August 21, 2014 / Modified aug 22, 2014 8:44 a.m.

Legacy of Educator Inspires Mariachi Aztlán

Mariachi director of Pueblo High Magnet School inspires students to embrace culture of music.

Mariachi Aztlan - group spot
Courtesy of Mariachi Aztlán

Listen:

Mariachi is an important part of the culture at Pueblo Magnet High School, says John Contreras, music educator and director of Mariachi Aztlán - the school’s advanced performing group.

Students accepted in Mariachi Aztlán must maintain a high level of academic achievement in order to remain in the group, Contreras said. Also, they are required to commit to a rigorous rehearsal schedule that takes up much of their free time.

Jared Young is a junior and plays the guitarrón, and he said he transferred to Pueblo in order to join Mariachi Aztlán.

“The role of (the guitarrón) is to keep the tempo, the time of the song and the feeling of it,” Young said. “It complements everything, to help you feel the piece… the music.”

Gabriela Miranda is a senior and currently plays the guitarra de golpe, a five-string instrument that is slightly smaller than the common Spanish guitar. “It’s part of the rhythm section,” she said. “Like the guitar and the vihuela we keep the rhythm together."

Miranda said playing mariachi music has helped her overcome her shyness and she now feels comfortable playing and singing in front of large audiences.

“In class too… I’m not as shy but I still get a little nervous,” she said.

Young said he’s looking forward to performing this school year and he hopes he can find another mariachi when he graduates from high school and goes to college.

“I really like playing… it’s an excellent feeling,” he said.

Mariachi Aztlán alumni will perform this weekend as part of Los Changuitos Feos 50th anniversary celebration.

Mariachi Aztlan - group 2 spot
Courtesy of Mariachi Aztlán
By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona