Virtuoso Mariachi presents a unique insight into the history and development of Mexico's traditional music, including how its history has affected performance practice, an in-depth discussion of mariachi trumpet style and technique, a survey of song types common in mariachi music today, critical examination of current trends in mariachi and the performers who set them, and the author's thoughts on the future of mariachi music. This unique, intelligently written and long awaited work is extremely important to the world of mariachi and will serve to elevate the status of this beautiful and passionate music in the eyes of the general public, Classical-Music musicians and enthusiasts, students everywhere who are studying mariachi, and indeed the thousands of mariachi musicians around the globe themselves, who have seen their music greatly ignored by the academic community up until now. Included with each book is a coupon for a free, full-length CD of the author's Mariachi Champa a Nev n performing traditional mariachi music. This recording was made with great care and the intention of illustrating many of the issues discussed in Virtuoso Mariachi.