Let's Play Music Podcast

What does it mean to carry a tune? Why does it matter? What can we do about it? Join me, Shelle Soelberg, as I discuss these questions in celebration of National 'Carry a Tune' Week! I mention several things in my podcast linked below. Enjoy! Adults wishing to improve singing in tune Let's Play Music YouTube series on singing in tune Let's Play Music blog on singing in tune Let's Play Music progra...

Did you know that after 3 years of typical piano lessons, 80% of kids have quit?* And did you know that after 3 years of Let's Play Music piano lessons 20% quit? In this episode, Shelle Soelberg, creator of Let's Play Music gets curious about the norms of private piano lessons, questioning the acceptance of the norms, and citing the research on the ways children learn music best. *Accordin...

Join Shelle as she discusses a broadened definition of music literacy and how Let's Play Music students possess these forms of literacy. Also, check out the somewhat 'cheeky' video mentioned in the podcast where Shelle pokes fun at the limited definition of music literacy. Link to the book by Dr. Paul Broomhead I mentioned What is Music Literacy and the article A New Definition of Musi...

Jess Soelberg is an artist, arranger, composer and producer.  In this episode, Jess walks us through his process as he builds a soundtrack. Listen in as he selects the instruments, harmonies, rhythms, and countermelodies and combines them into the soundtrack "Tinga Layo" from the 2nd Year of Let's Play Music.  Jess is the owner/founder of Jess Soelberg Productions where he is able to tur...

Sharlene Habermeyer, M.A. , the author of Good Music, Brighter Children , was inspired to write the book after finding out that music helped her severely learning-disabled son. As a result, she researched the effects music had on the developing and mature brain. She has spoken at various conferences, seminars, and schools across the United States as both a keynote and featured speaker. She holds a...

Want to motivate your child to practice piano but don't know how? Aaron Garner, PhD in Piano Pedagogy and CEO of Piano Marvel shares his secrets he's used with his own children and with students over the years.  "Motivation," he says, "is all about relevancy. If you can make piano practice somehow relevant to the student, they will be motivated to practice."  Join as we discuss the...

Join Jason Neumann and I as we discuss musicianship, musicality, talent, growth, and the educational approach to developing each of them. Jason’s perspective as a piano teacher, high school choir teacher , and most recently, a Let’s Play Music Presto teacher , gives him unique insight into developing musicians. In this discussion, we dig into solfege, rhythm & movement, dictation, audiation, t...

Have you wondered what you can do to facilitate language development and bonding with your child? Have you felt concerned that your child's language development might be delayed and what you can do about that? Join me as I discuss language development with Kelsey Fenn (pediatric SLP) and the role that music plays!  Kelsey will walk you through strategic exercises you can do within your daily...

Have you wondered what your fetus can hear? What he/she can learn?  Science has discovered that ears develop at 14 weeks gestational development and can process auditory input at 22 weeks gestation. We are delighted to have Dr. Krystal McCoy on this episode!  Dr. McCoy holds a doctorate of Musical Art in Music Education and is currently the Director of Choral Activities at Southern Utah...

Let's Play Music programs have unlocked the power of Solfege for children and given them rich musicality.  Musical U, founded by Christopher Sutton, has done the same for adult music learners with courses that open up a world of musical skill.  The 'trifecta', as he calls them, are instrumental skill, theory knowledge, and ear training and all are accessible and learnable.  Listen i...

Today's guest, Marsali Hancock is a nonprofit executive, with twenty years of experience working with leading national and international policy leaders, top-ranked Fortune 100 companies like Google, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Target, Intel, Microsoft, Facebook, and Dell, along with highly respected organizations, maximizing technology to improve the quality of life, education, and economic opport...

We all know someone (or maybe it's you?) who 'can't carry a tune in a bucket', right? In this episode, our guest is Topher Keene , Grammy quarterfinalist, conductor, educator, mentor and - you guessed it - singing coach.  Topher shares with us the mechanics behind singing in tune, then shares with us how to teach someone to sing in tune.  Parents of infants and young children will love w...

Making things fun is our business.  We have it down to a science.  Join Jenny Smith and Shelle Soelberg as we discuss 3 simple things - the A-B-C - of making piano practice fun at home! If you've ever heard your child say "I don't want to practice!" this episode is for you. 

Everyone wonders, there are many opinions, there is much experience. The dilemma is, children are ripe for music instruction many years earlier than they are ready for piano lessons. Delaying music lessons will waste much of the 'music learning window' which research has shown is ages 0-9.  So, what do we do?  Let's Play Music solves the piano playing dilemma by teaching music and piano...

Here's what you can expect from us!

Shelle and her daughter, Sydney, discuss how it all began!  How a young mother of five started a music program that has grown to a million dollar business, with 450 teachers and 11,000 students nationwide. It may surprise you that it didn't start with that end in mind - at all.