Hi.  Bruce Baker here.  If you know the slightest about me and my music, you probably know why I have a blog about jazz theory and mindfulness meditation.  Otherwise, i'll touch on that in addition to being a jazz composer, performer, instructor and practice notation engraving, I also practice Tai Chi and Mindfulness Meditation, both of which help me with all aspects of the craft of jazz music.  Presently I am working on a video tutorial series called "Play Better Jazz Now" which focuses on jazz theory and application primarily for the beginner and intermediate musician.  I feel it is important for all musicians, from beginners to advanced, to incorporate mindful focus techniques to their solo practicing and band rehearsals to enable better learning, retention and application of jazz theory, and better performance results.  I also regularly post statements of positive awareness - jazz awareness.  The plan, as it stands today, is to build tutorial videos that speak to the same or similar topics previously posted here. The videos, however, will bring to the reader examples to hear. 

I hope you find the forthcoming articles interesting, informative and fun.  Don't hesitate to comment on my posts.   Reading your comments - your thoughts about the topics and the meditations (mindful focus techniques) will help me and consequently help others.  I'm only doing this out of love for the craft.  I don't claim to know more than most, nor do I claim to know everything about music theory or specifically jazz theory (if there is such a thing).  Yet I have helped many in the past and I want to continue to do so.  It is fulfilling for me personally to teach or otherwise support those who love jazz and want to learn more about what makes jazz so beautiful and wonderful and fulfilling.  Jazz is not just a style of music.  Jazz is a way of life, an expression of life, an expression of self.  It's also super fun to play!

---- Bruce Baker  

www.brucebakermusic.com