Mozart to Mariachi: A Self-Study Exploring a Music Educator's Journey of Acceptance into "The Space Between"

For many, the path to acceptance and finding a home in a culture that is not their own is marked by doubts, hesitations, and a lingering sense of uncertainty. Yet, it also brings moments of excitement, filled with new experiences, opportunities, and connections. In this self-study, I aim to share my story of navigating as a developing mariachi educator coming from outside Mexican culture. Through my personal narrative and reflections as a researcher co-participant, along with insights and recollections from interviews and conversations with those close to me—colleagues, former and current students, parents of my students, and community members—I sought to understand the continuous development and reshaping of my role and sense of acceptance from beginning as a cultural outsider to becoming a resident of “the space between” (Kerstetter, 2012; Mercer, 2007; Trulsson & Burnard, 2016) and ultimately an accepted member of the mariachi music community.

Drawing upon outsider/insider research (Kerstetter, 2012; Mercer, 2007; Merton, 1972; Trulsson & Burnard, 2016) as well as the principles of culturally relevant and responsive pedagogies (Ladson-Billings, 1995; Gay, 2000), this self-study allowed me to reflect on and refine my practice, while also providing a space to articulate my insights and analyze pivotal moments of discovery and growth in my journey as a mariachi educator navigating a cultural music tradition with which I was initially unfamiliar. By comparing the perspectives of the participants with my own, I gained a more comprehensive and informed understanding of my development as a mariachi educator and my journey toward acceptance within the mariachi music community. Through this research, I aim to inspire others to take similar actions in their communities by connecting with and engaging in musical traditions and cultures that are meaningful to their students, families, and educational settings.