LooseLeaf NoteBook with Julia Adolphe

Composer/Bassoonist Joy Guidry shares how they protect their own mental health while exploring personally traumatic content in their art. We discuss their critically acclaimed debut album, Radical Acceptance (2022), which traces Joy's personal experiences of Bipolar Disorder and PTSD. Joy differentiates between the harmful nature of forcing oneself to relive a traumatic personal memory in order to create art, and the act of reclaiming and transforming one's experience through communal storytelling. Lastly, Joy shares what they wish others knew about Bipolar Disorder and how musical institutions can be more ADA compliant and accessible. www.guidrybassoon.com Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Composer Frank Ticheli shares his experience with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which manifested in his 30's in the form of chronic pain and impeded his ability to compose. We discuss how Frank reframed his relationship to his writing process in order to reconnect with his work, difficulties with medication and therapy, and how cultivating a dialogue with one's subconscious enriches creativity. Lastly, we discuss Frank's An American Elegy, commissioned by the Alpha Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi in memory of the victims of the mass shooting at Columbine High School, and the role that educators can play in caring for and monitoring their students' mental health during increasingly anxious times.   https://www.manhattanbeachmusiconline.com/frank_ticheli/   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Two-time Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke shares her experience of imposter syndrome, a feeling that one is not worthy or deserving of one's success. We discuss how these inner bullying voices originated in relation to her body image and how music became a safe, empowering space. Lastly, Sasha shares how couples therapy and practicing gratitude enable her to take ownership and responsibility for her personal and musical life, and how she stays connected to her kids when she's on tour. This episode of LooseLeaf NoteBook is supported by New Music USA and featured on NewMusicBox. www.sashacooke.com Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Ukrainian-born violinist Dr. Myroslava Khomik shares how anyone with creativity and compassion can work as a spiritual leader during times of global crisis. We discuss the centuries-long history of Russian aggressors targeting and executing Ukrainian artists while appropriating Ukrainian culture, why promoting Ukrainian music is a revolutionary act, and how we can each use our own unique individual voices to contribute to the health of our society.    www.myroslavakhomik.com  www.helpmusiciansukraine.com   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel 

Psychiatrist Alana Mendelsohn, MD, PhD, Catherine Hancock, and Katya Gruzgliina share the mission of Creatives Care, which aims to partner artists with affordable mental health care providers and help individuals assess what kind of therapy might be right for their specific needs. Our conversation covers why therapy is particularly beneficial for artists, how to understand when you might need help, and how to handle obstacles that keep us from seeking support. Catherine and Katya share their own personal experiences with vocal injury and its relationship to their work de-stigmatizing mental and physical illness within the arts. Lastly, we discuss questions collected from our podcast listeners, which range from how to handle career disappointment, leaving the arts, to how to process the unfolding crisis in the Ukraine. This episode is supported by New Music USA and featured on NewMusicBox www.creativescare.org Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Composer Andrew Norman shares how his creative anxiety has led him into a current period of writer's block. We discuss how his frenetic language captures how thoughts move in his mind, the underlying sources of his anxiety, and brainstorm together how he can move forward to reconnect with the joy of his creative process.   This episode of LooseLeaf NoteBook is supported by New Music USA and featured on NewMusicBox.    www.andrewnormanmusic.com   Questions and comments may be shared on my YouTube channel. 

Conductor Ryan McAdams shares how the myth of the "ideal" conductor, perpetuated at conservatory and within Western culture, glorifies destructive lifestyles such as living in isolation, excessive behaviors, constant striving for perfection, appearing omniscient, and hiding all human vulnerabilities. In order to manage these impossible professional standards, Ryan believes many conductors turn towards self-destructive behaviors, and Ryan shares some of his own personal struggles. Lastly, Ryan suggests how young conductors could be nurtured and prepared for the challenges of the profession, instead of being told they are not cut out for the job if they cannot cope with stress.   www.ryan-mcadams.com    Questions or comments may be shared on Julia's YouTube Channel

