More than music: Inside SMC's Mariachi Ensemble
Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Performing Arts Center (PAC) is usually quiet at midday. From 3:45 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, the halls of the PAC come alive with the sounds of a distinctive class offered at SMC: Music 44, the Mariachi Ensemble.
Mariachi music originated in western Mexico and dates back to the 18th century. It is known for being a vibrant and emotional genre of music that embodies the essence of Mexican identity and heritage. It mainly consists of stringed instruments, including the violin and guitar, and two traditional mariachi instruments: the guitarrón and vihuela. Trumpets are also utilized in the genre.
Entering the classroom, a small hallway leads to an enormous room adorned with stage lights. In the middle of the room is a music stand and a microphone used by the instructor and singers who go up for specific songs. The stand is surrounded by rows of chairs covering three walls.
Each student sits in their respective section based on their instrument, with their instrument case around them. Each person also has their stand with a folder set on it, filled with various music sheets and lyrics ready for rehearsal.
The instructor for the Mariachi Ensemble is Mary Alfaro, who has had a background in music since high school. “I played clarinet,” Alfaro said. “I was in marching band, orchestra, jazz band … all that stuff.”
Alfaro first came to SMC straight out of high school instead of going the four-year university route. Alfaro wanted to learn guitar, so she took a guitar class.
“I got started in mariachi playing in a program called the Mariachi Master Apprentice Program (MMAP) in the city of San Fernando,” Alfaro said. “Around that time (when I was taking the guitar class), I came across a flyer advertising the mariachi program.”
Since being a part of the MMAP, Alfaro has been playing mariachi professionally, playing gigs in Washington, D.C., New York, and Oregon.
Alfaro then transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a music education major. “Mariachi just kind of followed me to UCLA,” Alfaro said. Then, in 2006, Alfaro and graduate students revived the student mariachi at UCLA.
According to Alfaro, the SMC mariachi class first started because of a collaboration between the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and Sounds Like LA, previously known as the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra, which reached out to her and several others to teach a mariachi class through SMC. For the first two years, the course met at Santa Monica High School, mainly composed of high school students. This school year is the first time the class meets on an SMC campus.
The class first started with vocal exercises, led by Alfaro. Afterwards, the ensemble practiced numerous pieces for their event on May 15. Each section blended smoothly to produce a cohesive sound. Some students used their feet to keep up with the beat, while others paid close attention to their music sheet or singing.
The class mainly comprises beginners and people who want to learn a new tradition. There is also a student who already plays mariachi professionally, but is using the class to learn and practice the trumpet.
Alfaro went around helping out each section, sometimes making students restart if she felt something was off with a part of a song.
It was shown to be a tight-knit and welcoming community, as students often cheered each other on and talked in between breaks. During a break, students came together to continue to play and one student even started dancing.
Alfaro offers this advice to students interested in joining: enrollment is open to anyone. She wants to expand the group; if anybody wants to reach out to her, they can.
“Enroll in the class,” Alfaro said. “This class is open to anybody who wants to learn mariachi music … to sing, you don’t have to have experience singing … playing an instrument. This class is for you. If you just have an interest in music and Latin America music, and the music of Mexico, mariachi music, bolero music, this class is open to you.”