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Music in his roots, blood
TAMUK student learned to appreciate Mexican culture, music from family
By Pamela Hinojosa
The South Texan |
|
Imagine you’re in the middle of nowhere, stranded. You have absolutely no contact with the outside world, but you are allowed to take only one item. What item would you choose? A cell-phone, a computer, or even an I-pod?
To Noe Alejandro Alcala, an English and Political Science major at TAMUK, the answer is quite simple -a guitar. You might be asking what is so special and important of a simple guitar.
To Alcala, the music a guitar makes runs deeper than the ordinary. It gives him passion and purpose. It is not only a part of his life, but gives meaning to life itself.
“This is not only a past time, but it is an important part of my family’s traditions. This tradition spans three generations and I will continue it with my own children,” he said.
Growing up in the border town of Brownsville, Alcala grew up listening to his grandfather and father play guitar.
“I never knew what it meant when I would see my grandfather and father play or what it meant to them. I know the feeling now. It is a feeling above love and understanding. The music becomes us,” said Alcala.
Having been raised along the U.S-Mexico border helped him appreciate music of both cultures and languages.
“I learned to appreciate my Mexican culture. Both my mother and father taught me to be a well-rounded person, care about others, and explore my talents,” he said.
His French, German, and Spaniard roots also helped him develop an appreciation for diversity and acceptance of all kinds of music.
“I’m proud of my roots and where I’m from. I always carry my father’s guitar strap wherever I go. It represents my strongest nationality, my Mexican roots,” he said.
Alcala not only plays guitar but also writes, composes and sings his own music.
“I write poetry and it evolves into music. Usually the composing of the song comes first, and then the words or it can be the other way around,” said Alcala.
Not only was Noe taught to play guitar but he also learned to use music as a form of honoring those who passed away.
“The music I play becomes an entity of those we are honoring, of those who have left this earth and are still listening,” he said.
Though music is his passion, there are other goals that characterize his encouraging, helpful, and inspiring nature.
“I want to one day obtain my doctorate in Chicano literary and music studies. I want to help young adults coming into college who need direction. I will use music as my lesson tool,” he said.
Alcala will be graduating from A&M University-Kingsville this August 2008. He will immediately be pursuing a master’s degree in English.
Among other aspirations and dream, he would love to travel all over the world and someday be a part of a rock band.
Despite his many ambitions and talents, one thing remains certain: he will always stay true to his real passion: the mysterious and alluring sounds of the guitar.
“The guitar is my soul,” said Alcala.