I share my strategies for continuing to write during a time of personal hardship and discuss the pressures and myths surrounding creating art in response to moments of crisis.   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

One of the hardest parts of accepting my diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder was relearning to trust my voice, mind and body after I felt it had betrayed me. I discuss the importance of trusting your voice in your personal life in order to fully trust your creative voice and vision as an artist.   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Violinist Maia Jasper White shares how her relationship to music-making changed as she cared for her young daughter, who underwent surgery for craniosynostosis and a subsequent period of PTSD. We discuss how Maia temporarily stepped away from creative work and how the personal crisis changed her understanding of her own artistic expression. As co-founder of The Salastina Music Society, Maia shares her experience performing for hospital patients during Covid through Project Music Us.   https://www.salastina.org/   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube channel

I reflect on why art is always imperfect and unpack a wave of anxiety that emerged for me while finishing a large-scale work for the LA Philharmonic. With some advice from my creative coach, Cherry Jeffs, I was able to move past emotional blocks and tackle the work's conclusion.   If you're curious about creative coaching, you can visit Cherry's website and read her book on finishing projects here   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia's YouTube Channel

Co-hosts of the Trilloquy podcast Garrett McQueen and Scott Blankenship share their experiences with depression, therapy, medication, cannabis, creativity, and addiction. They discuss how they continue to navigate their professional and personal relationship following Garrett's controversial termination from American Public Media, the original owner of Trilloquy and parent company to Minnesota Public Radio, where the two worked together as broadcasters and Garrett served as the only Black classical music host. Scott and Garrett share how they put their relationship first, how they stay motivated in their work to decolonize classical music, and the importance of being vulnerable and honest in conversations surrounding mental health. www.trilloquy.org

For years in therapy, I focused on recognizing and then extracting my anxious impulses from my creative process to allow greater room for freedom and play. Now, I am examining how my lingering anxiety that appears while I write can actually serve as a tool in the editing process, provided it remains in check and in direct dialogue with my work. 

Composer Christopher Trapani shares his experience with clinical depression and how it impacts the nature of his creative process, memory, and communication. Chris discusses how he both evades and encodes the filter of depression into his music, myths about the tortured artist, medication, and therapy, and how mental health challenges can be better addressed in the workplace and in schools. www.christophertrapani.com Questions or comments can be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

The idea that art stems from deep suffering is ingrained in Western European classical tradition. I share my thoughts on why this myth is attractive to society and to myself personally, as I was struggling to come to terms with my Anxiety Disorder. Belief in this myth ultimately did me more harm than good, and I discuss why I've let go of this romanticized, if not dangerous notion of the creative process.   For questions or comments, please visit Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Violinists & yoga instructors Melissa White & Elena Urioste share why they founded Intermission Sessions, a program uniting musicianship, movement & mindfulness that emphasizes individual focus on one's own physical & emotional needs. We discuss the impact of abusive or unsupportive teachers & methodologies in conservatory life that strip power from students instead of inspiring self-care and compassion. Elena & Melissa share their experiences of performance anxiety, how that has shifted in the pandemic, and the stigma surrounding injury in classical music. Lastly, they offer insight into what yoga and meditation has taught them about their own musical voices and mental health. www.intermissionsessions.com Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

States of high anxiety can produce thought patterns similar to those experienced during the creative process - seemingly disparate thoughts connect to create new meanings and stories - but there are also stark differences between imaginative impulses and anxious physiological signals. I unpack the positive and negative impacts of anxiety on creative work, and why the two are easily confused.   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel 

