There are few things in life that bring people together simply by place it between them. A phone often pulls us apart. A computer screen can keep us on opposite sides. Even a table can sometimes feel like a barrier. But a chessboard does something unexpected. It creates a place to meet. A few days ago, a parent shared a story with me that I haven't stopped thinking about. Her family was visiting the grandparents, and her five-year-old son had something new to share. He had be

(And how Musical Chess turns imagination into early learning power) Your toddler just picked up a banana and made a phone call. Correct them? Or pick up the nearest zucchini and ask to be transferred. What looks like pure silliness is actually one of the most sophisticated things a young brain can do. These moments are not random. They are signs of real cognitive growth and early problem-solving skills. Symbolic Play: The Smart Science Behind “Silly” When a child uses a banan

Last week I had the honor of speaking at the Munich Chess Festival, joining educators, historians, and chess enthusiasts from around the world. My talk centered on something I think about every single day: what happens when chess meets a three year old. It started with a song. One day when I was driving, a melody just popped into my head out of nowhere. “Bishops bishops zooming by, through the corners they will glide.” I pulled over and sang it into my phone before I could fo

A founder's response to ESPN's piece on the NBA's quiet chess boom By Adrienne Tellier, Founder of Musical Chess I teach chess to three-year-olds. Not competitively. Not with a clock or a rating system. Through music, through movement, through the kind of joyful, full-body learning that makes a child's whole face light up when something clicks. So when ESPN published its feature on the NBA's growing chess culture, covering players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama

Our Kickstarter isn’t just about raising funds. It’s about gathering the teammates: the people who believe in what we’re building.

Musical Chess, an edutainment platform designed to introduce children to chess through music, movement, and playful