Phil's BIOGRAPHY
With decades of experience in guitar teaching and working within the creative industries sector, Phil Harris is an impressive musical entrepreneur, producing “work of the highest standard”. He qualified with a distinction as Licentiate Teacher of music, LRSL in 2009. Also gaining a First Class BA(Hons) in Creative Music Performance in 2019 from one of the highest ranked universities in the creative industries sector in the Uk, Phil went on to achieve a Mmus (Masters) in Music Performance in 2023 with West London University. Phil is also a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM)
However, Phil is always looking to improve his musical knowledge, theoretical understanding and guitar techniques. He has acquired masterclasses with many well known guitarists, such as, Alex Hutching, Tom Quayle and Prog Rock guitarist Plini. Studied with Martin Goulding head of Rock guitar at ICMP and Guitar Techniques magazine instructor, Jon Bishop . By this continued learning and improvement process, Phil can pass this knowledge gained, straight on to his students.
First introduced to the guitar at a young age, Phil found inspiration from all the great musicians such as, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan and of course the great Joe Satriani. With encouragement and support from his family and friends he soon started a successful music career at an early age.
Touring, he has performed d at many venues up and down the country including the Brecon Jazz festival, Heineken festivals, Hereford blues festivals, alongside many well-known musicians. Phil became a self-employed guitar tutor, performer, composer and arranger and later worked as an electric guitar tutor for Sony records UK.
Phil has also worked as a drum sequencing engineer and programmer, and has since recorded many songwriters and guitarists using the latest music software and hardware.
During his time as Manager of a music department, Phil became the Government’s ‘New Deal for musicians’’ verifier and assessor. At this time, Phil successfully obtained funding from Youth Music London, which offered music opportunities to young people in deprived communities across South Wales. Securing further funding from Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Communities first, which enabled him to write units for guitar grades which can be founded on the (CQFW) and QCF, the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales websites.
Phil’s ability to provide high quality tuition to his students is evident by the successful music careers they, themselves are now experiencing. Having taught many of his students from beginners to grade 8, then continuing to performance or teaching Diplomas level 4 and 6, they have described him as “enthusiastic” and “ very professional." Please see reviews on yell.com FaceBook or the testimonial area of this website.
As Phil continues to teach and learn, he writes and publishes music weekly. Phil is also recording bands from across the country, providing online tutorials to people at long distances whilst raising a young family and of course, still finding the time to play and practice guitar!