Trailer: Sones De Mariachi: The Foundation of Interpretation

Course Description

This 30-minute course covers the concept of “son”, the indigenous music of many regions of Mexico. It compares and contrasts four (4) different varieties: Son Jalisciense, Son Michoacano, Son Huasteco, and Son Jarocho— one of which (Son Jalisciense) is a requirement for the UIL and other region and state contests. Joe lectures and plays the rhythm instruments to express the ideas of phrasing, pacing, and timing, and discusses the similarities and differences of these types of sones. The “son” is the traditional folk style of mariachi music and can be misunderstood by educators who are new to the genre or don’t understand the mariachi’s rhythm section. Any melodic phrasing is always layered on top of these foundations of interpretation by the rhythm section. If the foundation is not sound, it becomes very difficult or impossible to develop a mature and authentic interpretation from the rest of the group. The hope here is that educators new to the genre or unfamiliar with the rhythm section will come to understand these foundational concepts better to teach their students how to phrase and interpret the “son” more appropriately and accurately.

About the Presenter

Joe Baca is a member of Mariachi Cobre and serves as the group’s principal violinist. He is the author of the premier 50 Mariachi Etudes for Violin and, for over 22 years, has regularly served as a performer, clinician, judge, and workshop designer for several mariachi competitions and festivals across the country. Joe was a certified Texas music educator before moving to Orlando to perform full time. He recently founded the Pro Institute of Mariachi & Education to focus on professional educators and college-level outreach in performance and pedagogy. Joe is married with five children and is a devout Catholic.