Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Conjunto Tuesdays

Every Tuesday, I have the privilege of being serenaded by the Conjunto class at Teatro de Artes.  Conjunto style is uniquely Texas – originating with (my Abuelito’s cousin) Narciso Martinez “EL Huracan del Valle” in South Texas.  To be specific, Conjunto music is the playing of the accordion, accompanied by the 12 stringed Bajo Sexto . In this  style  of music, musicians only play the right side of the diatonic accordion, and the Bajo Sexto provides the rhythm and bass.   At Teatro there are two teachers, Mike Carillo and Rodolfo Lopez.  The kids are split up into 2 groups, 1 group is learning keys with Mr. Carillo, and the other is finding the rhythm with Mr. Lopez on the Bajo.  It is amazing to see kids as young as 5 make it look easy to play the accordion.  I’ve always had a fantasy of playing the accordion, and it’s hard not to get excited every week, being surrounded with this music that I love.  Mr. Carillo is teaching me to play the accordion, and the first song I’m learning is Viva Seguin. My fingers have been moving 100 miles a minute with my anxiousness to play well, and I need to slow down.  Right now, I play like a true beginner, but, hopefully one day, I’ll be able to rip it like Flaco. 
                                                                 
Alejandro Guerra Jr.-Viva Seguin

Rodolfo Lopez y Mike Carillo-Vuela Paloma

-Worm

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