Teacher Profile: Brian Lopez

About Brian Lopez

Brian Lopez is a multi-instrumentalist musician and composer born and raised in South Florida. He is currently completing a bachelor’s degree in Music with a focus on Jazz Performance at Florida International University, and is a graduate of the New World School of the Arts high school program. It was there, at age 13, that he began formally studying music, jazz, and trumpet with a teacher for the first time—a pursuit he has continued ever since.

In addition to trumpet, Brian has developed proficiency in piano, guitar and bass, drums and percussion, and, more recently, alto saxophone. His primary studies have been under Jon Faddis (Manhattan School of Music), Cisco Dimas (Florida International University), and Peter Francis (New World School of the Arts), along with supplemental instruction from highly regarded musicians such as Jim Gasior, Marc Cary, and others.

Since returning from temporary studies in New York in 2023, Brian has been actively performing and working across South Florida at venues including the Miami Beach Bandshell, Fish House, Lagniappe, WDNA, Medium Cool, and many others. During this time, he also began his journey in music education, initially subbing for established instructors and continuing to teach regularly.

Brian believes there is no single approach to teaching. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to each student’s individual needs, balancing that with the student’s own commitment to learning. His goal is to create an optimal environment where students can grow musically while experiencing the same sense of excitement, engagement, and enjoyment that inspired his own journey.