Vallenato music: Colombia’s gift to the world

Americas Now

Vallenato

Every day, at the Turco Gil school of Vallenato, children as young as three learn to play music. These children are the future of Vallenato, a style of music played with the accordion and invented on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

The school was created three decades ago in order to keep the tradition of Vallenato alive, which was very machismo at the time. But today, Vallenato is evolving with a more feminine touch. More girls are playing music than ever before. Girls like 16-year-old Wendy Corzo, have been studying the music for years.

“Vallenato is a music that allows us to express our feelings, but Vallenato is more than that,” Wendy says. “It’s passion.” Andres Gil, son of founder Turco Gil, says it’s a phenomenon, and something that people wouldn’t take seriously before because it was only performed by roaming, hard-living, macho men. Gil says with more boys and girls playing, it’s remarkable. “As the school opens its doors to everyone, these girls are coming here with all of their love and passion and changing the face of Vallenato.”

Vallenato is Colombia’s gift to the world. Originating near the town of Valledupar, the music has swept across Latin America.

CCTV Correspondent Toby Muse takes us to Colombia to hear the Vallenato music and how young women are injecting new life into a long musical tradition.
Follow Toby Muse on Twitter @tobymuse

Vallenato music: Colombia's gift to the world

Every day, at the Turco Gil school of Vallenato, children as young as three learn to play music. These children are the future of Vallenato, a style of music played with the accordion and invented on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

Links:
Vallenato – www.elvallenato.com
Facebook: AIYF Performace of Los Ninos Vallenatos del Turco Gil School, Columbia
On Twitter:
@TURCOGIL, @vallenato_col, @blogvallenato, @intervallenato, @musascolombia