SANIKILUAQ - Mick Appaqaq isn't your typical guitar teacher. At age 17, he's got the approval of Nuiyak School staff in Sanikiluaq to run his own extracurricular activity, teaching guitar under the supervision of a teacher.

Mick Appaqaq of Sanikiluaq teaches guitar to his two students Adamie and Annesie Meeko after school. - photo courtesy of Tim Hoyt

"I never thought I'd be teaching guitar but inspiration came to me so I thought I'd do it," said Appaqaq.

Appaqaq picked up the guitar four years ago under the tutelage of teacher Terry Dunford, who has since left Sanikiluaq. He's also had some instruction from his mother, who used to play.

Since then he's pursued musical genres such as country, rock and blues, and now passes that interest on to his two students.

Adamie and Annesie Meeko are Appaqaq's 15-year-old students. Appaqaq is focusing on music where they already know what it sounds like, such as the hymn Amazing Grace and Johnny Cash's I Walk the Line, for example.

Appaqaq said his vocals are a little shaky, so Nuyiyak School teacher Margaret Lawrence often provides those.

Appaqaq and the Meekos have been meeting every Thursday for the past month, and Appaqaq hopes the group can continue the entire school year.

For now, Appaqaq and his students are rehearsing to perform at Sanikiluaq's Christmas Concert later this month.