Conductor & composer Daniela Candillari shares how she discovered surprising musical and personal truths about herself through new and pleasurable activities, such as pottery and gardening, while she strove to cope with her forced hiatus from conducting caused by the pandemic. We discuss how play, meditation, letting go of control, and deep listening impact creativity and mental health. Daniela reflects on her personal experience with performance anxiety, how emotion shapes our perception of time, and why her memories of living through the wars in the former Yugoslavia return to her during this period. www.DanielaCandillari.com Questions and comments can be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Pianist and Music Educator Cindy Lam shares her experience of PTSD, initially triggered by surviving a car accident at 18, which temporarily threatened her musical capabilities, and heightened in 2020 by the loss of her father to a rare genetic Prion disease. Cindy discusses her ongoing healing process, the importance of sharing one's story, finding joy through teaching and musical expression, and feeling strong enough to momentarily step away from music to focus on her health. She emphasizes the need to connect with our inner child, both to inspire creativity and to ultimately heal trauma. Lastly, Cindy shares her view on the stigma surrounding mental health challenges within Asian and Asian-American circles, and reflects on the escalating hate crimes against the AAPI communities and their possible impact on mental health.   www.CindyLam.com    Questions and comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Composer Sarah Kirkland Snider shares her experience with Generalized Anxiety Disorder & Major Depressive Disorder and how they impact her creative process. She unpacks the shame and stigma surrounding mental health challenges, the toxic myth of the tortured artist, strategies for coping and silver linings of hypersensitivity, and the importance of nurturing support systems within our families, universities, and professional communities. www.SarahKirklandSnider.com Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

LooseLeaf NoteBook provides a safe space to talk about mental health challenges and modes of healing, including therapy, medication, and at-home self-care practices, as well as examining the complex and often misunderstood relationship between mental health and creativity. I share why I started this project, and how my composition professor, Steven Stucky, created a safe space for me to talk during our lessons, ultimately enabling me to seek professional help for my anxiety at the age of 19.   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Mezzo-soprano Myah Rose Paden shares the positive aspects of ADHD, and how she manages her Anxiety and Depression by caring for each distinct mood, or self-state, as if it were a unique person who requires a specific form of care and loving attention. We discuss the process of starting therapy, the healing nature of artistic expression, and how Myah's podcast, Thorn & Thistle, gives her a platform to cultivate authentic conversations about intersectionality, identity, and self-exploration. Questions and comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel  

Highlights from my interviews about Creativity and Mental Health in the context of the pandemic, featuring composers Jessie Montgomery, Billy Childs, and Samuel Adler, pianist Gloria Cheng, librettist Aiden Feltkamp, percussionist Sidney Hopson, and high schooler Jaden Gaines.

Librettist & Singer Aiden K. Feltkamp, who serves as the Emerging Composers and Diversity Director at the American Composers Orchestra, shares how they work with large institutions to identify & dismantle internal discriminatory practices & address unconscious biases. Aiden speaks openly about their personal experience transitioning, the impact that Gender Dysphoria (experiencing discord between one's gender identity & one's assigned sex at birth) had on their mental health, & how writing helped their healing process. We discuss our shared experiences of mental illness, or what Aiden & fellow diversity educators call Neurodivergence, & the benefits of therapy & medication in treating Anxiety, Depression, & ADHD   www.AidenKimFeltkamp.com   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Composer Jessie Montgomery shares how she has shifted her creative process since the pandemic began to cultivate a sense of playful freedom & reconnect with her childhood love of diverse musical styles. We discuss how systemic racism has affected Jessie's perception of her own musical identity, and her thoughts on her growing role within the classical music community to represent Black women. Jessie offers advice on how to pace oneself while participating in the ongoing process of Anti-Racism work so that we can continue to care for our own health and creative vitality.   www.jessiemontgomery.com   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel. 

Geopolitical analyst & co-founder of Reconsider Media Xander Snyder draws from Stoic & Buddhist philosophies, as well as practices from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, to help him navigate the toxic political divisiveness rampant in today's media coverage. He offers tools to help recognize what we can and can't control as political events unfold, and how to examine our own emotional biases. We discuss his diverse career paths, from studying classical music to data science, and how Xander stays connected to his creativity.   reconsidermedia.com   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel  

How does scrolling social media & the news mirror my experience of anxiety? It's a constantly changing quick succession of conflicting, highly volatile information that tells me I'm in immediate danger! I discuss how scrolling impacts people with high sensitivity levels, and how I've learned to let go of my shame around being "too sensitive" and instead embrace how this threshold of perception enhances my creativity.

