Music is the life and soul of Mexican Culture, it makes the atmosphere light up as the music fills the ears and the rhythm travels throughout the body.

As one sits in their seat and is surrounded by family, they are able to hear each note and sound each instrument makes as it’s strummed while the live music group is playing.  These groups tend to show up to birthday parties, quinceaneras, baptizations, family gatherings, and weddings. Live Mexican music groups vary from three to twenty people. The genres also vary from rancheras, nortenas, and banda. There is no wrong choice between the different genres. They light the air with glee. Many sing with such passion and tears. The song topics vary from being in love, folktales, death, being heartbroken, dancing, horses, and movies. 

Mariachi music is the most famous and popular among all the genres. Mariachi originated from Jalisco, Mexico. Jalisco is a rural state. Mariachi music is considered ranchera music, or ranch styled. The mariachi typically are a group of seven to twelve people. They traditionally dress in Charro suits(Charros are horsemen). In the 18th century, this was a status of wealth and class. Currently, charros are people who play sports with their horses. This band consists of violins, trumpets, guitars,vihuela, and a guitarrón. 

Richard Franco, a senior at DVC, played in a mariachi. He played the trumpet and was a singer in mariachi for years. Franco said, “Mexican music is important to me because it’s something that has been handed down for generations, from my great grandma all the way to me.  I want to keep on passing [the] tradition on and pass the music genre down to my kids, so they could eventually pass it down to their kids.”

Banda is another very important type of genre that is popular in Mexico. This genre originates from Sinaola, Mexico. This is a louder and faster paced genre. This group consists of ten to twenty people. Banda is usually meant for people to dance. The instruments that are used in this genre are trumpets, clarinets, valve trombones, Eb alto horns, sousaphone, tuba, and two to three singers. 

Nicholas Chaidez, a senior at DVC, spends a lot of time in Mexico taking care of his horses. Chaidez said, “My favorite genre is banda because it is very happy, loud, and alegre. I like how vibrant it is as well. You know how you get hyped up with rock and roll? I get hyped up with my banda.” 

Mexican music is a way to express one’s feelings or connect with each other. This is with all music, but there is a special connection with the culture of Mexican music. It is important in Mexican culture to connect with music. One may listen to music for various reasons; one might be for dancing. This can vary by genre, which can be cumbias, banda, nortena, spanish rock, and much more. 

Ricardo Diaz, a senior at DVC, is very fond of all genres and is known to be upbeat. Diaz said, “Cumbias is my favorite genre of music because of the rhythm, the way you can dance to it.”