Recommendations

Assistant Professor of Music
Stillman College
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Dr. Baker is an outstanding professor that really cares for his students and has a passion for teaching and music.

Music Theory I Student
Provided by Stillman College SmartEvals

Adjunct Lecturer in Piano
University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, Texas
https://www.UTTyler.edu/music/

I am writing in recommendation of pianist J. Bradley Baker.

Brad’s performing skills are outstanding, and he is an artist-level pianist. He demonstrates fine interpretative skills, and he is a sensitive and responsive collaborator. I have been particularly impressed with his ability to learn repertoire quickly, and to deliver polished performances.

As a teacher, Brad relates well to students of all levels. His engaging personality encourages student involvement, and he maintains high standards and expectations for all. His students made consistent improvement and progress in their performance skills during their studies with him.

Brad is a thoroughly professional colleague. I have found him to be a reliable, friendly and hard-working individual. His affable and personable style makes a very positive contribution to a program, and he understands and supports the needs of the music unit as a whole.

It is a pleasure to give Bradley Baker my highest recommendation.

Dr. Michael Thrasher
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Director of Graduate Studies
College of Music
Florida State University

Former Director & Professor of Music
School of Performing Arts
University of Texas at Tyler
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn

Mr. Baker was an excellent instructor for Class Piano at UT-Tyler, during the Spring 2014 semester!! During my time at UT-Tyler, I was a Vocal Music Education major and needed Class Piano to fulfill requirements for my degree! This was my second time taking the course; therefore, playing piano was not my speciality, but Mr. Baker encouraged me and gave complimenting thoughts and/or suggestions on my playing skills! He let me know that I was improving each week, and I could actually see that! He took the time to work with each student, individually, during class and outside of class!

I had a fabulous semester learning under Mr. Baker and I hope to learn more from him in the future! During Spring 2014, all students who had learned under Mr. Baker, including vocal and piano, were exceeding in their piano knowledge and skills! Mr. Baker was an excellent instructor!

Harmony & Keyboard Skills II Student
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn

Graduate Teaching Assistant
Composition & Theory Area
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
http://music.ua.edu

Most of my teaching assistants over the years have been Composition majors, but I was very fortunate to get to work with Brad Baker, one of those rare Performance majors with both great chops on his instrument and a strong desire to excel at Music Theory. He has a cool but confident style in the classroom, and many of my students sought him out for extra help, which he generously gave. He's the ideal candidate for a split Piano/Theory teaching position. Selfishly, though, I'd like to keep him around Tuscaloosa!

Dr. Thomas Robinson
Associate Professor of Music Theory
The University of Alabama
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn

Brad was always concerned about comprehension of the classroom material and was readily available to meet outside of class. He also offered group tutoring sessions for extra practice in addition to class time. Brad used a lot of different approaches when presenting new material. He even had the class walking in circles to internalize meter, an activity he said was from Euryhthmics.

Freshman Aural Skills Student
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn

Graduate Teaching Assistant
UA Opera Theatre & Voice Department
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
http://music.ua.edu

Brad Baker is a bold and fearless performer in his own right, but he’s especially astute when it comes to accompanying, especially for the voice. We worked together during my time as a voice student at the University of Alabama. As one of his singers, I always knew I had a true support system in him at the keys. Brad is the consummate collaborator - he not only listens and adjusts accordingly, but he always keeps the line of communication open between himself and the person he’s accompanying. If I had questions or suggestions, he was always approachable. There was never any fear of judgement when working with him, an impressive quality considering the level of musicianship he brings to the table.

He’s extremely knowledgeable about classical repertoire, but completely game for working in other styles. We worked on a lot of contemporary musical theatre during our last year or so together and he placed as much importance on my theatre rep. as the classical - something I always appreciated.

Brad is the kind of person you want on your team during a long rehearsal or competition. He takes his work very seriously, but he approaches that work with a relaxed attitude. This was a godsend many times. I can’t recommend him enough.

Lauren Carlton
Mezzo-Soprano
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn

Brad is a fantastic pianist. I worked with him on a recital of Benjamin Britten's 5 Canticles, and found him to be pleasant to work with and a capable and competent artist who knew his music and was flexible from the beginning with tempi, dynamics, and color. As a colleague and pianist, I would rank Brad among the best collaborators I have worked with in my career, and am happy to offer my recommendation.

Dr. Brad Raymond
Tenor
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn

Bradley and I were acquainted at the University Alabama, where I taught applied voice and he worked as an accompanist for the voice and opera department. Bradley plays with musicality and sensitivity, and possesses an excellent knowledge of the vocal repertoire. He is also a wonderful person - pleasant to work with, and a fine colleague.

Dr. Raymond Chenez
Countertenor
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn

Other Reviews/Recommendations

In the time that I've known Brad Baker, I have witnessed time and time again a sensitive, mature musician who is equally at home as a piano soloist and ensemble collaborator. Above all else, he is a pleasant and amiable person who is easy to work with. I highly recommend him!

Dr. Bruce Faske
Artist Instructor of Trombone
Arkansas State University
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn

My name is Benjamin Krug and I am a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra cello section. I had the pleasure of playing in a piano trio with Brad during part of my graduate studies work at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Brad is a wonderfully sensitive pianist. One of the hardest aspects of chamber music is finding a group of people that not only gel together musically, but also personality-wise. Brad was so easy to work with, and I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to play with him.

Benjamin Krug
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn

Brad and I attended the Cleveland Institute of Music together and were in the same studio. Brad is a wonderful musician, not only showing through in his sensitive playing but also his deeper understanding of music. He was always very hard-working and an inspiration to me. I recommend Brad not only for his solo playing, but also for his collaborative skills.

Dr. Grethe Nothling
Freelance Pianist
Recommendation provided via LinkedIn