It might surprise you that Tejana music did not start either in Texas or in Mexico, but in Europe. It all began with the polka. This was a folk dance from Bohemia. It was for young lovers, and so was very lively. It was made up of a hop and three short steps, and the music that went with it had a marked beat. The polka appeared in Paris in about 1843, and immediately became a great success. It quickly spread throughout Europe. Eventually even serious musicians such as Smetana and Dvorak used its beats in their work. It traveled east to the Russian court at St. Petersburg, and as far west as the new world. German introduced the polka and its music to Texas, where once again it became a huge popular success.

It was there on the US-Mexican border that local musicians started to mix the European polka with Mexican mariachi music. Mariachi music was traditionally played at weddings in Mexico, and it is possible that that is how it got its name. Mariachi might well be a Spanish version of the French word for marriage. Soon the pleasant European accordions (手风琴) mixed with the Mexican bass guitar to produce a completely new and very unusual type of music. This music acquired two different names: “Tejana” in the United States and “Nortena” in Mexico.

For decades Tejana music did not go beyond the dance halls and popular gatherings of it birthplace. It was not until about seventy years after its appearance that Tejana music began to spread widely. Then a young Mexican-American singer, “Selena”, made it popular throughout the United States, and in other countries too.

In the hundred years since its birth Tejana music has suffered great changes. The accordion still there, but the electric guitar has replaced the Mexican bass. The latest Tejana/Nortena hits more elements of US country and western and rock, as well as Colombian cumbia. The unique musical form that began with a European folk dance continues to develop and grow in popularity.

Now a lot of people are paying much money to get their children the music teaching. As we know to learn an instrument such as the violin or accordion takes years. The job opportunities for musicians are scarce and competition is fierce. Then why are more people than ever before paying a lot of good cash to get their children the best music teaching they can afford?

The secret lies in the influence of music on the whole person. It has been found that learning a musical instrument actually increases a person’s IQ over time. Different instruments and different types of music have varying effect, with classical music and the string family coming out on top, potentially increasing you IQ by up to 12 points!

When is a good time to start learning music? Experts have found that even the fetus can benefit from listening to classical music. Surround yourself and your family with good music from the first. The Suzuki Piano Method teaches children from the age of 3 years piano, with two lessons per week. From preschool, children can learn to read music and play from sheet music. Progress in learning your instrument is directly proportional to the amount of practicing.

Is there such a thing as an unmusical child? Shinichi Suzuki proposes that music is the native home language of all human beings and therefore nobody can be “unmusical”. Of course there are exceptional talents, compared to which others may seem to be slower learners.

Is there any benefit for adults in starting an instrument? Apart from the purely relaxing aspect, yes. Learning an instrument can earn even adults additional IQ points, and as added benefit in improves your health by reducing your stress levels. Your social life may benefit too, if you are prepared to come out of your box and join occasions such as Childish (musical get-togethers) or arrange house concerts. It has been established that people who play instruments tend to be more emotionally balanced and more patient with themselves, others and life in general.

So go ahead, sign up for that amateur orchestra, dust off your old trombone or take your first real six-string down from the attic; get out there and play!

They thought it was going to be easy. A piece of cake. The band, Suenalo, were excited that they would present their skills to a group of troubled youth at a detention center (少管所).   

They arrived at the invitation of a friend, who was an adviser at the center. He had mentioned a career day where members of the community came to speak to the teens about their jobs. Usually the speakers were bankers or lawyers, so he thought it would be interesting for the kids to meet some musicians and maybe even hear some music. “They need something cool to get their attention” was the pitch from the friend.

The kids, about 40, were brought in, looking distant, some even angry. Chad Bernstein, the trombone player, started telling the career of a musician from touring to copyright to the business aspects, trying to draw their interest. However, it didn’t. Sensing that they couldn’t win, the band, a little thrown, decided to play one song. With music going, the kids seemed to respond, their heads nodding to the beat. One of them sang a lyric (歌词). The band sang it back. Then, one by one, the musicians began picking up the beat. Chad started free styling a rap, going back and forth with the kid, and in no time, other kids jumped in. Suddenly the band and the kids were creating a song from scratch and all of them were in musical heaven.

For Chad, that moment inspired him to found Guitars Over Guns, an organization that pairs at-risk middle-schoolers with professional musicians. As both music teachers and life coaches, the musicians give the kids a way to find their creative voices and get through dark times. Over time, the kids have dropped their tough fronts and shared personal stories, from family tragedies to ordinary struggles at school with friends.

“So far we’ve helped over 2,700 students. Our work is highly satisfying because it shows us that a music career is more than a job, it can have more impact,” says Chad Bernstein.