The Escuela de Iniciación Artística Número 3 del INBA is the same school where Pepe, Jr. studied when he was a child. There he learned basic skills of classical music taught by some of the many artists who perform at the Bellas Artes. It is where children learn how to read music, play the piano and study music theory for three hours each day for three years from some of the best artists in all of Latin America.

“It’s important for students to understand the basics of music before they study mariachi,” says Pepe, Jr.  “My children learn how to play mariachi music after they have a solid foundation of music theory,” he says.

Pepe, Jr. will be in San Antonio teaching mariachi music master classes to students November 20 as part of the 15th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza.

Photo: Pepe, Jr. with students at Wesley Community Center in San Antonio during a one-week Summer workshop where he worked with students in conducting mariachi music classes. The students gave a recital for parents and the community to show all they learned during their studies with Pepe, Jr.

The INBA www.bellasartes.gob.mx is a model program for music as is the Community School of Music and Arts www.arts4all.org.