Last month, the College of Music at the University of North Texas held its first-ever mariachi summer camp for Hispanic students in sixth through 12th grades. Along with learning to play the guitarrón or the trumpet, participants got a taste of college life during the three-day camp by meeting UNT students and touring the school’s campus.
“The long-term goal is to build a relationship with Latino middle school and high school students so they begin to feel comfortable on a university campus, and we can increase their interest in attending college,” says Dr. Donna Emmanuel, UNT associate professor of music and coordinator of the camp.
**IMAGE1:LEFT***Among other things, students learned how to develop their vocal skills and improve their playing of traditional mariachi instruments like the trumpet, violin, guitarrón and vihuela. Funded through the university’s Office of Equity and Diversity, the camp was set up as a limited enrollment pilot program. Next year, however, the camp will be expanded to a week and have open enrollment.
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