Having parents that were born in Mexico, and still have deep ties to their culture even to this day, one genre of music that is very distinctively, “Mexican”, is the genre of Mariachi music. This genre of music originated in the 1860s, almost hand in hand with the French occupation of Mexico, where Mariachi music was played at Mexican weddings. This music would borrow music elements from European music, borrowing the structure of the European waltz.

Today, the people who perform this music are the, “mariachis”, often forming a Mariachi band. These men and women sport the very elegant uniforms, often having brass bells, and gold embroidery, making a very flashy appearance. These bands will also use instruments with high registers, such as violins, trumpets. Along with this, to set a background, guitars and guitarrons are used, and one lead singer, sings a powerful, booming verse, to often tell stories through their music. In Mexico, and the United States, mariachi music can still be seen performed at weddings. and smaller parties.