Michael Alonzo sat patiently as he watched his student learn the new chords on her guitar. Each time she mastered a chord, she looked overwhelmed with joy.

“It’s so rewarding when they get something and they light up. It tickles my soul,” said Alonzo.

Alonzo never planned to give lessons, but his music brought his students to him.

“The first time was the week of Campus Fest. That day… I was jamming out. Music is how I relieve my stress. I had a big exam. These students approached me and said, ‘Wow you sound really good. Can you teach me?,’” said Alonzo.

After the lesson, he sat with his guitar and plucked away at a few tunes by Tom Petty. “Have you heard of ‘Free Fallin’?” he asked as he began to play the chords. Soon people were looking over as he sang the chorus.

“I just have a passion for music. I just wanna chill,” said Alonzo.

For Alonzo, music has been a source of tranquility. “This is a healthy weapon to combat stress. A moment to take an escape from all the pressure of being a student,” he said.

Those who take lessons from him are thankful for the ability to learn a new skill.

“Being able to learn it from him and then play it by myself — it’s something more unique. It’s not like a grade, it’s something I’m individually pursuing,” said freshman Jaclyn Willman, an inclusive early childhood education major.

In other cases, these lessons are an escape from the daily stresses of classes.

“I am majoring in Computer Science, I am very stressed. This refreshes my mind,” said student Govind Bajaj. “Music brings me a source of fun and happiness.”

Alonzo is thrilled to see how music positively engages his students and wishes to see more of this impact spread throughout campus.

“(Music) is a way to engage people and make so many connections. If music can be the avenue to do that, then there could be such a deeper sense of community here,” said Alonzo.

Alonzo’s students feel similarly.

“Campus needs to be more musical or open to more opportunities with music,” said Willman.

“Music unifies people,” Alonzo said. “It is a way to connect with people and in this technological age, we miss human connections. When I’m playing and someone stops or nods their head, that’s a small connection I make with them.”