Parent Volunteer Teaches Guitar

Roberto+Yopihua+teaches+students+a+simple+song+in+the+band+room.+

Photo by Jocelyn Urbina

Roberto Yopihua teaches students a simple song in the band room.

By Edgar Bustos

Have you ever wanted to learn guitar, but did to commit to joining a band and performing in front of school, or your schedule during school hours just hasn’t allowed you to put learning an instrument on your to-do list?

Thanks to Roberto Yopihua, the father of junior Jose Yopihua, students are now meeting after school on Thursdays and Fridays to take guitar lessons. These lessons require no prior experience, and are beginner friendly for students who don’t know where to start.

“The guitar is the base of all the instruments,” Roberto Yopihua said. “If you learn how to play guitar, you can learn piano, or whichever instrument.”

The school provides the guitars and will lend them to the students to take home and practice. Because the lessons are after school, students who are busy during the school day can still attend.

“I’ve always wanted to learn guitar,” said sophomore Angel Fernandez, one of nine kids taking the class. “I just never have time, but these lessons help me stay consistent.”

Sophomore Angel Fernandez with his guitar during a Friday lesson. (Photo by Jocelyn Urbina)

Freshman Marley Shanchez-Cuevas said that when she got the email about guitar lessons, she immediately signed up.

“I’ve been wanting to learn more about how to play, because my cousins do, and it looks fun,” she said.

Students describe the class as easy going and interesting, and with the time passing by fast, some find it hard to believe the pr

ogress that they are making.

“They are already learning and it’s very fun because they are learning new things,” said Roberto. “It is like I thought, the results are very obvious.”