Mariachi is much more than just a band that plays; it is a tradition that has existed in Mexico for almost two centuries and is enriched with enormous history and profound meaning for Mexican culture. Mariachi music began in the nineteenth century as a way for the common people of Mexico to find a way to express their ideas and feelings in which their ideas later became lyrics and their feelings became music. Mariachi music as we know it today results from the confluence of several influences. It originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco, in the city of Cocula, in the 19th century. It was a way in which people were able to say what they felt in a new and unique way. From the music and lyrics to the clothing and performance venues, Mariachi music is diverse and meaningful in many ways. The unique composition of the Mariachi Ensemble consists of the standard European instruments, six to eight violins, two trumpets and one guitar. Then there is also a sharp-itching, round-bottomed guitar called a vihuela, a deep-voiced guitar called guitarró, and a Mexican folk harp. ...