SAN MARCOS -- Twin Oaks High's new guitar class teaches students much more than how to play a few chords of their favorite song, says Principal Marc Steffler.

"Their perceptions about school and about themselves change," said Steffler, who oversees the 210-student continuation high school that serves students who leave the district's conventional high schools because they are behind in credits, or have discipline issues.

Since Twin Oaks began offering the elective guitar class in the fall, attendance has improved and the 23 students enrolled in the class feel more connected to school, he said.

"A lot of these students have had a negative experience with school somewhere along the line," Steffler said. "We're trying to create an environment where students want to come to school. That means you have to build in things that go beyond history and math."

Lining up at the door

The hourlong guitar class is purposely offered during first period, at 7:30 a.m. That might seem to pose a challenge for students who tend to have issues with truancy, but students eagerly wait outside the front door each morning before class starts, school officials said.

"One problem we have at a continuation high school is attendance," said Assistant Principal Jim Konugres. "The purpose (of having the guitar class first period) is to get kids to show up, be motivated and get here on time."

First-period attendance this trimester is up an average of 17 percent among the 23 students enrolled in the class, compared with their first-period attendance last trimester, Konugres said.

Twin Oaks students who are late to school typically get "locked out" of their first-period class, and must wait around to be let into their next class, he said.

"The purpose of the lockout is to let the students who are there on time have uninterrupted instruction," he said.

Because the guitar class is something students look forward to, they typically arrive 10 minutes early to school to avoid being locked out, said Gary Stewart, a longtime musician who teaches the class on behalf of nonprofit Ubiquitous Music.

Founded by Escondido business owner Jack Brooks, the organization's goal is to bring music education back to schools by supplying campuses with instruments and a music curriculum that caters to elementary and high school children.

"I can honestly say that if it wasn't for music, I'd probably be dead or in jail," said Brooks, who said he grew up without a positive connection to school, as many Twin Oaks students have.

Student Frankie Puccio, 18, said he never really liked school. When he got to San Marcos High, Puccio said he developed a habit of ditching class. He came to Twin Oaks as a junior with just 55 credits, five credits below what a student should have at the end of his freshman year.

Learning to play the guitar has helped motivate Puccio to continue to attend school, so he can graduate in June, he said.

"Being here in the morning, it helps me wake up and get ready for all my other classes," he said. "Before, I used to be tired all the time and not into it."

Seventeen-year-old Zuleyma Vazquez-Avila told a similar story. Because she thought school was boring, Vazquez-Avila said she didn't really pay attention in class.

"Music is an inspiration for me," she said. "If you really pay attention, you learn a lot. It makes my day go faster."

Motivated to succeed

Beyond improving attendance, the music class has helped students build self-esteem, confidence and a general love of learning that carries over to other subjects, school officials said.

"The students, as a whole, are now enjoying high school in a different way," said Steffler. "They're going to do better in their math, science and English classes because they're connected."

For one thing, the hands-on aspect of the class allows students to see their accomplishments, said teacher Stewart.

"There's a light that comes on and they start realizing anything is possible," he said.

Modeled after a karate dojo with different colored belts, students earn different colored pins when they demonstrate a level of achievement, said Brooks. For example, they earn a white pin for being able to play eight progressions -- or series of chords. A red pin, the highest level, is given to students who pass a proficiency test on music theory. Students who earn a red pin can begin teaching beginners, Brooks said.

"There's a lot of self-discipline and focus involved," he said. "I've seen students striving to be the best they can be."

That taste of success helps students become more goal-oriented, Stewart said. Written on the class white board is a mantra: "When you don't have a goal, don't be surprised if you don't get there."

Reflecting on the benefits of the program, Steffler said he fears the class could go away with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal last month to slash nearly 10 percent of the funding for public education from the state budget.

While Ubiquitous provides the school with 20 acoustic guitars and curriculum, the school has funded instruction for the first two trimesters this school year, using about $7,200 from state grants meant to improve fine arts education in schools, Brooks said. The organization is looking to fund the third trimester through pending community grants, but funding is hard to come by, he said.

Contact staff writer Noelle Ibrahim at (760) 740-3517 or nibrahim@nctimes.com.