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Mariachi Alegre features Wimbish teacher on trumpet

You don’t drag into school on a Monday morning when there’s a mariachi band serenading you at the entrance.

You dance.

Mariachi Alegre kicked off this morning as the seven musicians welcomed students to 91��Ƭ��’s Wimbish World Language Academy.

Groggy-eyed students – and their parents and teachers – suddenly turned into dancers with huge smiles on their faces when the music reached their ears.

Some students came prepared wearing colorful dresses perfect for twirling. One boy had his cowboy hat on as he danced. 91��Ƭ�� administrators and trustees showed up for the early morning party, too.

Leading the mariachi was a familiar face for Wimbish’s students: Wimbish teacher Abraham Hernandez. When he’s not playing trumpet and singing, Hernandez is a Spanish teacher at the school.

Language and Culture

Wimbish is a dual language elementary school where every student gets to pick a language track – either French or Spanish. Then they are immersed daily in that language. Half the day – language arts and social studies – is taught in English, and the other half – math and science – is taught in French or Spanish. 

“Our goal at the school is to not only teach the language, but the culture, too,” said Elizabeth Velasco, Wimbish’s community engagement liaison. “This is our commitment to help the students not only speak, read and write, but also learn about the cultures of other countries.”

Velasco – who enjoyed dancing along with the students – was instrumental in coordinating the mariachi performance and worked with to make it happen. The church is a regular partner at the school and paid for the mariachi band to perform. The ensemble – which performs at ceremonies all over the Metroplex – only charged half price.

Wimbish assistant principal Eric Rodriguez said the early morning mariachi concert is valuable because it’s important to embrace everyone’s culture.

“Mariachi is something that’s celebrated all across Latin America,” he said. “This is about having that connection with the kids – the music, the culture all together in one place.”

It was also the perfect way to start Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Celebrating Hispanic heritage at schools is crucial because it fosters inclusivity and respect for diverse cultures, enriching the educational experience for all students,” Hernandez said. “By highlighting the rich traditions, history and contributions of Hispanic communities, schools can help break down stereotypes and build a more comprehensive understanding of the world … It provides an opportunity for students to learn about and appreciate the unique perspectives and experiences that shape our society, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and empathetic learning environment.”

Celebrating with mariachi

Hernandez has been playing trumpet for 21 years and has been a member of since 2023.

The mariachi ensemble includes the trumpet, violin, guitar, guitarrón and vihuela.

“The guitarrón is the bass of the rhythm section,” Hernandez explained. “Many people assume that it is heavy, however are surprised to know that it weighs about 10 pounds. The vihuela is similar to the mandolin in that it is small and portable. The difference is that it has five strings and is shaped to produce music at higher volumes while maintaining clarity for rhythm.”

Hernandez loves playing mariachi “because it cultivates a strong sense of community … The collaborative nature of mariachi ensembles fosters a collective spirit, enhancing the feeling of belonging.”

That’s exactly what it did Monday morning for the Wimbish students and teachers.

But as fun as the mariachi ensemble was, there was no time for an encore. It was 8:10. Time for school. The kids – and Mr. Hernandez – needed to get to class.