Texas Wesleyan’s mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Oro Azul.
Dedicated educators across the U.S. are bringing mariachi to young musicians, and creating an exciting future for music.
Once again, my travels have put you, the reader, in my thoughts, and my recent trip to Texas inspired me to share more about a sound that has been a big part of my life—one that many musicians and guitarists appreciate for its musical stylings. I’m speaking of one of the more popular ensembles of Mexico, mariachi!
I could write an article on each of the instruments used in a mariachi ensemble, but for now, I want to briefly mention them before focusing more on the impact of this music, with a look at some of the amazing educators bringing it to young musicians.
Although a mariachi ensemble (not a mariachi “band”—you wouldn’t say orchestra “band”) can have variations of the instruments used to make up the grouping, the following configuration is most common. In the armonía or rhythm section, you will have any or all of the following: a nylon-string guitar, Mexican vihuela, guitarra de golpe, guitarrón, and Jalisciense harp. The melodies are played by a violin section, and a trumpet plays countermelodies. I’ll circle back on the armonía instruments in later articles, but right now, I want to talk about music education.
I have the privilege and honor of working alongside some of the most devoted teachers around the United States: music educators. Whether for band, orchestra, choir, or mariachi, these are the people who are bonding with our children, staying late for rehearsals, and going to competitions or performances through weekends and summers. Their long hours and dedication are truly unmatched—one could argue sports coaches do the same, but unlike most sports, music has no season. It continues all year long.
“Their long hours and dedication are truly unmatched … Music has no season. It continues all year long.”
I could highlight dozens of educators who have helped mariachi grow in schools, from Richard Carranza, former chancellor of New York City Schools; to Albuquerque Public Schools’ fine arts director Gina Rasinski; to Katie Dudley, who is growing a program on a shoestring budget in Waukegan, Illinois’ public schools. But in Fort Worth, Texas, there are two leaders who are infectious in their ability to impact students from middle school to post-secondary: Ramon Niño and Wendy Martinez.
Often having had to fight battles to succeed, Niño and Martinez managed to find great support from their high school’s principal and the school’s director of fine arts. Niño and Martinez’s ensemble, Mariachi Espuelas de Plata, has performed across the country, from Carnegie Hall to Nashville to Hershey, Pennsylvania, as well as with top professional mariachi ensembles. Last year, legendary jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval joined them on stage for a performance in San Antonio. I’ve been proud to help them introduce new programs at universities like Texas Christian University and Texas Wesleyan University’s Mariachi Oro Azul, through my budget-friendly La Tradición string-instrument line. To see the eager response of college students, many of whom have never played in a mariachi, is truly amazing.
I asked Ricardo E. Rodriguez, dean of Texas Wesleyan’s School of Arts and Sciences, for his thoughts on their mariachi program. “The presence of Ramon Niño and Wendy Martinez has not only provided a basic music foundation for the Mariachi Oro Azul, but they have established a culture of family and inclusiveness as well as the recognition that music crosses all boundaries,” Rodriguez says.
While we have seen hints of mariachi in popular music in the past with songs like Blondie’s “The Tide Is High” and its mariachi trumpet stylings, the wave is larger and stronger than ever now. More and more, I’m noticing that labels are signing Black and Latino artists to genres like country music, a genre where their presences on main stages have been relatively rare. I get calls from artists looking for mariachi musicians to play on their tracks, and hybrid versions of mariachi are popping up on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry with acts like Stephanie Urbina Jones & the Honky Tonk Mariachi. I see these as the knock-on effects of the programs and teachers that have helped introduce mariachi into learning spaces.
The roots and influences that help shape music’s future start at home and in the classroom. Opening students up to forms of music from other cultures helps enrich not just their lives, but ours, too. Thank god for our music teachers, and those who support them.
These simple tips will address two important money managing issues: keeping records and collecting money
Teaching guitar and other instrumentation keeps your chops up as a player and keeps you challenged musically on a daily basis. Being a music instructor can provide a respectable income for those who strive to make a living by remaining in the music field. Even teaching part-time supplements your income and keeps your playing ability in top form.
Many factors arise when beginning to teach, such as collecting money, keeping a systematic schedule, and just how to stay organized throughout this newfound venture. When running your own lessons, managing the money can be especially difficult. These simple tips will address two important money managing issues: keeping records and collecting money.
Keeping Records
Write everything down. All of it. Don’t slack on this part. Keeping an account of all of your business dealings will keep you out of hot water. Honesty, of course, is the best and only way to run a business, but you have to be able to back up all transactions. Transactions include: exchanges of money, lesson appointment times, changes in schedule, phones numbers, addresses, receipts and any matters that will cost or make you money.
You can go to any office supply store or look online to find an appointment book that will work well for you. Make sure that you have enough physical space to write in names. When scheduling, write in the student’s name and amount of payment and mark each week that the student is paid for. The last week before they are due, it can be helpful to put an asterisk as a reminder to tell the students that payment will be due their next lesson. Most people appreciate it and only a few will act like you’re a bill collector. Regardless, the lesson fee is due and the payer needs to be told; noting it in your book will help you remember.
Design a simple form on your computer for the students to fill out their personal information. For example: name, address, payer’s name, as many phone numbers as you can get (home, cell, work, other contacts like family members), and email address. Log this information into your scheduling book and if a student doesn’t show, you can give them a call. Many times, new students forget and they appreciate being reminded. On the form you may want to put an area for referrals. If they are filled in, you will have a strong lead for new students.
| “Receiving money from another person can be easy or it can be uncomfortable. Make the situation as uncomplicated as possible, since some people are funny about their money.” |
Some teachers use pocket electronic devices like Palm Pilots or Blackberries. If you are comfortable with these devices then use whatever works for you, as long as it has the appearance of professionalism. But remember, the average person likes to see some things in plain old black and white.
How To Collect
Receiving money from another person can be easy or it can be uncomfortable. Make the situation as uncomplicated as possible for all concerned, since some people are funny about their money.
Always ask for the fee at the beginning of the lesson. Don’t be afraid. They are usually waiting to give it to you. Everyone pays differently. Some students have the check ready and give it to you upon the start of the lesson while others have the check visible in their shirt pocket. Some do not know when they are due and ask, while a few ask if they are due (when they know they are) just to test you. Sometimes, a student brings cash without the correct change. If you don’t have the change, go get it on their time. In that case, they might offer to bring the correct amount back after the lesson. This usually works out fine.
Sometimes students don’t know that they are due, and they don’t have the money on them. Most people offer to bring it the following week, but you should tell them that you would like it today. They don’t have to wait a week for their paycheck, do they?
Keep the exchange of money clear and precise for everyone involved. Don’t be defensive when there is a discrepancy about money. Stay calm and be cool, that’s the best way to work out a solution.
Finally, always remember to thank them when getting paid, even if they are good friends or better known acquaintances.
Guy Lee
Guy Lee is a professional guitarist, music instructor, author of The Guy Lee Guitar Method and publisher. He has been published in 20th Century Guitar, Vintage Guitar, Bassics, Goldmine, American Songwriter, Home Recording and several newspapers. pickinguy@aol.com