Welcome!

Dear Mariachi Educator,

MENC is proud to announce its new MENC Mariachi membership, the first MENC Associate Membership classification developed to engage teachers of nontraditional ensembles and support MENC's mission goal of "Music For All". Mariachi member benefits are being developed such as an MENC Mariachi Web site and Newsletter like the one you are reading now, along with curriculum and publications of interest. These materials will support current Mariachi educators in their work, and assist others who want to incorporate this popular ethnic musical idiom into their existing program.

Educators interested in these benefits can access the MENC Mariachi Membership support materials by joining MENC as a full active member and include "Mariachi" as one of their Professional Areas of interest *OR* they can join as an MENC associate member with limited benefits but full access to the Mariachi materials and updates. An MENC Mariachi application can be downloaded to apply now. As new Mariachi educational resources, materials, and benefits are developed, they will be posted on the Mariachi Web site.

Marcia Neel, long-time MENC member and avid Mariachi advocate, is acting as the current Mariachi Steering Committee chair until an official MENC Mariachi Advisory Committee is established. Marcia heads the Secondary Fine Arts Department for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, NV. The incoming Mariachi Advisory Committee is expected to be identified and in place before the end of this school year and will serve until June of 2008. More information will be forwarded to you when the Mariachi National Advisory Committee has been established.

The current short-term Mariachi Steering Committee includes such renowned Mariachi educators as Richard Carranza, Eldorado High School, Henderson, NV; Randy Carrillo, Mariachi Cobre, Orlando, FL; Mark Fogelquist, Chula Vista High School, Chula Vista, CA; Jose Hernandez, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, South El Monte, CA; Belle Ortiz, Campanas de America, San Antonio, TX; Richard Rodriguez, James Curran Middle School, Bakersfield, CA; and Noe Sanchez, Somerset ISD, San Antonio, TX.

To join MENC Mariachi and benefit from the teaching resources and advocacy strength of MENC, the largest arts education association in the world, go to www.menc.org/join. You will find guidance for both full membership and associate membership application. If you need additional assistance or have further questions, contact the MENC Mariachi Membership staff at 800-336-3768.

Thank you for joining MENC in our effort to improve and expand the teaching of Mariachi music throughout the world.

¡Bienvenidos!

Estimado Profesor/a de Mariachi,

MENC se enorgullece en anunciar una categoría nueva de membresía, MENC Mariachi, la primera clasificación de membresía diseñada para involucrar a profesores/as de grupos musicales no tradicionales. El propósito es el de cumplir con la misión de MENC de ofrecer “Música para Todos”. Se están desarrollando los beneficios para socios en esta categoría, por ejemplo; una página en internet MENC Mariachi, un Boletín parecido a este, planes e ideas de material para enseñanza, y otras publicaciones de interés. Los profesores/as podrán utilizar los materiales para facilitar su trabajo, y ayudar a otros colegas a incorporar este popular estilo musical dentro de sus programas actuales.

Profesores/as que estén interesados en recibir estos beneficios, pueden hacerlo por medio de una membresía en MENC by joining MENC. Como miembro activo puede indicar “Mariachi” como un Area de Interés Profesional *O* si la membresía indica que es un miembro con beneficios limitados, también puede tener acceso a los materials de Mariachi y a información actualizada. En el link MENC Mariachi application se encuentra la solicitud para la membresía. Mientras se desarrollan recursos nuevos, materiales, y beneficios para incluírlos en la página de MENC Mariachi, se puede encontrar información en MENC Mariachi Web site.

Marcia Neel, quien ha sido miembro de MENC por mucho tiempo, y quien apoya apasionadamente al programa Mariachi, es la presidenta interina del Comité de Mariachi, hasta que se elija la Mesa Directiva de MENC Mariachi. Marcia es Coordinadora de los Programas de Bellas Artes a nivel secundaria en el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Clark, (Clark County School District) en el estado de Nevada. Se espera que la Mesa Directiva Mariachi esté organizada antes del fin de año escolar y continúe sus servicios hasta Junio del 2008. Más información estará disponible en cuanto se establezca la Mesa Directiva Mariachi.

