NU DECO NXT

Modeled after Nu Deco Ensemble's innovative and collective spirit, Nu Deco NXT inspires, enriches, and connects Miami youth through the creation of transformative, genre-bending musical experiences. Through engaged mentorship and interaction with members of Nu Deco, NXT members sharpen their individual musicianship, expand their musical abilities and elevate the essential skills of ensemble playing while building community and developing into tomorrow's artists and leaders for the 21st century. In addition to learning challenging ensemble repertoire, NXT musicians dive deeply into improvisation techniques, music theory and composition, mindfulness and wellness practices, audition and performance practices- all with an emphasis on developing leadership & entrepreneurship skills.

MY WHY…

“I found meditation and wellness practices during the hardest period of my life. My career as a conductor was taking off when both of my parents passed away suddenly. I was in despair, confused, and had nowhere to look for answers.

While searching for calm and meaning, I found yoga, then meditation, then breath-work. Over time, a toolbox of practices emerged that changed how I live, how I understand my purpose, and how I make music.

“For twelve years now, daily breath-work, meditation and yoga, along with the many other wellness tools I have found along the way, have given me sharper focus, more presence, more joy, and a deeper connection to the people I share the stage and my life with.

As a young tuba player, I spent years trying to prove myself through competitions, accolades and accomplishments. I was also sure I could never become a conductor. I played the tuba, and I wasn't a genius pianist, composer or violinist. Before every performance, a huge surge of energy would build inside me. On a concert stage, it served me well. In an audition room, it worked against me. I wish someone had given me these tools back then and shown me that self-awareness, a growth mindset and steady wellness practices could open a path forward.

As a conductor, I now use my breath to channel that energy. I always meditate before a show, sometimes 30 minutes before I walk out, to set the stage in my mind for what I want the musicians and the audience to experience. If I feel nervous or jittery, I breathe in for five counts, hold for five and exhale for ten. It levels me out and sharpens my focus. On the rare night I've eaten too close to the concert and feel sluggish, two or three minutes of Breath of Fire charges my whole body. These are the same tools I teach…

“Today, as an RYT-200 yoga teacher, a Chopra-certified meditation teacher, a breathwork facilitator, and director of Nu Deco NXT's wellness program, I have the honor of sharing these practices with the young musicians I work with. They shaped who I am, and I still discover more of myself every day. The artist's journey is a lifelong practice, and it deserves all the support it can get.

My purpose is to share my gifts in service of the next generation of musicians: to show up for them, work alongside them, and pass on the tools I wish I'd had at their age. From the high school students of Nu Deco NXT to the emerging artists of Jong Metropole, these practices can change the course of young lives and bring people closer to who they truly are.

The science supports what I have lived. Slow, steady breathing calms the nervous system within minutes. A major 2019 review of randomized trials found that mindfulness practice can ease depression, anxiety and stress in children and teens. Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset shows that ability grows through effort. These practices help musicians, and they help everyone, at any age. My goal is simple: resilient humans, resilient musicians.”

— Jacomo Bairos

Learn more about Nu Deco NXT here!