Styles
Rock, Blues, Classical, Jazz, Improvisation, Country and Western

Bio
Tom Phillips has taught for 25 years, learning from the great jazz mandolinist Tiny Moore at Tiny's Music Studio. Tom also studied classical guitar with Cuban guitarist Ray de la Torre and was his assistant instructor at the Music & Arts institute of San Francisco. Tom was the first person to graduate as a Guitar Major from CSUS in 1971. In the 70's with the country rock band Redwing, he recorded five albums for Fantasy Records and made three tours of Europe. He won the California State Flatpicking Championship in 1981. Since 1984, Tom has played regularly with two bands - Avalon Swing who have recorded two CDs, and The Dukes, a rock-n-roll band. Occasionally, he performs his own classical arrangements at Fremont Presbyterian Church services. He has also played with The Music Circus, Best of Broadway, and the Sacramento Symphony. Tom keeps busy arranging and playing in local recording studios.

Method
Most of Tom's students are interested in learning how to improvise in Rock, Blues or Jazz, but he also enjoys teaching beginners the basics.