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Steamboat Springs — Preston Anderson wants to learn how to play the guitar for the same reason generations of rockers have picked up an axe - so he could form a band with his friends. On Tuesday afternoon at the Steamboat Springs Middle School, Preston, a sixth-grader, sat down to learn how to rock.

But first it was a warm-up with "Jingle Bells" and a few more practices on the D chord.

Preston is a member of the after-school guitar program guided by school-based mentors Derek Kratzer and Caroline Beard, who work with Partners in Routt County.

"I played just a little before this. I didn't know how to play that well," Preston said before the group lesson began. "I want to know the chords so I can make my own songs."

Kratzer, who has played guitar for about 12 years, said he and Beard decided to start the program because they are guitar players and they wanted to create a project they were passionate about.

The first step was to find guitars. With the help of local donations, the group has collected eight guitars, enough for the regular students to each have their own instrument. The group started with about 15 interested students but the beginning of the sports season brought the number down to six Tuesday.

During the weekly lessons, the group first plays games like music-based Pictionary before moving to lessons about how to play and transition between the chords needed for "Home on the Range" and other staples. Kratzer also created a custom songbook with simplified tablature for the students.

The goal for the program is to, maybe, hold a concert at the end of the year.

"We would like to; it depends on the progress of the kids," Beard said.

Preston agreed it might take awhile longer.

"Not yet," he said. "I'm not that good yet."