Welcome to the January Mariachi Newsletter

Dear Mariachi Educator,

Happy New Year!

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to researching mariachi music and a bibliography of mariachi resources.

Do you know of any upcoming mariachi events? Share them with us, along with any comments, suggestions, or mariachi news, by e-mailing annew@menc.org.

¡Viva el mariachi!

Anne Wagener
Mariachi Newsletter Editor

Researching Mariachi Music

Noé Sánchez has started seven mariachi programs in San Antonio, Texas. He has published mariachi curriculum guides for schools starting mariachi programs, as well as a mariachi method book and several mariachi arrangements. He is the chair of the MENC National Mariachi Advisory Committee.

We should explore all available resources that will help us analyze, interpret, and teach the nuances of mariachi music. As mariachi music becomes a more widely recognized and expanding field of study, we as students and educators need to develop best research practices. We should explore all available resources that will help us analyze, interpret, and teach the nuances of mariachi music. Unfortunately, few of us are aware of the growing number of mariachi-related resources. Part of the problem lies in the fact that many sources are out of print or difficult to find in bookstores and libraries. On the other hand, sources are now accessible by new means, such as the Internet and electronic databases.

The purpose of this article is to help those doing research in mariachi music discover the latest research techniques. Research is a never-ending process, a continuous accumulation and interpretation of data. I hope the information that follows can serve as a guide to those who are interested in investigating the history of this art form as well as new directions for its future development. This research method is one possible systematic approach but does not necessarily have to be followed in the order described below.

Step 1: What Am I Researching?

Once you have selected a research topic, use the Internet or library to begin searching for sources. Consider checking out online bookstores such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders as well as using online search engines.

Step 2: Where Do I Look in the Library?

I recommend going to a university library since they often have the widest selection of materials, but don’t neglect your local public library.

Look in the catalog for any books and journals that relate to your topic. For mariachi purposes, some keywords to begin searching with might be

• mariachi,
• mariachi music,
• Mexican music,
• Latin American music,
• popular Mexican music,
• folk music,
• music in general, and
• any other related music topic.

Search the library’s computer database, but keep in mind that not all books in the library are in the computer system. Many libraries, whether local or in Latin America, do not have their catalog online. Once you find a book on your subject, review the bibliography, which is usually located in the back of the book, as is the table of contents of many books published in Latin America. This will be your first big step in finding more information. Use the names of books, articles, and authors to access more pertinent data about your topic.

Step 3: Where Else Can I Look?

If you have difficulty locating books on your topic, try searching the following sources.

• Music dictionaries or encyclopedias such as the Harvard Dictionary of Music and The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (print and online) or the reference section of the library
   
• Music periodical indexes or journals about music (print and online)
   
• RILM (Repertoire Internationale de Literature Musicale) online database, www.rilm.org
   
• Proquest, www.proquest.com—some university libraries have access to this online database, which offers doctoral dissertations and master’s theses as PDF files for viewing or printing. The service is free to enrolled students, and alumni may use it for a fee.
   
• Hispanic American Periodicals Index (HAPI), http://hapi.ucla.edu—an online database that provides journal articles
   
• Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), www.oclc.org—a research organization that provides bibliographic and full-text information
   
• MENC’s Web site, www.menc.org
   
• MENC’s Mariachi page
   
• Records/CDs jacket notes
   
• Personal interviews
   
• Music catalogs

Step 4: Once I Find Sources, How Can I Access Them?

The library you are visiting may not have all of the books, articles, or recordings you find in your search. Don’t panic. Go to your library’s Interlibrary Loan department/office and ask about acquiring some of these books or articles (Interlibrary Loan services cannot acquire records or compact discs). Interlibrary Loan is a service by which libraries lend each other books, cooperating for the benefit of the researcher. There may be a limit on how many books you can request, and there may also be a fee for this service, so ask your librarian.

Another approach is to look up syllabi of university professors who teach specialized courses in Latin American music or mariachi music. You can either search for the term “Latin American Music Syllabus” in Internet databases, or you can visist individual university Web sites and search for related courses or professors who teach those courses.

Below is a list of libraries or Latin American Centers that you can visit in person or online.

• University of California at Los Angeles
• Indiana University
• University of Texas at Austin, Benson Latin American Collection
• Tulane University
• Arizona State University
• Florida State University
• Library of Congress (Washington DC)
• Catholic University of America
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
• University of Illinois (Urbana)
• Duke University
• University of New Mexico (Albuquerque)

Mariachi conferences are also great opportunities to learn about mariachi. Some of the major ones are listed below. Visit MENC’s Mariachi Events Web page for more information on these events and other mariachi concerts, festivals, and conferences across the nation.

• San Antonio, TX
• Fresno, CA
• Tucson, AZ
• Sweetwater, CA
• Albuquerque, NM
• Las Cruces, NM
• Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
• San Jose, CA

Mariachi Bibliography

Click here for a bibliography of sources that will help students and teachers expand their knowledge of mariachi music and its history.

If you have difficulty finding any of the resources mentioned, or have additional research questions, submit a post on the MENC Mariachi forum.