Brandon Farmer

CompositionConcert BandDigital InstrumentsDJ and Live AudioDigital Music ProductionJazz/Stage/CommercialGeneral MusicLifestyle ManagementMarching BandMusic HistoryMusic ProductionPeer LeadershipWorld Music
Written By Dr. Elisa Janson Jones
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Brandon Farmer drum kit portrait Music Teacher Guild

Brandon Farmer is a world class drummer, producer, singer/ songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Raised in North Carolina, he grew his R&B, jazz and funk sound in New York, and continued his career in Bay Area. He posses unmatched rhythmic versatility .

Performing with artists like Goapele, Saba (Tiny Desk), Javier Santiago, and Salamirose Joe Louis, he has cemented his standing in the local scene as a reliable and extremely skilled drummer. With music being his passion, Brandon seeks great any opportunity to expand his mind on sounds and rhythms.

He studied in Brazil with locals for an in depth dive on culture and rhythmic notation. With his, “The music comes first“ mentality he’s very unselfish in how he plays his role. Whether on stage or in the studio Brandon continues to create and offer a musical foundation for others to build on.

 
 

  • My teaching approach is widely dependent upon the student. I like to take the knowledge they already have, polish it, and grow it. When teaching I try not to think of the student knowing nothing, but that the student may lack experience. I like to understand where they believe themselves to be, and where they would like to grow to be. Teaching someone the wrong thing based off bad understanding is something I do not like to do. I like to understand the best that I can so I can give the student the proper information for success in their future.

  • My background in mentorship started in high school when my peers voted me to be the drum-line captain of our marching band. I was mentored by an ex army percussion player. He was with us for about a month then turned all of the responsibility onto me. One of the greatest lessons I learned from that time was the understanding of leadership and the responsibility of authority. I led the drum-line that year to winning multiple first place trophies. The thing I take away most is how my leadership reflected within the rest of the drum-line. I carried that experience and those lessons with me. This gave me more insight doing one on one, or more personalized mentoring. I get the mentee to see different perspectives when they approach difficulties. Challenging their thinking on the subject. Seeing if they have given something enough thought to truly stand on it. I like them to express exactly what they think, because thinking leads to knowing. With kids this type of mentoring can be displayed through a type of game, or relating with them on a subject that they are interested in. With teenagers to adults it’s a little more direct. I’ve studied family psychology, which is where some of this knowledge comes from. Nothing works better than being and showing an example of where the mentee wants to be.

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Dr. Elisa Janson Jones

Dr. Elisa Jones designs and scales learning systems for organizations and individuals. With an EdD in Instructional Design, an MBA in Strategy, and 20+ years building education platforms, she combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution experience.

She works at the intersection of people, systems, and technology—helping leaders and learners see what's actually working and what needs to change. Her approach is diagnostic, grounded in real-world constraints, and focused on outcomes that stick.

Learn more about her work at sovereign.plus, elisajones.ai, and the Music Teacher Guild.

https://elisajanson.com
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