How to Learn and Play "Son Jarocho"

How to learn to play and instrument

by Jessica (a RW 7 student) 

One of Mexico's richest artistic expressions, son jarocho encompasses a tradition of music, dance and vocal improvisation that traces its roots to African, Spanish and indigenous influences. Son jarocho music thrives on improvisation, humor and spontaneity and is continuously evolving to reflect the experiences, love, witty sarcasm,  and politics.

One of the fundamental instruments used in son jarocho that provides the rhythmic framework of this music is the jarana jarocha. If you want to learn how to play jarana jarocha, I would recommend the following steps.

First, learn about the instrument.

Jaranas are traditionally made of Spanish cedar or mahogany, and it comes in various sizes which typically have eight strings (three pairs flanked by two singles). The body, neck and headstock of the jarana jarocha can be handcrafted from one piece of wood. The body is long and thin, much thinner than a typical guitar body.

Second, try to learn the culture and traditions of the son jarocho.

Read books and search for information online such as videos, tabs and lyrics. The web is a great medium to find information about son jarocho.

Third, buy your instrument.

You can buy it directly from the Laudrero, Mexican jaranero maker. I recommend it. When you buy an instrument from these people, you are supporting them and their community. Also, this is a great way to buy an original instrument. If you can’t afford to buy a jarana, you can borrow one from a teacher (if available, see below).

Fourth, enroll your self in classes.

Every Sunday from 3-5 pm you will have the opportunity to take the beginner's free classes in the Whitaker Community Center, located at the corner of Jackson and Grant St., in the Whitaker neighborhood. The advanced class is on Thursday from 7-9 pm. 

Fifth, be very patient.

Learning to play a new instrument can be hard. You need a lot of dedication and patience. If you try to practice 30 minutes per day, you will notice a big improvement. My advice for you is, try to sing while you play. This is very, very helpful.

Remember, practice is the best thing you can do while you learn a new instrument. After a few months of practice you will be ready to participate in the Fandangos. Fandangos are at the heart of son jarocho. They're kind of like jam sessions, where musicians gather to play, sing and dance around a wooden platform called a tarima. In the Fandango you will enjoy listening the accompanied instruments such as the requinto jarocho, the exuberant jarocho harp, the quijada (donkey jaw), pandero (wood frame tambourine) and marimbuolo (large bass kalimba). As long as son jarocho musicians learn and hold onto the roots of the music, the tradition will thrive wherever it's played.

Good luck!