Bridging Music Styles: Mariachi and Concert Band
Dr. Rodolfo Gonzalez, an arranger and retired music educator from Laredo, Texas, will present this clinic. He will A.) discuss the growing popularity of Mariachi music B.) discuss the opportunity to bridge Mariachi music with Concert Band music C.) present eight examples from the Mariachi repertoire (Ranchera lenta, Vals, Polka, Bolero, Son jarocho, Son jalisience, Cumbia, Son huapango) D.) present information on composers, purpose of song, form, time signature, key signature, rhythm, harmony, tempo, dynamics and form E.) present sequenced and adapted Concert Band versions of the mentioned Mariachi styles and songs (La golondrina, Las mananitas, Atotonilco, Carino, La bamba, El caballito-Mexico lucido, La muruca, Cucurrucucu, paloma).
Dr. Rodolfo Gonzalez was born in Laredo, Texas, October 29, 1958. His father, Abran, was a firefighter captain and his mother, Berta, was a seamstress and teacher aide. In school “Rudy” participated in elementary school choir, church guitar and choir, and middle/high school band playing French horn and electric guitar in the jazz/stage band. After high school graduation, Dr. Gonzalez majored in Music, Education, Communications, School Administration and Education Leadership. He has taught Elementary Music (Kodaly/Orff based) PK-6, middle/high school choir, string orchestra, mariachi, guitar, violin, piano, theory and composition classes in private and public schools in Corpus Christi, TX, Laredo, TX, Alice, TX, San Antonio, TX, and Delano, CA. Dr. Gonzalez has been retired since 2013 and presently plays French horn in the Temple College/ Texas A & M University – Central Texas Community Symphonic Band and arranges and publishes his sheet music for Orff Music Classroom, String Orchestra, Mariachi, Concert Band, and Vocal Ensemble.