Nikhil Mandrekar is a jazz guitarist studying at Michigan State University. He has been playing guitar since he was 12 and has been teaching for over 4 years. While he specializes in jazz today, Nikhil began by teaching himself how to play guitar through learning songs and solos (often by Santana). From there, he developed the technique required to play in a band. His first group played covers in various genres such as pop and funk. Through this, he was able to develop the ability to learn songs quickly and an interest in different genres, which led to the exploration of different styles of guitar. Eventually, he began studying classical and jazz music through books and online resources, learning the foundations of harmony and guitar technique. As a result, Nikhil auditioned for the MSU jazz program, which he now attends, and was able to learn how to play in both a big band and small ensemble setting. At MSU, he plays with Nonet I. While focused on jazz, he has experience in and still holds a passion for various genres including pop, folk, rock, metal, and more. He always tries to find new music to explore.

His experience in teaching began with lessons to friends and family, where he learned the importance of individualized topics that best suit the goals of each student. Following this, he began teaching official lessons and has been doing so for over 4 years. Nikhil has worked with beginner to advanced students, and was able to help all of them to better themselves as guitarists. His teaching is centered around student engagement and longevity in playing. This is done through a focus on each student's musical interests, ability, and learning style, as well as ensuring proper technique to make playing guitar not too difficult.

In his free time, Nikhil enjoys playing music with friends, watching movies, playing soccer, cooking, reading and is currently pursuing a math minor at MSU.