Brandon Vazquez

“I try to make lessons fun by introducing different styles of music and keeping things fresh.”

B.A. Hunter College of the City University of New York

A native New Yorker, Brandon Vazquez began playing trumpet at Wagner Junior High School in Manhattan. “I chose the trumpet because I liked the sound it produced. To be honest, I had no interest in music at the time. But once I picked up the trumpet, I fell in love with it.”

As a teacher, Brandon focuses on the fundamentals of playing including sound, support, technique, and range. “I try to make lessons fun by introducing different styles of music and keeping things fresh.” He is a structured and organized teacher but “I generally pick out music that coincides with their personal interests.” Brandon enjoys teaching students of all levels including adults but recommends younger students wait until they have their adult front teeth in, sometime between ages 8-10.

Trained in classical and jazz styles, Brandon has a preference for jazz music “but classical is a close second. I’m a big fan of Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane. But I also enjoy listening to Beethoven and Brahms.” He enjoys playing in ensembles particularly brass quartets and quintets and small jazz groups. “For me, there’s nothing more satisfying than playing in a jazz quintet. Being able to play with a saxophone and rhythm section is truly inspiring and liberating. When one plays a jazz standard or original work, every time you play is like the first time.”

Brandon is also an alumnus of Bloomingdale’s own Music Access Project which he now leads administratively as the Director of MAP. He includes his parents among his greatest influences. “My mom always encouraged me to keep playing and my dad introduced me to jazz by having the radio playing in the house.” Brandon also enjoys playing sports, running, playing piano, and traveling.