One More Time: Podcast featuring Let's Play Music
- Let's Play Music
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
Art Moore Hosts Kara Olson on 'One More Time' Podcast
Musician, teacher, and podcast producer Art Moore recently interviewed
Let's Play Music teacher Kara Olson on his podcast One More Time, which is dedicated to educators. Art, who teaches Kara’s son guitar, was impressed by the musical skills of her students gained through the Let's Play Music program. Curious about the program’s success, Art asked Kara about solfege, music reading, self-accompaniment, and how LPM consistently produces well-rounded musicians.
Highlights from the Interview:
Art: Can you tell us about Let's Play Music and how you got involved?
Kara: I’ve always loved teaching and music, and Let's Play Music blends both perfectly. I first encountered the program five years ago and was so impressed by the fun and engaging curriculum. I decided to teach it myself, and now I teach it out of my home. The program is a comprehensive three-year curriculum designed to develop a complete musician, not just a piano player or singer.
Art: So, it’s not just piano and voice?
Kara: Exactly. We cover solfege, rhythm, voice, and piano all together. One of the main methods we use is solfege, which helps kids visualize and feel pitch relationships.
Art: I love solfege but don’t know how to teach it. Can you explain it?
Kara: Solfege is a method of teaching pitch using hand signs and syllables (Do, Re, Mi, etc.). It helps develop a child’s ability to sing in tune and understand pitch relationships. We use it from the very start, starting with simple songs like “Do-Re-Mi” from The Sound of Music. Through movement and games, children internalize these patterns and learn to identify them in songs.
Art: How do kids react to solfege?
Kara: Kids love it! It’s interactive and fun. They start with simple movements and progress to playing it on tone bells and piano. They gain an ear for pitch and rhythm, which builds their confidence as musicians.
Art: What other concepts do you teach?
Kara: We emphasize full-body movement, which helps children internalize concepts like rhythm. We use games and chants to teach steady beat and rhythmic patterns, such as our “bug” chant, which introduces kids to rhythms in a playful way.
Art: What about music notation?
Kara: We introduce notation gradually. For rhythmic notation, we use “bug” images to represent different note values. For melodic notation, we use a magnetic staff and songs like “The Red Balloon” to help them understand steps and skips on the staff.
Art: So, songs for everything?
Kara: Yes! Songs are a core part of the program. They help kids remember concepts and apply them as they grow. Even my older children still remember the songs and use them in their current music lessons.
Art: What makes LPM so successful?
Kara: LPM focuses on starting music education early, around age 4 or 5, when children are most receptive to learning. They begin by learning chords and accompaniment before melody, which gives them a strong foundation. We also emphasize self-accompaniment, where children play chords on instruments like the autoharp and piano.
Art: How do students transition to traditional music lessons?
Kara: After completing LPM, students are well-prepared for private lessons. They have a strong musical foundation in rhythm, pitch, and harmony, which makes traditional lessons easier. We also help connect teachers to LPM graduates to continue their musical development.
Art: Where can people learn more about LPM?
Kara: Visit www.letsplaymusicsite.com to find teachers in your area and learn about the program. We also offer Sound Beginnings, a program for kids ages 2-4, which introduces them to music through songs and movement.
Let's Play Music is available nationwide, with teachers in many states. The program, founded in Mesa, Arizona, is built on the Kodály method and has grown rapidly since its inception.
Art: It’s incredible what LPM offers. I’ll be referring more people to it!
Kara Olson teaches Let's Play Music and Sound Beginnings in South Jordan, Utah. To find out more about her classes, visit the website.
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