Latin music is becoming more and more popular, and a corresponding number of fledgling musicians are looking to delve into this genre.

The world-renown Berklee College of Music is responding to an increasing need for professional instruction and mentoring in specifically this area of music, with a Latin Music studies program to be held in conjunction with Monterrey Tec's Mexico City campus.

The Latin Jazz Network reports that Berklee Latino will be led by Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning producer Javier Limón, and Grammy Award-winner Oscar Stagnaro. Berklee faculty expected to participate includes; Grammy-winner Mark Walker, Tim Mayer, Nando Michelin, Mili Bermejo, Sofia Rei, and Emmy Award nominee Claudio Ragazzi.

The week-long course from Jan. 13-18 will focus on the areas of composition, production and interpretation, and will be taught in Spanish.

"Students will begin exploring one of the essential components of this art: words," says the Berklee Web site in Spanish. "From the grammatical composition to the rhymes and rhythms, students begin to understand what elements make good written lyrics in Spanish and more importantly, why. Subsequently an overview of the melodic aspects of Latin songs will be addressed, including harmony, style and composition.

"In this field study (of interpretation), we focus on each student's own theoretical aspects regarding your instrument, repertoire, articulation, sound, rhythm, intonation, improvisation and practice of all these aspects together through live performances of the different ensembles, offering each student the opportunity to explore different musical styles that make up the genre of Latin music such as pop, Latin jazz, Brazilian, salsa, funk, and jazz voice."

The program will also include visiting artists, jam sessions and a performance at the end of the program.

"I, as well as my students, know that Berklee College of Music is the Mecca for the study of music and as such, we are proud to collaborate at this level," said Alejandro Ramos, director of the engineering career program in digital musical production at Tec de Monterrey, Mexico City campus according to Color Magazine USA.