Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Tellier.
Hi Adrienne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Musical Chess began with a SPARK! – an unexpected moment on a simple drive to work that ignited a mission inspired by play.
I’ve always been inspired by the magic of childhood: bright minds, big imaginations, and the moment a child’s curiosity catches fire and they realize just how capable they truly are.
My own path to that moment started in the arts. I grew up immersed in music and performance: piano, voice, musical theatre, dance, even aerial silks. After earning my BFA in Musical Theatre, I moved to New York City to pursue an acting career and along the way, a new kind of stage appeared: the classroom.
As a teaching artist, I had the opportunity to work with children of all ages in a variety of creative learning environments: teaching early-childhood music, directing and choreographing children’s theatre, and even tutoring children in chess. That’s where something clicked! That spark ignited and I began to connect the dots between music, movement, and play. I witnessed how introducing chess to kids in a playful, musical way helped them to grow far beyond the chessboard. Kids lit up! They weren’t just learning a game; they were building focus, confidence, problem-solving skills, and belief in their own abilities.
I eventually stepped into a curriculum leadership role at an education startup in New York City, where I saw firsthand how powerful imaginative, play-based learning can be. Those experiences, along with my passion for early childhood education, led me to create Musical Chess—an edutainment platform designed to introduce children to the game of chess through music, movement, and play while nurturing the whole child along the way (emotionally, socially, and intellectually).
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building Musical Chess has been one of the most exciting and meaningful chapters of my life, but I don’t think any entrepreneur would describe the journey as “smooth.” Being a solopreneur comes with its own unique set of challenges. You’re the visionary, the operator, the creative, the tech person, the marketer, the decision-maker—all at once. Some days everything feels aligned and full of momentum, and other days you’re questioning every decision you’ve made. It really is a roller coaster.
I’m incredibly lucky to have amazing mentors and people in my corner, but at the end of the day the big decisions still land on my desk. Deciding when to pivot, when to invest, when to slow down, and when to speed up can feel heavy when you’re building something from scratch.
Launching Musical Chess in June 2025 was a huge milestone, but it also opened the door to a whole new world of challenges: developing a web app, stepping onto a digital stage, building a digital learning brand, and ultimately turning a creative teaching idea into scalable edutainment.
Joining GVL Starts Cohort 8 and becoming a finalist was a turning point for me. It pushed me to refine the direction of the company and think much bigger about what Musical Chess could become. That clarity was powerful, but getting there required a lot of experimentation, difficult decisions, and courage.
The beautiful part is that Musical Chess is growing, and I’m now in a position to start bringing in wonderfully talented, creative, and genuinely awesome people. That’s been one of the most rewarding shifts—realizing I don’t have to build this alone anymore. The challenges are still there, but they feel very different when you’re surrounded by people who believe in the vision with you.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At the heart of everything I do is a genuine love for working with children and creating spaces where they feel seen, supported, and excited to learn. Working with young kids is both a joy and a responsibility, because even the smallest interactions can have a lasting impact. A moment might make them smile, help them feel brave enough to try something new, or give them a spark of confidence they didn’t know they had. Knowing I can add something meaningful to a child’s life, even in a small way, is the part of my work I’m most proud of.
What sets my work apart is the way I blend artistry, early childhood education, and thoughtful learning design. I’m not just teaching children how chess works; I’m creating experiences that help them feel capable, curious, and confident. Musical Chess is playful and imaginative, but it’s also developmentally intentional. Every song, movement, and lesson is designed to support the whole child: focus, coordination, emotional regulation, and self-expression. At its core, Musical Chess isn’t just about learning a game—it’s about helping children discover what they’re truly capable of.
I think that’s why families connect with the work. Kids feel seen and supported, and parents feel like they’ve found something that’s both fun and meaningful. At the end of the day, that’s what drives me: helping children grow into their most authentic selves and shine their light a little brighter.
What’s next?
The future of Musical Chess is something we’re actively building right now. It’s an exciting season as we grow our YouTube channel, introduce more families to our Musical Chess web app, and expand into the world of digital learning and children’s edutainment. My biggest goal is simple: to share Musical Chess with as many families as possible while continuing to create meaningful lessons, tools, and creative content that help kids learn, grow, and feel confident.
We’re also listening closely to the families who are already part of the Musical Chess community. Their feedback, ideas, and experiences are helping shape our next ‘act’. In many ways, the families watching our videos, using our web app, sharing Musical Chess with friends, and supporting our Kickstarter are an essential part of the journey. They’re helping us build the world of Musical Chess piece by piece.
As we continue to grow, I’m excited to collaborate with more talented and passionate people who believe in this mission. Together, we’ll keep expanding the world of Musical Chess with new lessons, new games, and new ways for kids to learn through music, movement, and play.
We’re just getting started, and I’m incredibly excited to see what our next move will be!
Pricing:
- The Musical Chess App is designed to be accessible for families. A full year of Musical Chess is $29.99, with a flexible monthly subscription available for $4.99. Every part of the experience is created thoughtfully for young learners, with new lessons, music, and playful learning moments added over time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.playmusicalchess.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playmusicalchess/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playmusicalchess
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/playmusicalchess/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayMusicalChess
- Other: https://app.playmusicalchess.com/
