Catherine Wernli and Dr. Andrew Dabczynski, Music Education
According to the 2000 census report for the state of Utah, the state population included almost 87,883 foreign-born citizens from Latin America. In 1990 there were only 13,825. Compared with Asian-born citizens and other foreign-born citizens, this is the highest increase of an ethnic group of people in Utah. Three-fourths of these Latino foreign-born citizens are entering Utah from Mexico. These numbers don’t even include the native-born Mexicans that have grown up in Utah. All signs and research suggests that this trend will continue. Now, more than ever, it is important to ensure that Mexican immigrants have a place in American society. This minority group needs to feel as though they and their culture are welcome in Utah. One aspect of the Mexican culture is music, particularly Mariachi music. A greater familiarity with Mariachi music should contribute to acceptance of Mexican immigrants by the general population.
My mentor and I planned and conducted a clinic held at BYU that served to instruct music teachers in Utah on the basics of Mariachi music and how to implement and teach a Mariachi band at their public schools. Utah public school students will also be invited to attend and take part. In this clinic, we had the pleasure of having one of the top Mariachi groups in Utah, Mariachi Zavala, come and perform. Before performing, Arturo Zavala, one of the main members, gave a presentation on the basics of Mariachi including history of Mariachi, the costumes of Mariachi, the instruments of Mariachi, the music of Mariachi, etc. He then instructed on how he, a music teacher, started a Mariachi group in an Ogden High School. Also, during his presentation, he handed out music and flyers to the attendees outlining what he was instructing. After his instruction, he invited those attending, if they had instruments, to come and play with some of his high school students with some Mariachi music. It was a great example how anyone can learn this music and be enriched by it.
We then went over to the Wilkinson Center where Mariachi Zavala performed in the main area by the Cougareat. The Zavala’s were in authentic Mariachi gear, with authentic guitarrons vihuelas, guitars, and violins. Not only were the attendees entertained, but also everyone in the Wilkinson was introduced to the exciting Music of Mariachi. People in the Cougareat to study and eat food stopped and listened to the group perform. Arturo Zavala included a little instruction between songs, including where the song originated and since it was in Spanish, a basic translation. It was an incredible learning experience to all who attended.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t great attendance at this clinic. My mentor even responded, “This was the best clinic that no one went to.” But there still were some great things learned by those who did come. Dr. Dabczynski even planned something similar to this clinic in October, and there was great attendance by students in the music education program and by public school teachers.
One result of this clinic was an added awareness of the Hispanic population at BYU, and I believe my mentor is putting into the works an annual event that includes this wonderful Mariachi group. Perhaps another affect will be that a Mariachi group will be started at BYU. The clinic also provided an educational opportunity for members of the BYU chapter of the American String Teachers Association. In addition, the Music education students had the opportunity to come and learn from this clinic.
This project enhanced the education of not only students at BYU, but also the public school students and teachers of Utah. Further, the project contributed to a positive and peaceful sense of community – both on the BYU campus and beyond – by featuring the music of Mexican Americans. It is still my hope that the project did helped develop understanding and tolerance of a foreign culture, contributing to a resolution of unintentional racism and prejudice. This clinic also helped make new invaluable friends for the university with the Zavala’s. By inviting all Utah music educators and as many Hispanics as possible, new bonds within the community have been established.