How I Became an Awesome Trumpet Player

Mariachi is a very authentic type of music which originated from the heart of Mexico in Guadalajara. The instruments used for mariachi include the Guitarron, vihuela, violin, harp, guitar, and the trumpet. When played together, they form a beautiful music which I have come to love. In my own experience, mariachi can be a very challenging style to play, but it can also be rewarding in the end. Playing mariachi is how I became the awesome trumpet player I am today.

I came across mariachi for the first time in eighth grade. It was the beginning of the year and I heard from the school councilor that there was going to be a mariachi class. "Hmm, easy 'A'," I thought to myself, being that I had taken a year of band in the sixth grade. So the first chance I got I joined the mariachi class. After a few days of being in that class I started to have second thoughts about what I had done. The music was harder than I had expected it to be. There were many times when the music became very frustrating and made me feel like giving up. One day I just couldn't take it any more. The music was just too advanced. I was at the point where I wanted to launch my trumpet across the room. So later on that day I went home to tell my dad that I was going to get out of that class, but he didn't want me to. We argued about it for awhile. He explained that mariachi would make a better musician out of me. He also told me, "the harder the music, the more advanced I would get." Finally I was convinced, so I stayed in the class. Later on throughout the year I started to improve little by little. I was also starting to enjoy it to but it still wasn't getting any easier.

The school year was finally over and summer time was here. During that summer I attended a five day mariachi conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The first day there, we were separated into three different classes, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. I was placed in the intermediate class. Throughout the second, third, and fourth days there I went to classes where I was taught new songs, songs that I had never have heard before. They were also harder than the songs I played at school but I still enjoyed the experience.

The four days flew by quickly. On the last day, there was big concert. The big time famous mariachis would be performing there. I would finally get to hear for the first time in my life what mariachi is really all about. Later on that day I got ready and left for where the showcase was being held. When I got there, I waited in line. The hot sun was eating away at my back. I stayed in line for about an hour, but I knew it would be worth it. When I finally got in, I looked for the closest seat to the stage. I spotted one that was five rows away from the stage. I ran as fast as I could and sat right in it. As I sat there, I watched the mariachis