Composer Dara Taylor shares how she stays focused on her writing for film & TV while striving to process the current national reckoning with systemic racism. We discuss how Dara moved through environments where she did not feel welcome as a female composer of color to how she found her creative home working with mentor turned collaborator Christopher Lennertz in Los Angeles. Dara shares how composing and therapy helped her begin to process her father's passing, and how an unexpected creative hobby opened her up to speaking more about her racial identity.    www.DaraTaylor.com Questions and comments can be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

My best friend composer Dale Trumbore & I talk all things anxiety disorders & composing during a pandemic. Dale is the author of "Staying Composed: Overcoming Anxiety & Self-Doubt Within a Creative Life." We discuss her choral works written specifically for Zoom, her experience w/ anti-anxiety medication & how she addresses unhealthy thought patterns in order to return to her creativity.   www.DaleTrumbore.com   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel    

American Samoan tenor Fatu Su'esu'e shares how the virtual reality of the pandemic made him realize how self-conscious he felt on camera about his body. As a playful quarantine challenge, Fatu began taking photographs of himself and embracing his physique, leading to an unexpected & empowering discovery about his operatic voice (as well as a modeling gig from a big and tall clothing company!) Lastly, Fatu shares what it was like to loose touch with his artistry after the death of his parents and how that experience shapes his mindset in the face of today's pandemic.

What can we do as individuals to make a difference in our struggling world? Each of us can tap into our unique identities to determine how we can best contribute to forwarding human rights & the health of our society & planet during this time of crisis. This will look different for every person and there is no single path towards improving the lives of others. I believe the first steps in this process are deep emotional self-reflection, & then finding a movement to join (or lead!) that speaks to your personal story or passions & will enable you to heal & feel fulfilled while you simultaneously help others.    Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Composer and pianist Billy Childs shares the impact of the pandemic and systemic racism in America on his creativity and how he returns to his writing process with practice and persistence. Billy speaks candidly about the pressure he puts on himself to create and perfect his craft, how his musical brain is constantly processing the world around him,  and the healing nature of artistic experience.    www.billychilds.com   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

When I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder at 19 after experiencing panic attacks, multiple psychiatrists recommended that I begin medication. I share why I was scared to start anti-depressants, how I feared they would damage my artistic process, and how they ultimately improved my health, happiness, and creativity.   Have you faced stigmatization for taking or perhaps even considering medication for a mental illness or disorder? Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel          

Singer-Songwriter & Music Educator Julia Jordan Kamanda shares how she works to reclaim her own creative impulses while raising two kids during the pandemic & working from home. Julia talks openly about her 9-year-old's new feelings of anxiety, emerging since the murder of George Floyd, and how she and her husband encourage their kids to find healthy outlets to process big feelings. Julia shares how connecting with our creative selves makes us more engaged parents and how the arts provides a powerful educational tool to the young girls she and her husband, Ali Biko Kamanda, empower through their Creative Arts Initiative in Sierra Leonne.   www.themusicmommy.com   How do you balance caring for your loved ones and staying connected to your creative self? Questions and comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel. 

My partner Zach and I share what we've learned as a couple both working from home for the past five years. We discuss how we have created flexible boundaries, our struggles with co-dependency and personal space, and how we talk about and manage my anxiety disorder as a couple. Zachary shares how he learned to embrace theater and dance while growing up in a small town in Kentucky where he was encouraged to pursue sports.    What do you need to stay focused and motivated and how do you communicate your boundaries? Questions and Comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Composer Samuel Adler and conductor Emily Freeman Brown share how they are staying hopeful and creative during the pandemic. Born in 1928 to a Jewish family living in Germany, Samuel Adler gives his unique perspective on how he draws inspiration from artists who have both struggled and thrived during times of extreme crisis. He and Emily discuss adaptations musicians made following the 1918 pandemic, how Emily plans to teach orchestral conducting with social distancing measures, and why artists should be careful about creating work overtly and specifically about today's pandemic.    www.samuelhadler.com www.efreemanbrown.com   How do you stay hopeful and gain perspective during this pandemic? Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

