PARLIER, Calif. (KFSN) -- In the small town of Parlier in Fresno County, there is a unique band making big moves.
Mario Bautista is a singer and plays the bass. He says," I play the bass as I feel the groove."
Conjunto Pantera is made up of Parlier High School students. The group is named after the school's mascot, the panther.
These Panthers love performing.
Jaime Alvarado says," I play the accordion and the reason I love it so much is the reason I grew up listening to that type of music, I listen to that type and it just inspires me to become .....it gives me purpose."
The majority of students at Parlier High are Hispanic.
The school recently started a program for folklorico dancing, not uncommon in the county.
However, a high school conjunto is a first in these parts and maybe even the state.
Matthew Lopez is an accordionist. He said," People should understand where like it comes from like how it makes you feel. All the songs have a story to it."
His fellow bandmate, Ruben Ontiveros, is the group's drummer.
"When I joined the conjunto band I had no clue how to play conjunto music, after a few weeks of practice I was already getting the rhythm down of conjunto here we are today playing for the crowd."
Adds Mario, "I didn't know how to play at first but I stick with the members of conjunto... and ever since that I just started playing."
12 students are playing conjunto music after school. Their instructors are professional conjunto musicians from bands like Califas and Grupo Riezzgo.
Alfredo Saenz is a member of Califias and one of the conjunto instructors.
"I'm so proud of these guys, they've worked so hard and they're keeping the tradition alive."
Mario appreciates the help. "They show us techniques, they show us the basics first and they don't rush you. They just want to make sure that you got it right,"said Mario.
Conjunto music is popular in Central California. It's lively with roots in Texas and Northern Mexico. Packing dance halls. Accordians take center stage along with guitars called bajo quintos and bajo sextos.
Genaro Erebia works with the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program.
"I feel like over the years students have forgotten about their roots so bringing this to the high school, it's embracing their heritage," said Erebia.
The conjunto class is part of the district's Expanded Learning Opportunities program, offered after school.
Javier Martinez leads the program for the district.
"We noticed alot of the students that stay after school do better in school some of our students tell their parents to go back home and don't pick them up yet because they're enjoying what they're doing in the after-school program," said Martinez.
Grades go up along with their confidence.
Matthew says," at first I didn't know any of these guys but now I feel like we're good friends."
The band has performed on campus several times and are getting requests from all over the state.
The district's superintendent,Dr. Rafael Iniguez says the district will continue to support the band.
Iniguez says, "Beyond forming this banda this conjunto banda which we call Conjunto Pantera...we have big plans for them....we're going to get them uniforms, we're going to get them a trailer, more instruments."
While they may be going places, members of Conjunto Pantera won't forget where they came from.
Mario says," It gives you a nice feeling, it puts a smile on my face, knowing people like what I do."