Guitarrón, trumpets, skull makeup: Idaho youth mariachi band preps for Day of the Dead
Inside a Caldwell building Wednesday evening, three girls crowded around a fellow band member, her head leaned back as they made up her face to look like a skull.
A black line with small crossed dashes stretched past her smile.
The girls are all part of a Treasure Valley mariachi group, Cantares de Mexico, which is set to perform Saturday at JUMP’s Día de los Muertos celebration. The holiday, also known as the Day of the Dead, celebrates those who have passed and is held on Nov 1-2.
For the children who play in the group, it’s a chance to make friends, perform and stay connected to their culture in predominantly non-Latino Idaho. Canyon County, though, which is home to the group, has a Latino population that exceeds 60,000.
“(Connecting to your roots) makes you feel like you’re alive,” said 12-year-old Temo Amaral, who plays guitarrón.
The youths sat in a semicircle, strumming, plucking and tuning their instruments: from trumpets and violins to vihuelas, a guitar-like implement typical in mariachi music. Sheet music sat atop a black stand in the center for one of the final practices before taking the stage for a big show.
Saul Arreola, the son of the director, stood at the microphone near the sheet music. He led the students in Spanish and English, playing along slowly. Then it was time to begin.
“Listos?” Saul asked. “This is for real.”
The bright, happy mariachi music rang out before a pause. Saul began to sing.
Some students attended practice that day in mariachi attire. Others, in blue jeans. A violinist nodded her head, waiting for her turn to pick up the bow.
For Cruz Arreola, the director, this program is a chance to give kids something to do. It’s a bit of a family affair, too. His wife’s family is from the Mexican state of Jalisco, an important area for mariachi music. He brought his children to mariachi music.
“In Mexico, mariachi is tradition. It’s family. It’s cultural,” Cruz said. “There’s a lot of need for mariachi in this area. There’s a lot of Hispanics ... and other people like mariachi.”
Cruz said he gets the clothing for the young musicians from Mexico, mainly. There aren’t many places locally to find the attire.
Here in Idaho, the band has had a real impact on the young players, and is like “family,” said 13-year-old Lizette Rodriguez.
“We all talk with each other,” she said. “We all hang out with each other.”
And there are other benefits — lasting ones.
“Music is more like a thing where you can express your emotions,” said 16-year-old Natalie Pina.
Aokee Ibanez, 16, has bridged a generational gap.
“With my grandparents, I get to really bond with them over the music,” Aokee said.
Juan Arriaga, 17, said he’s lost a lot of his shyness since joining the group. He grew up attending parties and weddings with mariachi bands. He said he’d often tell his mother he’d be one of them, out there playing for people.
“I felt like music for me was like a gateway to my happy spot,” Arriaga said. “It helped me get away from the world when it was a little too much. It’s just been my passion.”
Cantares de Mexico will be performing at 5 p.m. Saturday, according to an organizer, at JUMP, 1000 W. Myrtle St. More information is available at the JUMP website.
