Guitarists of the world unite.
Members of the MSU Guitar Club descended on the Union on Thursday as part of the University Activities Board's Noontimes performance.
During the event, zoology senior and club member Ivan Orlic played some songs from his native Peru, as well as songs such as REM's "Losing My Religion."
Orlic, who started playing classical guitar while growing up in Lima, Peru, said the instrument helped him make friends when he came to the United States to study at MSU.
"I meet anyone who is playing a guitar," Orlic said. "I lived in the dorms for two years, and I knew everyone in Holmes (Hall) who played guitar. You can play together even if you don't know each other.
"The music helps you build an understanding."
Club President Ben Chutz opened up with a selection of songs he had written featuring guitar and harmonica. The sociology junior said the club formed two years ago and is good way for fellow guitarists to meet and jam.
"The club is a way for guitarists from all over campus to find common ground," Chutz said. "It's mostly a place where we can have a good time and build self-confidence."
The club members meet every other week in the second floor lounge of Eustace-Cole Hall, where they update each other on local open-mic nights and hold lessons.
Chutz said each meeting ends with an open "jam session," where all the members try out their latest licks.
"That's where the fun starts," Chutz said. "You get to hear the contribution of every member - it's a real eclectic energy."
Audience member John DiDomenico came up to Chutz after his performance to ask how he could join the club. DiDomenico, a building construction management senior, was disappointed to learn the group would not be getting together again this year. DiDomenico will be graduating in a few weeks.
"I like to be involved and hang around with people who like to play guitar," DiDomenico said.
He said learning from a group is the best way to pick up new skills.
"It's hard to learn from a book, but when someone shows it to me, I can visualize it," DiDomenico said.
Maria Mattson, an art education freshman, also played at the performance and said she learned about the group by checking out a university Web site that listed student organizations.
"They said they have a club for everything, and this is my main interest," Mattson said.
After playing for a few years, Mattson said she joined the group when she got to campus. Describing herself as a selfish player, Mattson said she plays guitar to help relieve stress.
"Instead of screaming in your room or punching things, you can do this," Mattson said.