I share how I shifted my creative approach to my orchestral work for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, which I began writing before the pandemic, so that it feels just as meaningful and reflective of my life today. I also dive into my thought process on composing a new solo violin work for Yevgeny Kutik and how I reframed the project for myself to speak to my emotional needs during quarantine. Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Today, I want to share publicly that I have an anxiety disorder that impacts every aspect of my life. I was diagnosed at 19 with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, considered a mental illness, and have been in therapy and on medication for 13 years. My hope is to help de-stigmatize mental illness, and to open a dialogue about the relationship between creativity and mental health, within the context of a pandemic that has impacted us all. It is my belief that creativity and emotional vitality are so inherently linked. There is a myth that a tortured psyche creates great art, but in my experience, the healthier I’ve become, the more powerful my music becomes, because it grows closer and closer to reflecting and expressing my authentic self. Working towards mental health enables us to reach our full potential in all areas of our life.   Questions and comments can be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Percussionist and arts policy consultant Sidney Hopson shares how he found strength and comfort in classical music as a young child struggling to care for his ailing parents. We discuss how Sidney's discovery of cultural policy, pinpointing how he could bring the transformative power of music to others through legislative action, enabled him to combat audition anxiety, a decade of depression, and the pervasive racism of the classical music industry. Lastly, Sidney unpacks why he's experiencing increased creativity and motivation during the pandemic and offers advice to those of us who may be struggling to produce creative work or take social action during this difficult period.   Sidney Hopson celebrates a diverse career spanning the music industry and public policy. As a percussionist, he has performed for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera, Jacaranda Chamber Ensemble, Southeast Symphony, Ensemble FIRE (NYC), Los Angeles Master Chorale, Opera Santa Barbara, members of the Echo Society, and more. He is currently the principal percussionist of the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra. He has also performed and recorded with a wide range of commercial artists including Stevie Wonder, Danny Elfman, Rhianna, Burt Bacharach, the cast of "GLEE", Dionne Warwick, Lamont Dozier, Dave Koz, Patrice Rushen, David Benoit, and Brian Wilson. Sidney can be heard on over 100 film/tv soundtracks, from the cult horror film The Caretaker to Illumination's How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2018). As an arts consultant, Hopson advises artists, arts institutions, and the public and private sectors on content development, strategy, and best practices to advance social justice and cultural equity, foster economic growth, prevent local crime and global terrorism, mitigate climate change, and support international development via the arts.    Questions and comments can be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel. 

