Music Educator
Brian Paulding is the Brass Instructor and Director of the Youth Latin Ensemble at Zumix, an award winning youth development organization in East Boston, MA. He believes strongly in the agency and competency of young people, and develops lessons for youth of diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds centered around student-selected repertoire. Noticing a lack multi-instrumental modern band skills and repertoire in youth music education, Brian shares an authentic voice of a touring, contemporary artist. He brings the passion, lessons, and life skills from the stage and the tour van into the classroom, providing a framework for youth interested in pop, rock, latin, and other contemporary musical genres.
As the Brass Instructor at Zumix, Brian teaches private trombone, trumpet, and tuba lessons to students aged 8-18 that range in ability from beginner to advanced jazz and latin improvisation and classical. Knowing that it is more fun to play music together, he accompanies his students in both lessons and recitals on instruments including guitar, piano, drum set, bass, trumpet, trombone, and tuba.
Brian also directs Zumix’s Youth Latin Ensemble. As director, he fosters musical exploration and improvisation, musicianship, and friendship. With members from 10-18 years old, the ensemble has developed a large repertoire of Latin arrangements and original songs ranging from Jobim to Santana to Celia Cruz. The Latin Ensemble performs in an around Boston at venues including Festival on The Farm (Canton, MA), Boston Children’s Museum, and Coolidge Corner Theater. They have shared stages with Eguie Castrillo, Debo Band, and Dr. Loco, and in the summer of 2019 were invited by Cindy Blackman Santana’s Milagro Foundation to attend a Santana concert with soundcheck and backstage access plus an artist meet and greet.
In 2018, Brian was awarded a fellowship with Massachusetts Cultural Councils second cohort of META (Music Educators and Teaching Artist) fellows. His work as a META fellow involves curating, transcribing, and arranging a graded, culturally relevant repertoire of beginner to upper-intermediate brass music. This cannon includes wide cultural representation including global folk and dance music, American protest music, TV and movie themes, and contemporary pop. The curriculum includes simple chordal accompaniment and pairs many songs with teacher prompts to begin to explore related social justice issues.
He is currently pursuing an MA in Music Education from Longy School of Music and expects to graduate with full MA licensure in May 2022.
In addition, Brian teaches brass lessons at SONOS and privately throughout the greater Boston area.