Nikku Nayar was raised in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Upon graduation, he and his high school band mates went straight out on the road, playing the Western Canadian bar and University pub circuit. He ended up in Toronto, where he studied music at York University. He has been a professional musician and music educator since 1988. He has toured with Simply Red keyboardist Fritz McIntyre’s solo project, and in 2007 he performed with original Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty and original Faces guitarist Robin Le Mesurier. He gigs with many of Canada’s finest session and live musicians, including Mark McLean, Mark Kelso, David Langguth, Mike Borkosky, Sean Kilbride, Paul DeLong, Chris Cawthray, Dan Clancy, Lisa Patterson, Juno award winners Michael Occhipinti and Paul Neufeld, Quisha Wint, Don Pham, Lester McLean, Bruno Ierullo and Bruce Dies.

He has been a member of Kiran Ahluwalia’s band since 2009, performing multiple tours across the United States, Europe and Canada, including dates at WOMEX Copenhagen, the London Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Center, and the Edmonton and Vancouver Folk Fests. He has played on her last 3 studio albums including Aam Zameen: Common Ground, for which she won the Juno Award. He calls his time with Kiran ‘some of the best days of my professional life’ and hopes that everyone gets a chance to see this amazing performer live. As a member of Kiran’s band, Nikku has also had the privilege of recording and performing with Rez Abbasi, the Contemporary Jazz star who is widely considered one of the best Jazz guitarists in the world today.

I provide music transcription and charting services, and can also provide guitar tablature on request. My most recent work was the provision of 26 charts for the QW Productions touring show, The Power of Love – Luther Vandross Tribute, and KJ Group's Toronto Premiere of Dandelions In The Wind. Examples can be seen by clicking the thumbnails below. Charts are done in Finale and can be delivered in .pdf or .mus format. I can also have the charts professionally printed by a score printing specialist here in Toronto and shipped anywhere in the world. Rates vary according to the complexity of the material and the time frames involved. Please contact me for details.

Anthony Blues solo sample track:

I maintain an active teaching practice in Toronto. I have never lost the love of teaching. For me, there is a great pleasure in seeing the look on a young person’s face when they realize that they can actually play something they’ve heard, or something they’ve admired. I'm lucky in that my clients afford me the opportunity to ‘be the method’. I can take the time to tailor lessons for each student and make sure that I can engage them fully, working my own requirements into custom-made material that will appeal to them.

Most of my students study guitar, and this year I was happy and proud that one of them who I've been with since he was 9 years old gained admission to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. I also help prepare students for RCM (Royal Conservatory) theory exams at the Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

At this time my teaching schedule is full but I'm always willing to talk to anyone who needs information and will add names to a waiting list when appropriate. Please use the Contact information at the bottom of this page.

Have preschoolers? Want to have fun in a music class with your baby or toddler? Rainbow Songs (http://www.rainbowsongs.com) is the best music school for preschoolers in Toronto. With 20 locations throughout the GTA you are sure to find a location near you.