Pianist Gloria Cheng discusses how she and her students grew closer together while facing the unique challenges of virtual music education, how incorporating new recording exercises provided surprising gifts, and how she returned to her own daily artistic practice during the pandemic. We also share memories of the late composer Steven Stucky, and how Gloria channeled her grief at his passing into a creative tribute, her album entitled "Garlands for Steven Stucky," which includes my composition, "Snowprints." Grammy and Emmy Award-winning pianist GLORIA CHENG has long been devoted to a process of creative collaboration, having worked extensively with such internationally renowned composers as John Adams, Terry Riley, Thomas Adès, and the late Steven Stucky. Ms. Cheng has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta and Pierre Boulez, and on its acclaimed Green Umbrella series with Esa-Pekka Salonen and Oliver Knussen. She has been a recitalist at the Ojai Music Festival (where she first appeared in 1984 with Pierre Boulez), the Chicago Humanities Festival, William Kapell Festival, and Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music. Ms. Cheng inspired and premiered such notable compositions as Esa-Pekka Salonen's Dichotomie (of which she is the dedicatee), John Adams' Hallelujah Junction for two pianos (written for her and Grant Gershon), and Steven Stucky's Piano Sonata. Partnering with composers in duo-recitals, she premiered Thomas Adès's two-piano Concert Paraphrase on Powder Her Face and Terry Riley's Cheng Tiger Growl Roar. Ms. Cheng received a Grammy Award for her 2008 recording, Piano Music of Salonen, Stucky, and Lutosławski, and a second Grammy nomination for her 2013 disc, The Edge of Light: Messiaen/Saariaho. On screen, Ms. Cheng's film, MONTAGE: Great Film Composers and the Piano — documenting the recording of works composed for her by Bruce Broughton, Don Davis, Alexandre Desplat, Michael Giacchino, Randy Newman, and John Williams — aired on PBS SoCal and captured the 2018 Los Angeles Area Emmy Award for Independent Programming. Her most recent disc, Garlands for Steven Stucky, is a star-studded tribute to the late composer by 32 of his friends and former students. After obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Stanford University, Ms. Cheng studied in Paris on a Woolley Scholarship and earned graduate degrees in performance from UCLA and the University of Southern California, where her teachers included Aube Tzerko and John Perry. Ms. Cheng now is on the faculty at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music where she has created courses and programs designed to unite performers, composers, and scholars. www.gloriachengpiano.com   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel  

Soprano Hila Plitmann and I discuss how engaging in playful creativity opens a space for internal healing, connection with loved ones and the world around us, and gratitude even in times of adversity. Hila shares her thoughts on mantra singing, motherhood, and how "the mind is a playful instrument."   Hila Plitmann is a glittering jewel on the international music scene, known worldwide for her astonishing musicianship, light and beautiful voice and the ability to perform challenging new work. She has worked with many leading conductors, performing with the likes of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. www.HilaPlitmann.com   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

17-year-old musician & arts counselor for kids with special needs Jaden Gaines talks about how he's staying creative and connected to his high school theater troupe during the pandemic. He reminds us that artistic expression through a community helps us care for our mental health collectively and that healing thrives with a creative support network.   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

My student Gherald taught me a pivotal life lesson when I was teaching music theory at Auburn Correctional Facility, an all-male maximum-security prison. Whenever I feel vulnerable about my creative voice, I think of Gherald's advice.   Questions or Comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

What does it mean to be vulnerable as an artist and why is it so challenging? I share my thoughts on the importance of finding, accepting, and believing in your unique voice in the face of uncertainty. What methods do you use to uncover unconscious thoughts and channel them into creative endeavors? Cultivating vulnerability takes practice and an understanding of your mental health. Tools such as journaling and therapy can help you access insight into your internal world so that you can translate that world into artistic expression.  Questions and comments can be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Creative work thrives with a playful spirit, but you can't channel playfulness in your work if you're not playful in your life! With the increased pressures of the pandemic, frivolous activities are even more important to creative survival. I share my recent discovery of video games and how they've inspired some new musical ideas in my orchestral work. Questions and comments can be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel      

How I bring creative impulses from childhood into my current artistic practice, specifically with my new orchestral work for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Reflecting on Fall Concert Cancellations, Letting Go of Control in my Creative Process, and Hoping for Systemic Change in Classical Music   Questions and Comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Why it's important to stay creative during the pandemic, even if that means bringing your creativity to other areas of your daily life or trying new expressive outlets   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Unlike the fight or flight response, which provides an adrenaline rush, freezing shuts you down. How do you return to your creative work when you feel numb or overwhelmed? And how do you know if you are numbing or simply resting?   Questions or comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Anger can be motivating and exhausting. How do you reclaim your right to be creative, your right to protest discrimination, and your right to take care of your mental health during a time of crisis?   Questions and comments may be shared on Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel

Anxiety and feelings of panic stemming from the pandemic or other life events derail the creative process. I share some of my coping mechanisms and adaptations to help create calm in my body so I can return to writing. What techniques or thought patterns help you?   Questions or comments may be submitted to Julia Adolphe's YouTube Channel