively and fun piece that’s perfect for a more interactive lesson. Use this track to encourage movement—whether that’s dancing, playing instruments, or just getting up and moving to the beat. It’s a fantastic way to illustrate rhythm and tempo while keeping students engaged and active.
6. El Toro Mambo by Banda Sinaloense MM
An exciting and powerful instrumental, “El Toro Mambo” combines traditional Mariachi elements with a mambo rhythm, making it perfect for cross-genre studies. This song performed by the irrepressible Banda Sinaloense MM can help students understand how different musical traditions can blend to create something new and exciting.
7. Arriba Pichataro by Banda La Jaripera
“Arriba Pichataro” is a jubilant and festive piece that brings a sense of celebration into the classroom. This track is perfect for discussions about cultural celebrations and the role of music in community events and traditions. Ramón could not have picked a better piece to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
8. El Sauce y la Palma by Banda Sinaloense MM
This piece showcases the rich, melodic lines typical of Mariachi music. “El Sauce y la Palma” can be used to teach about melody and harmony, showing how different instrumental lines work together to create a cohesive musical narrative. There's a marching quality to the music that would lend itself to some movement activities for younger learners!
9. Juan Colorado by Banda La Jaripera
A vibrant, fast-paced piece, “Juan Colorado” is ideal for lessons on rhythm and tempo. The song’s lively beat encourages students to explore different rhythmic patterns and how they contribute to the overall feel of a song. Mariachi can be truly joyful, so this piece would be a perfect afternoon pick-me-up for tired learners!
10. Cómo Me Duele by Banda Sinaloense MM
Rounding out our top ten, “Cómo Me Duele” brings even more joy and celebration to the list. This track is another wonderful example of call and response between those trademark trumpets.
Tips for Teaching with Instrumental Mariachi Music
Here are a few tips on how to incorporate these instrumental Mariachi songs into your classroom lessons:
• Interactive Listening: Encourage students to listen actively to each piece, identifying different instruments and discussing how they contribute to the overall sound. Demonstrating trumpet licks on a pTrumpet would add to the fun!
• Movement Activities: Use the lively tempo of these songs to get students moving. Dance, rhythm games, or even simple clapping can help them internalize the beat.
• Musical Analysis: Break down the songs to discuss elements like tempo, rhythm, melody, harmony, and dynamics. This can introduce or reinforce music theory concepts.
• Cultural Exploration: Use the songs as a gateway to discussions about Latin culture, history, and the significance of Mariachi music within it. For Latino students, how does the music make them feel? For students from different cultural backgrounds, what is their response?
Integrating instrumental Mariachi music into your classroom is an enriching way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month while providing students with a fun and educational experience. These top ten songs offer a diverse range of styles and themes, making them perfect for various educational activities and lessons.
- For more information about Mariachi, head to the pBone Music Mariachi page.
- Looking to introduce Mariachi instruments into your school? Check out pTrumpet, the beginner trumpet that's affordable, accessible and trusted by teachers around the world.
- Ramón Rivera shared his thoughts about Mariachi in a wide-ranging interview. Discover from Ramón how you can start your own Mariachi program.
Adam is the Content Manager at pBone Music. This should mean that he’s the ideal person to write about himself, but he finds boasting in the third person a little awkward. He honed his word wizardry with a degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds. He has since written copy for clients and businesses across the land, from awards to something beginning with “z”. He also spent a number of years as a musician. He has written pop songs and even jingles for kids, performed more first dances at weddings than you could shake a pBuzz at, and once played a gig for a pie company at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester. When he’s not reminiscing about those good old days, you might find Adam enjoying the football (although as an Everton fan, that can be difficult). He also loves spending time with his partner, Jen, and his family and friends, and sincerely hopes they feel the same way.
