Until recently, students involved in music only had the options to be involved in what was offered by choir or the fall musical. Spanish instructor Matt Whitney brought another option to the student body with the founding of guitar club.

Whitney has played guitar for 27 years and started the club at the last school he taught at.

“I started my first guitar club about ten years ago at Mountain Point High School in Phoenix,” Whitney said. “I did for four years there, and it has always been really positive.”

Whitney sees many benefits for interested students, outside of just learning how to play guitar.

“It allows a lot of kids to feel connected to school outside of academics,” Whitney said. “It’s a club, so anyone can join. It allows people to participate in a way that is enriching to them and fun.”

Junior Zak Seib became interested in guitar club after watching a friend play guitar with Whitney.

“I walked in on Dalton Wright playing guitar with Mr. Whitney and was like, I want to join this,” Seib said. Seib taught himself how to play for two years before becoming involved in the club, citing the video game Guitar Hero as the initial influence for becoming interested in the instrument.

“The experience of playing with other people has taught me a lot about music and working together as a band,” Seib said.

Freshman Chloe Fitzhugh first became aware of the guitar club through a Facebook post.

“Mr. Whitney posted on Facebook that he was looking for old guitars that people wouldn’t mind donating so he could fix them up and use them for guitar club,” Fitzhugh said. “My grandpa was a music teacher so he would teach me a little guitar here and there, and I was self-teaching before that.”

Like Seib, Fitzhugh also predominately taught herself how to play guitar.

“I’ve had my guitar since around third grade, but I hadn’t really started actually teaching myself until around seventh grade,” Fitzhugh said. “You’re always learning something new in here. There’s never really a dull moment.”

For those interested, the club meets at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesdays in Room 117C.

17hnorris@usd489.com