TJ guitar club is a great way to connect with others through song. graphic by Jeffrey Almond
TJ guitar club is here to break down the fear that students may experience trying new things.
High school students take a lot of time to get involved in their schools or communities. There are many ways to do this, including volunteer work, sports, and clubs. Clubs can help students learn new skills, expand on existing ones, and can help with resume building.
Thomas Jefferson High school has many clubs. As of 2025, the TJ community has seen the creation of a guitar club, hosted by English teacher Jeffrey Almond. The goal of the club is to foster an environment where students of all experience levels can learn to play a new instrument. Club members play many different types of guitar, including electric, acoustic, and bass. Students may have noticed that the meeting schedule alternates between Mondays and Tuesdays, but they always meet right after school. This alternating schedule ensures that as many people can attend the club as possible. Those interested should check Spartan Edition for the upcoming meeting date.
This is not the first time TJ has hosted a guitar club. In fact, there used to be a guitar club hosted by English teacher Jenn Sonheim, but they stopped meeting due to COVID. After the pandemic, some students wanted the club to be brought back, so Almond decided to step up. Almond started learning guitar when he was in elementary school, but took a short break before picking it back up in middle school. He has been playing ever since.
As a first-time guitar club sponsor, Almond said his favorite part is hearing the different sounds come together. He explained that there’s a difference between simply playing music and making music, “and we make music together.” He reflected on past meetings and listening to club members arrange music on the fly. “It was really cool just listening to these different sounds come together, it was amazing,” Almond recalled. He has many guitars ready for anyone to play, but club members are more than welcome to bring their own. He understands the importance of having high quality instruments to learn on, so he gets the best he can. “I understand the value of learning on an instrument that’s not awful because that can be painful and unrewarding,” he said.
From those who have never touched a guitar to those who have been playing for years, students of all experience levels should consider joining, Almond strongly encourages newcomers to not be afraid of attending. “They’ll get a lot of opportunities to try different stuff in a low pressure environment where a lot of the equipment is provided,” he explained. In a typical club meeting, members will learn various chords, songs, and connect with each other through music. This often includes jam sessions where they utilize what they have learned in previous weeks. The opportunity for students to teach each other what they’ve learned instead of playing guitar separately also helps enrich the club by building community. When members start attending the club regularly, they might realize they have a passion for music, and may even expand to other instruments.
TJ’s club list grows every year, and guitar club is one of the ways students can get involved in an extracurricular activity. The club offers a safe, low-stakes environment where the main goal is to learn from others. Whether it’s learning how to play chords, songs, or simply jamming out with fellow club members for a while, the club is a welcoming environment for anyone interested in music or meeting new people.
