My Global Music Autobiography
My
Global Music Autobiography
Growing
up with Mexican parents was very fun because music is a big part of our
culture. My dad loves to dance and loves anything that will get him up and
moving. He listens to all kinds of music from mariachi to cumbia to merengue,
so I remember being at birthday party’s or just riding in the car listening to all
types of Spanish music. I recently took a trip to Mexico last summer and got to
experience where my family came from first hand. One of the nights we were at a
beach and a mariachi band came out to the beach and were playing for money. We
asked for a couple songs that I actually knew just from listening to my dad
play them and it was the coolest thing ever getting to experience that in
Mexico right by the water. A lot of people got up to danced and that’s pretty
normal, the music is really upbeat and fun so you really can’t help yourself.
About three years
ago I went to Madrid, Spain to visit family and we went out to explore the big
plaza, usually every town has a main plaza where they do events, they have
shops and restaurants. They had flamenco dancers in beautiful long dresses and
held little castanets in their hands as they danced. The music was very low and
smooth and flowed very nicely, and the dancers moved very gracefully it was
very fun because I am used to Spanish music and usually I’m showing my friends
new things but this time I got to see something new and learn from it and experience
it.
Last year and this
year I had roommates from China and they play music in the shower or in their
room and I can here it through out the apartment. My roommates last year played
a lot of K-pop which is more up beat and sounded a lot like our pop and my roommate
this year listens to more traditional Chinese music it sounds more classical
and calming. Both types of music were new and different to me but I enjoyed
both the classical music and the k-pop. I usually listen to mellow or slower
types of music.
Hi Jazmine!
ReplyDeleteWow, I can't imagine what it was like to listen to the mariachi band while on the beach, I bet that was such a unique experience! The only times I've heard a mariachi band would have been in Mexican restaurants. Honestly, I feel like I do not see mariachi bands as much now like I did when I was younger. Might just be me, but I remember being a little kid and always seeing them at our local Mexican restaurant. Also, I used to have a neighbor who was from Japan. I remember being in her room and listening to some of her music. It is definitely different for sure, but mainly because of the language barrier.
I have always wanted to hear a mariachi band live because the music is so lively and fun. My mother never liked when I played K pop because she did not understand it, but she did love the traditional Chinese or Japanese music that would sometimes play. She loved how calm and bright the instruments sounded and even sometimes she would play it while she cleaned.
ReplyDeleteIt's really cool being able not only to have an interest in the music culture but to also experience it. I stayed with a friend over winter break and her mom was born and raised in El Salvador. She loves having us go to Zumba and listen to the news in Spanish. I do that stuff anyway because of my Spanish minor but it was such a different experience to do it with a native of the culture. I'd love to hear more about your trips and experiences.
ReplyDeleteHi Jazmine! I'm kind of jealous of you for having the opportunity to listen the mariachi band while on the beach, I'm sure that was a cool experience! I know some of the Chinese students on campus and I always hear them singing and to be honest the music is very calming like you said.
ReplyDeleteI am so so jealous!!! I want to go to Spain so bad, I think the culture is so beautiful. I have never gotten to share living with someone from another country, but it seems like it would be a fantastic learning experience.
ReplyDelete