LAS CRUCES, N.M. — During New Mexico State Aggie football games, fans may hear mariachi music being played. This is all thanks to the NMSU Mariachi Band whose offseason work is in full swing.
Mariachi bands originated in Mexico with music that is recognized from all over the world. Mariachi music is made from instruments that may be recognized, but some instruments are still unknown to most.
Daniela Robinson is the only guitarron player in the NMSU Mariachi. Robinson’s skill on the guitarron shows the difference her instrument can make on a song.
“I play the guitarron which is the bass for mariachi,” Robinson said. “It’s a mariachi specific instrument and it’s basically the heartbeat of mariachi. It’s not used in any other music genre”
Not only does Robinson’s guitarron play a key part in mariachi, Mariachi Director Ken Tauz shows the importance of a new instrument in this style of music known as the trumpet.
“In the 30s we had Miguel Martinez come into mariachi vargas and he started with a single trumpet. It made it so popular for the genre that it became a staple,” Tauz said. “It became one of those things that’s like mariachi trumpets is one of the first things you start thinking about.”
With the diversity of clothing, instruments and songs, mariachi music is something people love to hear. The majority of undergraduates give up their passion of playing mariachi, but NMSU students can continue their passion.
NMSU student Natalia Enriquez is one student who decided to continue her passion of mariachi.
“Here, it’s more like we perform for the people, which is what mariachi is for,” Enriquez said. “I feel more comfortable here than I was in high school.”
Being able to have the college experience, while also being able to pursue a passion in mariachi gives undergraduates school pride.
“Doing mariachi in college was completely different for me because all throughout high school, I ran my own group. I was never in a high school mariachi,” Robinson said. “It feels really good to be apart of school pride.”
You can keep an eye out for the NMSU Mariachi Band at Aggie football games where the band performs at halftime and sings to fans in the stands.
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