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Music Performance Paper

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Valerie Martinez
EDUC 349
Professor Johnson
5/21/15
Music Performance Paper
The musical performance I had the pleasure of viewing was the Ninth Annual Benefit
Concert for Mariachi de Azusa located in the Upper Turner Campus Center at Azusa Pacific
University. Mariachi de Azusa is a music program that provides anyone between third and
twelfth grade with music lessons in traditional Mexican folk music. Their main purpose for
creating this group was to foster knowledge and love for musical heritage. The importance and
value of responsibility, teamwork, and practice is also stressed in the program. Along with
having pride in their heritage, students receive instruction in trumpet, violin, guitar, and voice.
Other groups that were performing that night were Mariachi Relamapago, Danzantes de
Mountain View, and Ballet Folklorico Raices Bellas. All in all it was a great cultural experience
and seeing musicians of all ages and skill levels participating in this unique cultural experience
was truly a sight to behold and hear.
The night began with a dance performance by Danzantes de Mountain View, whose
motto is to spread a love for learning and for the arts, one child, one student at a time. A lot of
the dancers who were involved in this program were students from Mountain View Elementary
and they dedicated many hours during recess and after school to just to practice dancing. The
age group consisted of fourth and fifth grade dancers and the dances were performed starting at
the beginners level all the way to advanced. The girls were dressed in the traditional Mexican

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folklorico dresses while the boys wore black slacks, black button-up shirts, and a traditional scarf
around their necks while wearing sombreros. As they tapped along to the tempo of traditional
folklorico music, the girls would twirl their colorful dresses and the boys would accompany them
in a partner dance. Some of the girls in the older group wore white dresses and danced with a fan
in their hand and their partner work consisted of more intricate patterns and turns.
The second performance of the night was by Ballet Folklorico Raices Bellas. True to their
goal, their love for the cultural richness of Mexico shone throughout their performance as
dancers from all walks of life delved into the beauty and pageantry of this art form. Consisting of
members from high school and up, their dresses were more traditional, along with their hair and
make-up. The men wore full-blow charro outfits, cowboy boots, and sombreros. As is a common
sight in the folklorico dance, the men and women danced within close proximity of each other to
give the impression of kissing without ever really touching. Their dances involved heavier
stepping and faster speeds with the occasional gritos (whistles or shouts to convey pride/joy)
from the men during the performance. The women danced holding the ruffles of their dress up
and waving the fabric in circles as the men performed with their hands behind their back.
The third performance of the night was by Mariachi de Azusa who were the ones hosting
the event. Having two younger cousins who are a part of this amazing program really makes me
an advocate for the arts just by watching the growth in them and the development of their skills
with the instruments they have each learned to play by partaking in this personal experience that
is unique to our culture. Also dressed in stunning charro outfits, boy and girls from ages nine to
eighteen showcased their skills in the violin, trumpet, guitar, or by singing. Mariachi Relampago,
who performed right after Mariachi de Azusa, were a testament to the importance of the arts and
the benefits it can have in the long run. Many of the members of Mariachi Relampago got their

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start through Mariachi de Azusa, and their love for music has allowed them to follow their
passion and be invited to play at all different locations and even make special guest appearances
for different events from Los Angeles to Mexico.
Taking what I learned from that day and applying it into the classroom, I would have the
students work on projects specific to music from their culture to present/perform to the peers of
their class. Not only would they would be getting a greater appreciation of the arts and their
culture, but also be learning about the history of different genres of music and how/why they
came about. They could also do reports on famous singers from their cultures or create
instruments that are specific to certain types of genres of music. The opportunities are limitless,
but one thing for sure is that that night was amazing and seeing such young kids eager to learn
how to play instruments and learn about their heritage was truly inspiring.