About Brian Brancato

Hello! My name is Brian Brancato. Music has been a big part of my life since I started playing trumpet in 5th grade. I began playing guitar soon after that, but focused primarily on the trumpet all through middle and high school. After graduating from Fairport High School in 2014, I went on to the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where I earned my Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education. Throughout my time there, I played in just about every ensemble available to me and gained valuable experience playing in a wide range of genres and settings. I also developed an interest in music production, which has augmented my experiences as a songwriter and a music listener.

In 2019–2020, I taught my first year as a full-time music teacher in the Rochester City School District in two high schools (James Monroe High School and the Leadership Academy for Young Men). Since moving to Troy at the end of 2020, I have been a substitute teacher in the Capital Region BOCES system and the Shenendehowa School District, as well as a permanent building substitute at Shaker High School here in Latham. In 2021–2022 I was a Teaching Artist for the CHIME program (Creating Harmony and Inspiring Musical Excellence), which is part of ESYO (the Empire State Youth Orchestra).

As an educator, I strive to deliver engaging, culturally responsive instruction. If there is a particular type of music that you are interested in, or a skill (like improvisation) that you wish to work on, I make that a focus of our lessons, in addition to the fundamentals that are necessary to playing your instrument.  I believe that lessons should be student-centered, and I am committed to bringing your interests into our lessons, not just standard repertoire. Lessons with me can be characterized by a culture of respect and authenticity, which is integral to who I am as a teacher. If you have any questions, please don’t be afraid to reach out to me—I would love to hear from you!

In addition to being an active teacher in the area, I am an active performer on multiple instruments. I play the trumpet in a New Orleans-style funk band from Albany called the NoLaNauts. I am the drummer and one of the songwriters and vocalists in House of Saturn, an indie rock band from Troy that my friends and I started in 2021. At the end of 2022 I joined a third project, a blues-infused alternative rock band from Albany called Lake Effect, on the drumset. In my free time, I enjoy writing songs, playing guitar and electric bass, and recording and mixing covers and the songs I write. I love being around creative people, jamming with my other musician friends, and going to shows in the local Albany music scene and for larger touring acts.

Music is such an incredibly powerful medium for self-expression and for connecting with other people; I look forward to sharing this with my students here at Music & Arts through our brass instruments lessons together!