First-year mariachi program is music to their ears

In the beginning, confusion reigned, but in the end, they made music.

So it went for the Columbia High School music department's first-year mariachi program, which afforded 12 CHS students the opportunity to explore musical interests previously unavailable through the local school system.

"I'm so proud of all my mariachi students have accomplished," said CHS's first-year music director, Chandra Rampersad. "I knew they would come a long way, but I had no idea they would come so far, so quickly. They continue to astound me with their dedication, drive and spirit. And they constantly express their appreciation for me and the class. I'm in Teacher Heaven. What a wonderful first year."

According to Rampersad, mariachi is a traditional music that originated in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The Mexican government, for its part, "has done a lot to promote mariachi as its national pride."

In the United States, she noted, mariachi bands -- comprising trumpets, violins and a guitarone -- are strolling and playing all over, especially in Texas. "Mariachi has become a symbol of Mexican-American culture," Rampersad said. "With America's changing demographics, it's important that schools lead the way in embracing our newfound diversity."

White Salmon Valley School District administrators, in recognition of the changing demographics, proposed the creation of a mariachi program, in response to interest expressed in a student survey. Rampersad, just newly hired, enthusiastically endorsed the idea.

"Unfortunately, our school did not anticipate the great expenses it would require to fund such an immense project," Rampersad noted.

Then she learned about the White Salmon Valley Education Foundation, and that it was accepting grant applications for its then-current funding cycle. But time was running out.

"After just being hired, and with three days left until the deadline, I lunged head first at the opportunity to write a grant to help make the community's dream of a mariachi band come true," Rampersad recalled.

After a month and a half of worrying that the program would not have music, instruments or supplies, Rampersad said she'd just about given up.

"When I was afraid there was no hope, we got (the grant)," she said. "The education foundation announced they would fund a new mariachi band for Columbia High School."

All was set at the start of the 2010-11 school year except for one problem.

"The list of students interested in signing up for mariachi band had been lost" over the summer, Rampersad said. "Over the first few days random batches of students with scheduling conflicts fell in my mariachi band, confused and unamused. It was a struggle for us all, but after a couple of months the instruments started to grow on the students, and the students started to grow on me. Every success was celebrated, and every step forward created a wave of forward momentum."

The band made its public debut at the CHS Spring Concert in March. After that, Rampersad, said, "the mariachi band became unstoppable."

"The kids loved performing, and the community loved their performances," said Rampersad. "Ever since that moment, the only problem has been keeping up with all the requests for performances." (Most recently, the band performed for the school board at its May meeting, then took the stage at Spring Fest earlier this month.)

Jokabet Hernandez, a junior, played trumpet this year. The last time she'd played an instrument -- the trombone -- she was in middle school. She said she didn't like it, so she quit. But the chance to play in a mariachi band rekindled her musical interest, her drive to go somewhere she'd never been in terms of her education.

"I like the music," Hernandez said. "I look forward to coming to class. It's always happy here."

Junior Liliana Huerta found out late last summer that her choices for a fourth-period class were accounting, woodshop or mariachi. Though she knew nothing about music, Huerta said she was ready to try something new.

"I always thought music classes were boring, for nerds," she laughed. Once she discovered the violin (at Rampersad's urging), however, she couldn't get enough of music class.

"I really enjoy playing the violin," said Huerta, who added that she plans to stay in mariachi at least through her senior year.

Alejandro Birrueta, a sophomore trumpeter, will take over the role of guitarone next year. (Jorge Rangel, who just graduated, played guitarone this year because it is the hardest instrument to master, and he had the most musical experience, Rampersad noted.)

The junior-to-be started playing trumpet in middle school but gave it up. Mariachi, though, brought him back to music.

"I had to learn everything again, because I forgot what I learned in middle school," Birrueta said. But he's happy the way things have worked out for him.

"This is a place where you can have fun," he offered. "You don't have to pay attention to the teacher so much, and there's no homework."

Going into next year, Rampersad has new worries: that she has too many students -- 17 to date -- signed up for mariachi band and not enough instruments to go around. (The program would welcome donations of money, and/or violins, trumpets and guitars.)

"If any more kids sign up, we might just have to consider offering a second mariachi class," she said. "It's a wonderful problem to have."