The musician stepped onstage for the first time, clutching his jazz rhythm guitar with sweaty palms. His heart skipped faster and faster.

The sounds of his guitar, along with a tenor saxophone, permeated the dining room of the Zocalis restaurant in Scotts Valley. Rod Atchley, along with one of his friends, played the night away.

Atchley, head of the campus science department, is passionate about playing guitar and wanted to pass on his techniques on to others. This desire encouraged him to initiate a guitar club on campus.

“I really enjoy playing my guitar,” Atchley said. “It think that teaching students the basic concepts and key facts of guitar technique will be a wonderful experience for me, as well as the students.”

Many students participating in the club enjoy the learning experience as well.

“I am really glad that there is a guitar club on campus,” Kirsten Wirtz, ’08, said. “I already attended one session last week, and I can’t wait until I go again.”

Every Friday, during lunch in room 622, Atchley teaches students new methods and concepts.

“I am really excited about the guitar club,” Bryce Fonda, ’06, said. “I hope that by the end of the year my playing ability will improved a lot.”

The guitar club has been provided for students to pick up on new ideas and improve their guitar playing ability.

“”I really enjoy being in the guitar club,”” Michael Prentice, ’08, said. “”I’ve been playing guitar for about three months, so it’s fun to get to play at school with all my friends.””

For more information about the guitar club, please contact the high school office at 299-1695, ext. 5 or email Atchley at [email protected].