MICHAEL KELLY The Marietta Times Mark Doebrich shows students the basics of how to chord a banjo on the first day of his annual summer guitar camp, held in the basement of the Unitarian Universalist Church in downtown Marietta.

The High Schools that Rock summer music camp set a record on its first day in session.

Teacher Mark Doebrich said 37 students showed up at 9 a.m. Monday in the basement of the Unitarian Universalist Church downtown to take instruction on strings, learn to sing and play at the same time, and generally have a good time while learning his very direct method of going from zero to playing songs in the space of a week.

The camp has expanded its scope of instruments over the 17 years it’s been in session, and the first morning included banjo instruction from Roger Bartunek, who had to scramble and borrow to scrape up enough instruments – nine banjos, altogether.

“I don’t know that you could say I play well, but I’ve been making noise with a banjo for 35 years,” the 70-year-old musician said. Speaking to the room full of young people, he said, “If you can learn one roll and two chords, you can play a banjo.”

The basis of instruction for the camp is to get right down to playing something recognizable, no hurdling through scales, exercises or the academic barriers of formal musicianship. The group in the first hour started out playing “Free Falling” by Tom Petty and the traditional “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More.”

“The idea is for get kids to enjoy music right from the start,” he said. “By the end of the week they’ll be able to play one or two songs, they make a decent sound and they can play together.”

The camp starts out with five mornings of instruction, then goes to one evening a week, and the group performances will continue through the summer, he said, starting with the conclusion of the intensive first week, Friday after lunch, when the ensemble will offer its first public performance.

“Stage fright is legit,” Doebrich said, “but you can’t overcome it unless you get on stage.”

“This is the largest camp we’ve ever had,” Doebrich said, adding that last year’s was about 22 students. “It’s unbelievable for a beginning session.” Some of the kids will drop out and others won’t be able to continue because they can’t arrange transportation, but most will stay, he said.

It was a scramble, he said, to get enough apprentice instructors to go around.

Conner Walker, 17 and a proficient rock guitarist from Williamstown, pitched in to help. He’s been a guitar camp regular for four years.

“There’s more to it than camp, it goes through the year, and I enjoy helping with the little kids,” he said. Walker, who is originally from Reading, Pa., said he wants to pursue a teaching degree and is thinking about becoming a music teacher.

Nondyce Gulick, 15, plays six instruments and sings in the Marietta High School choir. She’s come back to the guitar camp every year for four years.

“I like working with kids, helping teach,” she said. “I like music, and it’s going to stay in my life. The camp is an opportunity to recruit new people and teach them.”

Doebrich teaches group sessions year-round on Monday evenings at the church, but the guitar camp is a sort of kick-start for kids at the beginning of summer vacation.

“This program goes all year long, Monday practices at 6 p.m.,” he said. “Kids can still become part of the program.”

Anyone interested in joining the program can contact Doebrich at 740-336-4183.

At a glance

Annual High Schools that Rock guitar camp, Marietta

≤ Number of students who arrived for the first day: 37

≤ Instruments taught: Guitar, ukulele, banjo, bass, vocals, keyboard

≤ Number of years it’s been run: 17

≤ Instruction available: Year-round, call Mark Doebrich at 740-336-4183

Performance schedule:

≤ Friday, 1 to 2 p.m, end of camp concert

≤ June 23, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Parkersburg Pride Picnic, Parkersburg City Park

≤ June 28, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Music in the Park, East Muskingum Park

≤ July 21, 3:45 to 4:45 p.m., Marietta Sweet Corn Festival, East Muskingum Park

≤ July 29, 1 to 2 p.m., Harmar Days, Harmar Village

≤ Aug. 3, First Friday, downtown Marietta

To join the program: Mark Doebrich, 740-336-4183.