Sounds of Encouragement

It's cold out there! Layer up!
And layer up with people around you that you trust.

I'm here for you, so you can be there for those who need you the most. 
[email protected]

Takenya Battle is a master musician, teacher, and entrepreneur who helps children and adults alike arrange, articulate, and amplify their inner musician with online voice and piano lessons. 

The founder of Kenya’s Keys Voice & Piano Studio, Kenya specializes in the key of easy. She teaches music educators how to keep time with today’s technologies while still leveraging their traditional musical knowledge. 

Still, Kenya’s Keys does more than just that. Using her proprietary TLC formula in her online music lessons, Kenya helps bring a semblance of peace – pandemic or not – into the lives of everyone who steps through her virtual doors. 

With over 20 years of experience aiding 11,000+ students, Kenya is a renowned expert in unleashing the inner musical superstar in both adults and kids. Her other accomplishments include running her business while serving as a U.S. soldier, becoming only the second woman in her family to graduate college, and writing and self-publishing 2 best-selling books. 

When she’s not amplifying the voices of the next generation or decolonizing music instruction, you can find Kenya penning songs for the everyday entrepreneur who wants to use melodic prose to convey who they are and what they stand. 

If you’re ready to synthesize a new tune in your online music education business, Kenya’s Keys is the one to contact. Visit Kenya@KenyasKeys to find out more.

Takenya's Top 5 Songs of Encouragement
(During the episode I accidentally left out No. 4, so be SURE to check that one out!)

1) "Better Days" by Dianne Reeves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlFj9iCnaIE&feature=youtu.be
2) "We are One Maze" featuring Frankie Beverly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2lS283bmKM&feature=youtu.be
3) "Tomorrow" by Quicy Jones featuring Tevin Campbell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNeC7Tm5M5U&feature=youtu.be
4) "Never Alone" by Tori Kelly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srGIp4LO-XM&feature=youtu.be
5) "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo&feature=youtu.be

Email: [email protected]

Let's give ourselves and everyone around us Grace this week.

5 minutes or less of calm and encouraging thoughts for your day!

Link to the On Being Podcast Interview with Katherine May
https://onbeing.org/programs/katherine-may-on-winter-replenishment-and-transformation/

Some Strategies for Dealing with Balance or Imbalance
1) Let Go of Linear notions of Balance. Life is not a Teeter-Totter, but an Ecosystem in which Rhythms, Seasons, and Cycles are natural. 
2) Try a Change in Perspective - take a broader view and put those Cycles of life and work into larger contexts of time and geography
3) Check in with Yourself - are you feeling like you work too much? too little? are some areas of life being neglected while others micromanaged? do you need to set boundaries differently? do you need to manage time differently?
4) Check in with those you Trust - are you working too much? Or too little? Are you out of balance in other areas of your life? Is this just a ‘season’ of more or less work/free time? Do you need to renegotiate tasks and responsibilities with a spouse or partner for period of time? 
5) Try Embracing Holy Imbalances instead of resisting those times and see what happens. Often the best moments in life occur when we are willing to embrace the imperfect, chaotic, yet wonderful times with grace.

I would love to hear from you! Email me at:
[email protected]

Antonio Gandía (Gan-DEE-ah) was born and raised in Mexico, and has lived in the U.S.A. since 1994. In 1998 Antonio earned a B.A. from Berklee College of Music, in Boston, Massachusetts. Antonio has been teaching piano, guitar and bass for over 20 years to students of all levels and musical interests.

He has extensive live performance and studio recording experience in the Boston, Nashville, Mexico City, New Jersey, and New York City areas. His performances and recordings have covered a variety of styles such as R&B, Latin, Pop, Rock, Reggae and Jazz, among others. Antonio’s playing is featured on the independently released CD’s of various artists. Two of the recordings where he performed have been nominated for a Latin Grammy.

Antonio is also a published songwriter and a member of ASCAP. His music has been used on TV on programs such as "One Life to Live' and "The District". From 2013 to 2014 Antonio was a columnist for the Musico Pro Magazine, where he did music product reviews and interviews. Many of those interviews (in Spanish) are still available at www.musicopro.com

To learn more, you can find Antonia at www.antoniogandia.com

Antonio's Top 5 Encouraging Sounds/Songs
1) Pau Casals playing the Bach Cello Solo No.1 BWV 1007
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR0rzrNhVxFPoEuQgUiOhXL6B59m7HQPAJ5Z7sDqS2Zw_JCvAxAd4ZaGHFo&v=KX1YtvFZOj0&feature=youtu.be
2) "Blue in Green" by Miles Davis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR3WRffw4NvewFH0HvjBHYD_Be0DY3XHswU-n8YJs9whYve0C9_PbmsCyAM&v=PoPL7BExSQU&feature=youtu.be
3) "Memories of Tomorrow" by Keith Jarrett
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CNpeJlxKGk
4) Bachianas Brasileiras No 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR3Cq46CtQdFHqWtas6e73jDxrUW6A-6KMNLX1pEtxSglWk8_1OSGpQcGDI&v=gejY9FQlDGM&feature=youtu.be
5) Moncayo - Huapango conducted by Alondra de la Parra with the Paris Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1D19e_xgoPi1Yoqm87RzwA6OwGLuxgcGg-q8DtjvpzSXzJDmZaWpZxOOg&v=NbgAHpD4W_8&feature=youtu.be

Sarah Buckley has taught piano for over 20 years including 5 years as a professor of piano and theory at the University of Missouri. She has a B. Mus. from the University of Western Ontario, M.M. from the University of Missouri, and ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has an online course with Christopher Norton, Quick Win Improv, sharing his improvisation curriculum with piano teachers. 
You can find her drinking coffee, having dance parties with her daughters, or hanging with her puppy Achilles. 
You can find the Quick Win Improv course at  www.quickwinimprov.com 

Enjoy this episode about what has kept Sarah encouraged not only through 2020 but throughout her career and personal life. 

