Folk Culture

The mariachi singing voice is one of the most popular folkloric sounds you will hear in the southern region of Texas today. There seems to be a strong movement in our Hispanic culture in preserving this type of musical art work. Mariachi music performers encompass a large population of ages ranging from the youngest elementary student all the way to the older beginner. Much of the younger generation is exposed to this musical environment because it is being passed down from their own families who play and sing mariachi. Other are simply drawn in by just wanting to learn the love of the art itself.

The mariachi voice is a very unique sound in that any voice interpreting mariachi literature will have its own flavor and flare within the style. In the present, recording artists such as Vicente Fernandez, Rocio Durcal, Juan Gabriel, Aida Cuevas, and the late Lola Beltran, just to name a few, vocally share a large number of characteristics dealings with mariachi singing style, yet individually convey distinct and beautiful interpretations of what we call “La Canci�n Mexicana.” The strong influence of these popular singers is that anyone wanting to study mariachi singing must keep in mind to use these role singers solely as inspirational listening models. It is important to take these examples and use them as a guide. It is a good way to hear how mariachi singers interpret mariachi, but one should not want to sing and duplicate their same sound.

There are several things a mariachi voice student must keep in mind when performing this type of art song. It is helpful to the mariachi vocal performer to acquire some good classical training for better longevity of the voice. In conjunction, one must try to be conscious of not losing the true character and style of mariachi art song singing. This particular type of singing is not as heavy in sound as some perceive it to be. It should consist of a voice that can sing evenly and elegantly within its own given chest and head tone range correctly. This is where good vocal production is so important because the lack of it can create vocal problems for the singer. For anyone who is active in performing mariachi music, some voice training can be very helpful in improving or correcting poor singing practices.

In closure, one of the important things to remember is that mariachi is music that lends itself easily for singers to utilize their freedom of expression and emotion. Through Mexican folk song, the self expression and creativity one projects as a performer is the core of a true performing mariachi vocalist. It is an art that will hopefully never perish as long as the mariachi Mexican heart and soul live within us.