Mariachi bands at school? West Chicago District 33 starts program

It started as a simple idea tossed around for several years by teachers and administrators in West Chicago Elementary District 33: Why not create a mariachi band program?

Now it's about to become a reality.

"Mariachi music is a blast," said James Wallace, District 33 band director. "It's a serious kind of music, but it's not too hard to get started with. It's a lot of fun to play and I think it will be popular."

Kristina Davis, assistant superintendent for learning, said the program is being funded with Title III federal grant money, awarded to schools with programs for English language learners.

"It's an opportunity for students to learn and expand their knowledge, not just in the area of music but in culture and language," she said.

Roughly $2,600 has been put toward training for Wallace and orchestra director Janet Sikma, who will run the mariachi program together. In June, they attended a conference in Las Vegas aimed specifically at mariachi music educators.

Wallace said the conference gave them insight about the best way to implement the program. There was an emphasis, he said, on finding people who will advocate and financially support the program on an ongoing basis.

"Getting things started is always kind of a slow process," he said.

He anticipates the ensemble will perform only a spring concert in the coming school year.

But, he said, "I think once people see how great it is, it's going to really catch on."

Wallace and Sikma also learned techniques for playing the music from professional mariachi band members, reviewed songs that will resonate with middle student musicians, and heard from teachers who have successfully implemented similar programs.

"This is something we could have never found in articles and books," Wallace said. "It was neat to spend time interacting with them."

Another $3,200 of the Title III money went toward the purchase of several instruments to help get the program up and running. The ensemble will consist of violins, trumpets, acoustic guitars and two Spanish instruments: a vihuela, which is structured like a guitar, but has a lighter, brighter sound and five strings, and a guitarron, a large string instrument that provides a bass line. Vocals are also an important part of the music.

Davis said mariachi programs are becoming very popular in states with large Latino populations, such as Texas and California. More school districts in the Chicago area are introducing them as well, including Palatine Township Elementary School District 15 and Elgin Area School District U-46.

"Students travel around the United States and perform and compete," Davis said. "As dual-language programs are growing, we're seeing this grow as well. It's not just for Spanish-speaking Latin-American students. It's for all students."

Mario Mongello, band director at District 15's Winston Campus Junior High, said the number of mariachi band members at the school has been limited to about 35 students due to cost, but interest has been high since the program started three years ago. Last year, more than 70 students wanted to be involved and Mongello said a majority of them had no previous interest in the other music offerings at the school.

"It's just a great way to interact with students and learn more about them and their families and their culture," he said. "They know more about the music than we do sometimes, even though we've done the research and the homework. It's ingrained in them since birth."

This school year, Wallace and Sikma plan to limit participation in the mariachi band primarily to students who are already in band or orchestra.

"We feel like it is important, instead of getting tons of kids this year, that we have a solid musical group," Wallace said. "We can use that group as a recruiting tool and to show off what we're doing."

Wallace anticipates that in coming years, the mariachi ensemble will attract students who aren't interested in playing more traditional instruments offered in band and orchestra. He hopes the district's support will continue and community interest will grow.

"Teaching kids musical instruments takes a long time," he said. "We all have to be prepared for the long haul and have patience and I think there will be a pay off at the end of it."