Grade 4, Spotlight on Celebrations, Hispanic Heritage Month

Travel south and cross the border into Mexico, and you will find a whole new world of music. Mexico, even though it is borders the United States, has so many interesting musicians and music styles that it would take years to get to know them all.

Many Influences
Mexican music has been influenced by many different cultures. The first people in Mexico were Native Americans. The Aztecs and the Mayans were two powerful groups of Native Americans who developed their own music styles and instruments. The Spanish people came later and took over the country. They brought many songs and instruments that are still played in Mexico today. Enslaved Africans were brought to Mexico, too. People from other countries, like Germany, came later to settle in Mexico. With all of these different people, it’s not hard to see why there are so many music styles.

Instruments
The instruments of Mexico are one place you can see these different influences. Many styles use the guitar and the violin, two European string instruments. You can hear a European trumpet in mariachi music and in banda music, along with the tuba. These instruments were probably brought by German people who moved to Mexico in the 1800s.

In northern Mexico, you might hear a European accordion, and in the south you might hear marimbas. These instruments were originally created by the enslaved Africans who were brought to Mexico. Mexicans also invented their own instruments, like string instruments called the guitarrón and vihuela.

Click here to listen to the guitarrón.

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