Los miembros de la Mesa Directiva actual incluyen los altamente reconocidos profesores: Richard Carranza, Eldorado High School, Las Vegas, NV; Randy Carrillo, Mariachi Cobre, Orlando, FL; Mark Fodelquist, Chula Vista High School, Chula Vista, CA; Jose Hernandez, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, South El Monte, CA; Belle Ortiz, Campanas de America, San Antonio, TX; Richard Rodriguez, James Curran Middle School, Bakersfield, CA; and Noe Sánchez, Somerset ISD, San Antonio, TX.

Para membresía en MENC Mariachi y recibir los beneficios de recursos para la enseñanza, y el apoyar árduamente a MENC,, la organización más grande a favor de las artes en la educación, visite www.menc.org/">join. En este lugar se encuentra información y la solicitud sobre membresía completa full membership o como asociado associate membership. Para más información o asistencia, comuníquese con el personal de MENC Mariachi al 800-336-3768.

Gracias por su membresía en MENC y por su apoyo para mejorar e incrementar la enseñanza de la música del Mariachi a través del mundo.
 

Mariachi Special Focus Session at 2006 MENC National Conference

TOPIC: How to Build or Improve a Quality Mariachi Program

Starting at 2pm in Salt Lake City, UT on Wednesday, April 19, 2006, a special focus session will be presented dealing with how to start, build, and maintain a comprehensive, standards-based, sequential mariachi program. This 3 hour session will be held at the Mariott Salt Lake City downtown Hotel.

You may register online for this special session
or download a PDF registration form and submit it with your registration fee.

This session will include the following:

• The Overview/Rationale for a Mariachi Program—i.e. how it is linked to increased graduation rate and literacy—something all school board members and superintendents want to know and love to hear!
• Building a Curriculum around the Content Standards for Music Education and extending into post-graduate years
• Finding the Performance Material
• Procuring the Equipment Needed (i.e. Equipment Standards Lists)
• History of Mariachi: From the first known Mariachi & the development from Mexico to the US.
• Publications: Various levels for students in middle school, high school, and university
• The Basics: Instruments and Attire
• Along with an esteemed team of nationally-recognized Mariachi experts, Mariachi Plata de Las Vegas, the Secondary Mariachi Education Faculty from the Clark County School District, will attend, perform, and be available for assistance.
• The Mariachi Performance Tradition--a hands-on introduction to playing Mariachi Music
• Fund-raising Strategies, Promotion, and Support

Participants will walk away with. . .

1. The Clark County School District's Mariachi Curriulum Documents which include course scopes and goals as well as teaching suggestions for the following courses.

• Beginning Middle School Mariachi Guitar and Vihuela
• Beginning Middle School Mariachi Violin
• Middle School Mariachi Ensemble I
• Beginning High School Mariachi Guitar and Vihuela
• Beginning High School Mariachi Violin
• High School Mariachi Ensemble I
• High School Mariachi Ensemble II
• High School Beginning Ballet Folklorico

2. The Clark County School District's Mariachi Curriulum CAP (Curriculum Alignment Project) Documents which provide the Curriculum Map/Timeline for the teaching of musical skills.

3. The Clark County School District's Mariachi Festival Conference Book which was provided to the 350+ students who participated in this year's Festival.

This book includes the following:

• Music for all parts
• Standards-based lessons
• Glossary of Mariachi terms

4. A roster of all presenters to contact as needed for assistance.

5. Access to a national list-serve for Mariachi Educators

A distinguished panel of Mariachi experts will be presenting this session and will make themselves available to answer questions and offer suggestions to improve or establish your Mariachi Program.

MENC and the MENC Mariachi leadership hope you will join us for this exciting program.

See you in Salt Lake City this April!