Lessons
We are dedicated to providing a fun learning environment for all our students. We have 6 instructors who teach acoustic guitar, electric guitar, ukulele, bass guitar, vocals, piano, banjo, mandolin, lap steel, as well as full band rehearsals and performances. Traverse City Guitar Company will also provide high quality studios to promote the best lessons and instructors in the area.
Find Instructor
Matt Hathaway
Guitar
Call: 231-342-5030 Email:I am a Traverse City native and I love it here! Some of my favorite things other than playing guitar are family adventures, bonfires, rollerblading and hockey.
I have been playing guitar for 35 years and teaching for 20 years. I have been in countless bands beginning in middle school and continuing now. I also play wedding ceremonies, special events/house parties, local high school musical’s and fundraisers. I have taught students through the NMC music program, the SEEDS music program, Woodland Charter schools, as well as private lessons.
I studied at the National Guitar Summer Workshop when I was a teenager completing their highest level. I received an Associate degree from Northwestern Michigan College. I also attended 2 years at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music focusing on performing classical guitar. I received my Bachelor of Music degree from Oakland University.
Zeke Clemons
Acoustic, Electric, Bass, Ukulele, Harmonica, Vocal, Beginning Piano
Call: 231-360-5114 Email: zekeclemonsmusic@gmail.comZeke is a very active musician in the area and. He teaches Acoustic, and Electric, Bass, Ukulele, Harmonica Vocal, Beginning Piano, Music Theory and Song Writing. Zeke has resided in the Traverse City area since 2006 and has years of experience teaching and playing gigs. You can call him directly at 231-360-5114 or email him at zekeclemonsmusic@gmail.com.
Mike Youker
Acoustic, Electric, Bass, Ukulele
Call: 231-590-1637 Email: mikeyoukermusic@gmail.comMike Youker is a professional musician with 20+ years playing guitar and over 12 years teaching guitar and ukulele experience. Mike loves teaching beginning to advanced guitar and beginning ukulele to students of ages 6 and up! Starting with easy to grasp melodies, chords, rhythm concepts and songs to more advanced soloing and improvisation techniques.
Mike has experience playing lead guitar in Rock, Classic Rock, Funk, Blues, R&B, Contemporary Christian and Country/Americana bands. Most notably with Strobelite Honey for five years in Northern Michigan (Funk, Blues, R&B), and the Drew Hale Band, touring for two years throughout Michigan, Ohio, Pittsburgh, and Nashville (Country/Americana). While on tour with The Drew Hale Band, he has shared stages with Frankie Ballard, Trace Adkins, William Michael Morgan, Trent Harmon, Drew Baldridge, The Railers, Walker McGuire, Chris Lane, The Cadillac Three, Bret Michaels, and many other top artists!
Mark Andersen
Acoustic, Electric, Bass, Banjo, Mandolin, Ukulele
Call: 231-941-8075 Email: mackinacmark@yahoo.comMark Andersen has been a music instructor in the Traverse City area for 40 years. He teaches a broad range of styles from Acoustic, Electric guitar, Bass guitar to Five string Banjo, Mandolin and Ukulele. His style repertoire includes: Finger style guitar, Alternate Tuning’s, Folk, Bluegrass and Country guitar, Classic Rock, Pop & Blues, Scruggs and Clawhammer Banjo.
Mark welcomes students of all ages and levels of experience. His students have appeared on American Idol, performed at the Montreux Jazz festival, and received the Critic’s Choice Award at the 2015 Art Prize.
Mark is currently playing guitar and Mandolin at New Hope community Church. You can contact him directly at: 231-941-8075 or email him at mackinacmark@yahoo.com.
Matt Sharp
Acoustic, Electric, Bass, Ukulele
Call: 231-620-9115 Email: mattbsharp1973@gmail.comHi, my name is Matt Sharp the newest instructor here at Traverse City Guitar Company. I am not new to the music scene and have advanced knowledge of musical composition, theory and technique illustrated over 25 years of the music industry. I teach acoustic guitar, electric and bass and ukulele.
Ron Getz
Instructor
Call: 231 392-4203 Email: rongetz@gmail.comRon Getz, guitarist and composer, studied at Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music. His passion is Jazz but he can teach any style to all levels from beginners to advanced players.
Jabo Bihlman
Instructor
Call: Email: jabo@bihlmanbros.comJabo (Jay-bo) Bihlman is an Emmy award winning singer, songwriter, composer and producer. His music has appeared on every major network in shows like All My Children, Big Sky 211, Sons of Anarchy, The Gifted, Manifest and most recently on Amazon Prime's CROSS.
His film credits include Deadrise, Love and Dancing starring Amy Smart and Betty White, The Road to 751 Fairfax and Surviving the Bradley. He is also a former artist/writer for Warner Chappell.
As an artist he was the lead singer/guitarist for the popular blues rock band The Bihlman Bros. from 1996-2018. He is now concentrating fully on his new solo project Jabo Bihlman.
He is also the lead guitarist for the Metalville Records artist Grinder Blues, with his brother Scot and legendary King's X frontman Dug Pinnick. Their latest record El Dos debuted at #14 on the Billboard Blues Charts.
In the late 90s he was the band leader for Chicago Blues Legend Son Seals and can be heard on the Telarc Records release Lettin’ Go, which went on to win a W.C. Handy award and included Trey Anastasio from Phish.
He is the author of several books and DVDs. Produced and played the companion CD with Derek Trucks . Jabo is a former instructor at The National Guitar Workshop, WorkshopLive and Interlochen Arts Academy.
He is a graduate of Musicians Institute (GIT) and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Audio Engineers Society, Screen Actors Guild and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. He is also the former Music Director for Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival.
