For more than twenty‑five years I carried an ambitious idea in my heart—a book called Music and the Muse that would weave together the science, spirit, and sheer joy of creativity. I wasn’t ready to tackle its full breadth at the time, but the Muse kept nudging me, asking to be shared in smaller, child‑sized melodies first. That gentle push became three picture books that now form the core of SearlStudio Kids.

In Kayla and Eli Discover Jazz, Jazz Cat steps in as the Muse incarnate, whisking two curious siblings through space and time to witness the birth and blossoming of America’s classical music. Tupi Finds His Tune turns inward, guiding young readers to listen to the rhythm of their own hearts—just as Music and the Muse encourages every artist to find an inner voice. And Music Is a Rainbow sprang from a favorite bit of musical lore: Sir Isaac Newton, an avid music lover, aligned the seven colors of the rainbow with the seven notes of the scale. That harmony of color, frequency, and feeling echoes the solfeggio tones and chakra principles explored in my forthcoming opus.

These three stories were, in truth, stepping‑stones on the larger path toward Music and the Muse. They let me share the wonder of music, imagination, and self‑discovery with children—while I continued shaping the book that first inspired them all. I hope your young readers feel the same spark of curiosity and creative possibility that has guided me on this lifelong musical journey.

— Stephan Earl