Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes; August 27, 2026.— From playing music as a child and forming a band with his brothers in Aguascalientes to performing before large crowds as Maná’s guitarist, Sergio Vallín has built a career marked by constant exploration, discipline, and the ability to seize opportunities.
The Mexican musician, composer, and producer shared these experiences during a meeting with students at the Aguascalientes campus of theUniversidad Panamericana .
In front of a packed classroom, Vallín engaged in a candid conversation with the young people, who asked him about creativity, composition, musical performance, managing nerves, getting along within a band, and the decisions that have shaped his career.
From Aguascalientes to the International Stage
The guitarist paid special tribute to his roots in Aguascalientes, the city he moved to at age 13 and where he developed a fundamental part of his musical training. From a young age, he began teaching himself to play the guitar and later formed the band Wando with his brothers and friends—an experience that, he explained, was instrumental in his growth as a composer and guitarist.
One of the most memorable moments of the event was when Sergio Vallín recalled how he came to join Maná. Vallín explained that a cassette tape he had recorded found its way into Fher Olvera’s hands. The initial impression was that his style didn’t fit the band’s sound; however, a subsequent conversation allowed them to discover the diversity of his musical background, which ranged from trios, cumbias, and Mexican music to rock and other genres.
“You never know,” he mused as he explained how lessons that at the time seemed unrelated ended up opening up one of the greatest opportunities of his career.
Sergio Vallín encourages young people to take advantage of opportunities
Drawing on his own experience, Vallín encouraged the college students to stay alert to opportunities and, above all, to dare to give things a try. He pointed out that an opportunity does not necessarily lead immediately to success; even a difficult experience can become a stepping stone toward something different. To recognize those moments, he recommended keeping “your eyes wide open” and also listening to your intuition.
On the subject of creativity, he said that creative blocks are a natural part of the process. Instead of forcing an idea, he advised giving it time, experimenting, and accepting mistakes. “Music is like a river—it has to flow. If it doesn’t flow, that’s okay; it’ll come eventually,”, he said.
The Emotion Behind the Music
During his conversation with the college students, Sergio Vallín also shared one of the most important lessons he has learned after decades as a guitarist: technique must serve emotion.
Reflecting on his early years with Maná, he explained that he learned to play fewer notes and to let “the guitar sing, ” influenced also by musicians such as Carlos Santana, B.B. King, and Eric Clapton. For Vallín, when a performance comes from the heart, the audience can feel it.
At the end of the event, the musician shared a reflection with the students that went beyond music. He compared personal growth to a tree whose roots must push their way through difficulties to support what grows upward.
Finally, he stated that art is not limited to music, painting, or dance, and he pointed out that anyone who works “with their hands, mind, and heart” can become an artist, regardless of their profession.
The event concluded with the signing of a guitar and photos with the attendees, as a memento of a conversation in which an international career once again found a connection with Aguascalientes and with a new generation of young people.