Top 5 Songs of Encouragement:
1) Michael Buble, "Everything"
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUJIbXN0WY
2) Pharell Williams, "Happy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZSe6N_BXs
3) Brahms Viola Sonata Op. 120, No. 2 in Eflat Major
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vkiJ-EINbg
4) Shane Mickelson, "Come Though Fount"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNyMtWhCxjo
5) Mahalia Jackson, "His Eye is On the Sparrow"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr1OTWIk4eA

In this solo episode, you'll hear about research articles related joy and how it affects us. You'll also learn 7 specific strategies to create more joy in your life.  Are you ready for more joy?
My biggest takeaway is the quote, "Survival of the Kindest" which is my new mantra.
Don't forget to listen all the way past the outro music for a special bonus track!

http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1015863,00.html
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/feeling-it/201307/the-science-behind-the-joy-sharing-joy
https://www.collective-evolution.com/2016/01/09/the-science-of-joy-how-to-create-it-study-finds-we-are-hard-wired-to-give/
https://www.ted.com/talks/ingrid_fetell_lee_where_joy_hides_and_how_to_find_it?referrer=playlist-how_to_notice_and_build_joy_into_your_life#t-941
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/share-your-good-news-and-you-will-be-better-off/

https://experiencelife.com/article/7-ways-to-experience-more-joy/

Christina studied Music Composition at Chapman University and graduated cum laude with a gray key award in 2005 with a BA in Music. She studied piano and composition under the late Dr. Michael Martin, and viola under the highly respected Julliard Graduate, Mr. Robert Becker. She added cello, voice, and classical guitar to her list of instruments.

She writes, “From the moment I taught my first lesson in 2003 at Olympia Russian Conservatory in Fountain Valley, I realized I had found my true calling. I was appointed as piano, music theory, and strings teacher at the small Orange County music studio and my roster of students grew exponentially. Not much later, I realized I could run the show myself, so I moved on to start Irvine Music Lessons.”

She opened her multi teacher studio with 150 students in Irvine, California until she relocated to Long Beach in 2010. 

But that’s not all. Along the way she had also developed her IT skills and she also has 20+ years of experience as a website developer & designer, specializing in creating websites for music teachers.

 Aside from her two careers, she volunteers at her local children’s hospital, alongside the music therapist.

 https://www.webmaestra.com/

https://christinapiano.com/

Christina's Top 5 Encouraging Songs Playlist
Christina's Top 5 Encouraging Playlist
1) In Repair by Our Lady Peace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kve68...
2) This is Your Night by Amber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOqDd...
3) isobel by Bjork
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGPYO...
4) Autre Temps by Alcest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85c-P...
5) Angels and Saints by Neverending White Lights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZUSZ...

Thank you for listening!
Email: [email protected] for questions or feedback

Steve Treseler is a Seattle-based saxophonist, teaching artist, and composer. DownBeat Magazine calls his music “beautifully crafted ensemble pieces—whether free, through-composed, or somewhere in between." His collaborations with renowned trumpeter Ingrid Jensen have been featured in The New York Times, DownBeat, and on NPR. Steve is the founder of Infinite Improvisation, offering creative music experiences in a variety of mediums: in-person and virtual workshops, instructional books, and digital courses.

In this episode, listen for how my guest, Steve Treseler, describes the people and moments of encouragement in his journey. I hope you’ll be encouraged by thinking about your ‘best self’ or ‘future version of yourself’ and then how you can move that direction. 

I had several great take-aways from this conversation. I invite you to lean into the encouragement Steve mentions of ‘when you are running away from something, you are running towards something else’ and to ‘follow your appetite.’ 

I love how Steve talks about his sources of motivation, creativity, and encouragement during 2020, including his daughter, his collaborative projects, taking on learning new technology to compose and produce music, and doing his part to give back to others.

Be sure to check out the links for Steve’s Playlist of his Top 5 encouraging pieces of music. And definitely catch who he mentions he went to school with! Dang Steve…so cool!

Enjoy this great conversation!

Here are all the links for this episode:
Steve Treseler's site  https://stevetres.com/
Infinite Improvisation Course  https://infiniteimprovisation.teachable.com/

Steve's Top 5 Encouraging Sounds or Songs:
Opening by Kenny Wheeler
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2GIms8u3bruipn5MOR5wcs
The Dharma at Big Sur by John Adams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWO84mScCcc
The Ocean by Sunny Day Real Estate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xibhE7wtgdg
Monk's Mood by Thelonious Mond and John Coltrane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGVZTxuwQOs
Can't You Hear Me Callin' by Crooked Still
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_SGnIRwdDM&list=PLmN_OeeBLKA-M3dG26z3Hr10JYpKh9G1l&index=1