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As a Performance and Confidence Coach, Adam Cole wants to transform the world, one person at a time.

Adam writes about the central issues keeping us from moving: fear, doubt, lack of awareness of ourselves and our relationships. He is constantly asking: ‘How can we learn to see clearly in ourselves what is holding us back?

Adam began as a jazz bandleader and ballet accompanist in Atlanta, simultaneously crafting his first novel, The Myth of Magic. He continued to write and publish during a 12 year career as a choral director. Now he runs Willow Music where he fosters a new generation of musicians and writers who work with a greater self-understanding.

Adam is the producer of TruerMU, a YouTube Channel focusing on musical self-knowledge. He is also the Assistant Editor of the Feldenkrais Journal of Somatic Education.

Adam’s work is available on Amazon and anywhere else books are sold. Visit https://acole.net to be a part of Adam’s online community.

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement
1) “Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel ft. Kate Bush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjEq-r2agqc&t=1s
2) “Hymn to St. Cecilia” by Benjamin Britten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7GSygUXlUI&t=1s
3) “Late in the Evening” by Paul Simon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilzvuie7Bks&t=1s
4) “Seelinnikoi” by Varttina
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4pHUmIpUxM
5) “I Picked Up My Guitar” by Adam Cole
https://acole.net/track/3807114/i-picked-up-my-guitar-album-track

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Sarah Boyd, MM is a piano teacher, early childhood music specialist, and all-things music education enthusiast. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Grove City College and a Master of Music Education from Eastern Michigan University where she studied with Dr. Heather Shouldice. Sarah owns Piano Vine Studio, an audiation-based private and group piano studio founded in 2010 for students of all ages, both in-person and online. Sarah has completed GIML certification courses in Early Childhood, Piano Level 1 & 2, and joined as GIML faculty in 2024.

In 2010, she founded Hummingbirds Music Together, an early childhood music program for children and the grownups who love them, which she continues to direct today.

Since 2018, she has been the Lead Teaching Artist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. This position allows her to teach both students and teachers, develop educational concerts, teacher professional development and host onstage with the orchestra.

Sarah completed a Graduate Certificate in Injury-Preventive Well-Coordinated Keyboard Technique with Dr. Lister-Sink at Salem College in 2022. She is a member of MTNA, NFMC, and is currently serving as VP for the Michigan GIML chapter.

Sarah and her husband, Ryan, enjoy life near Detroit, MI with their four children Julia, JP, Luke, and Wesley.
https://www.pianovinestudio.com/

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement
1) “Defying Gravity” from Wicked the Musical, performed by Idina Menzel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLb5LSlo1Y8&t=133s

2) “Sheep May Safely Graze” by Bach, arr. by Egon Petri, performed by Leon Fleisher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVVd-gjR8Qk&t=1s

3) “You Cannot Lose My Love” by Sara Groves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgsjC-j75e8&t=88s

4) “For the Beauty of the Earth” from Be Thou My Vision by John Rutter, the Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bDoMflYErE&t=178s

5) “Halleluhah” (Improvisation on the Theme of the "Hallelujah" Chorus from Part 2 of Handel's "Messiah", HWV 56) by Gabriela Montero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIftMhlD5XU

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Award-winning music educator Merlin B. Thompson (PhD, MA, BMus) is the Creator and Founder of Teach Music 21C - a music teacher professional development program that highlights 21st century teaching tools and philosophy. Merlin is recognized internationally for his expertise in music studio teaching. His recent projects include working with hundreds of teachers, students and parents throughout Canada, USA, China, New Zealand, Australia, and Finland. Merlin is author of More than Music Lessons: A Studio Teacher’s Guide to Parents, Practicing, Projects, and Character.
You can find out more at https://www.teachmusic21c.com

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement
1) "Bali Ha'i" from South Pacific by Rodgers and Hammerstein
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwYvWF5j0a8&t=10s

2) "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Bach, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Norman Luboff choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6OgZCCoXWc&t=1s

3) "Thankful" by Josh Groban, performed by the Rise Up Children's Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkOEzP-nGZ8

4) "Summer" from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi, performed by Alexandr Hrustevich Vilnius
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SE222v1eyM

5) My Neighbor Totoro by Joe Hisaishi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrL9d4GrIGA

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