In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the vibrant, diverse contributions of the Hispanic and Latine communities.
At Music Will, we are committed to providing culturally inclusive music education that empowers students to embrace their heritage and celebrate what makes them unique. Our curriculum incorporates a variety of culturally relevant music, including traditional Hispanic and Latine genres.
This work wouldn’t be possible without our teachers who are creating these spaces for their students to explore their cultural identity!
Mariachi Programs in School
Beth Poquette Drews who teaches at L. V. Stockard Middle School in Dallas, started a Mariachi Band program that allows her students to not only develop a love of music but also to connect with their family heritage. The Mariachi program shows her students that the music that defines their culture has value enough to be taught in school, which has had a powerful impact. One of Beth’s favorite memories is when a group of Mariachi students learned a Mexican pop song and performed it at the All City Concert. Her students beamed with pride as they took the skills they learned from her class and performed music they learned on their own to a large audience. Watch more about Beth’s program below.
La Bamba
This special performance of the Mexican folk classic “La Bamba” by Jon Secada alongside our talented students from Miami, highlights music’s powerful role in bridging cultures and inspiring future generations. Originating from the state of Veracruz, countless artists have performed and reinterpreted this timeless classic, solidifying its place in Mexican music history. By studying and performing “La Bamba,” our students gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic culture and its contributions to the global music landscape. Watch the performance here.
Viva Mariachi y Folklorico
Ramon Rivera, who teaches at Mount Vernon High School in Washington, runs several programs including mariachi and Folklorico, a traditional Mexican dance style that showcases the rich cultural heritage and colorful costumes of different regions in Mexico.
“Mariachi and Folklorico are a big part of being a bulldog,” Ramon says, and he considers them to be especially important for students whose cultures were not previously well represented. But he also believes that their significance goes beyond Latino students. “It’s important to know about different cultures and their traditions, even if a person is not ‘part’ of that culture.”
Read more about Ramon and his programs here: Tales of the Magic Skagit
Join us in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month by listening to this playlist we compiled with some of our favorite songs and support our mission by transforming music education today.