Making Moves: Meet Musical Chess, a Fresh New Find for Greenville Families

At Ducklinks, we love to support and celebrate local parents who create meaningful experiences for families, by families. It’s why we spotlight local, quality experiences that are thoughtfully designed with real family life in mind—ones that reflect the rhythm, joy, and beautiful chaos of raising good humans.

Introducing Musical Chess, a standout new program for young learners created right here in Greenville, South Carolina by mom-preneur and creative educator, Adrienne Tellier. With roots in both music and strategy, this program brings together movement, melody, and the art of chess—all in a playful, developmentally rich environment for kids ages 2½ to 7.

Musical Chess isn’t just innovative—it’s intentional. Adrienne brings both professional expertise and lived parenting experience into every element of her classes — a blend of brilliance that we at Ducklinks love most.

This week, we connected with Adrienne to learn more about her journey, the “why” behind Musical Chess, and how she’s shaping something beautiful for families in our community.

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Interview with Adrienne Tellier, Musical Chess Founder

Adrienne, share your Greenville story. What brought you here—and what’s helped you feel at home?

I moved to Greenville from New York City, where I spent years working in education and the arts. My husband and I were ready for a place that felt welcoming and vibrant but also offered a slower, more connected pace of life to start our family. Greenville was exactly that.

As a mom, I love how easy it is to find community here. Whether it’s meeting other parents at the park, exploring local shops, or just running into familiar faces at events, Greenville feels both accessible and close-knit. It’s been the perfect place to plant roots, raise my son, and launch Musical Chess.

Outside of your business, what do you and your family love doing together around town?

We love getting outside and exploring all the local parks. Some of our favorites are Unity Park, Trailblazer Park, and Runway Park. We also enjoy walking around the lake at Furman. When we have more time, we’ll head out for hikes at Paris Mountain for the convenience or venture to Table Rock and Jones Gap.

Greenville has such a great food scene. We love finding new spots to eat—Hey Day and Other Lands are both family-friendly favorites (and fun fact: they’ll be hosting Musical Chess classes this fall!).

When we’re not outside, you can usually find us at classes at The Bunny Hive, at the library for storytime, or just on a playdate with friends. There’s always something happening here for families.

What inspired you, as a local mom and creative educator, to create Musical Chess?

Musical Chess was really born from the blending of many parts of my life and experience—my love for working with children, my background in the arts and music, my time teaching chess to young kids, and the entrepreneurial skills I developed while wearing many hats at an educational startup. While working as a teaching artist in New York City, I saw firsthand how much confidence, focus, and joy kids could gain when chess was introduced in a playful, approachable way.

Becoming a parent deepened that passion. I felt an even stronger pull to create something that supported the whole child—not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well. After several years of living here, Greenville felt like the kind of place where something like Musical Chess could truly thrive—a community full of creative families, supportive local businesses, and a genuine excitement for new ideas.

I believe children are born loving to learn—it’s our job to nurture that innate spark. I wanted to build a program that felt fresh and accessible, where kids could move their bodies, be themselves, and grow in meaningful ways. Watching it come to life here has been such a gift.

How is Musical Chess different from other children’s programs in Greenville?

From the beginning, I wanted Musical Chess to fill a unique space—one that supports early childhood development with both intention and imagination. There are so many wonderful options for kids in Greenville, and I saw an opportunity to add something new to the mix: a program that blends creative expression with meaningful skill-building in a way that feels natural and joyful to young children.

What makes Musical Chess refreshing is how intentional it is. Every song, movement, and concept is designed with the whole child in mind—cognitively, physically, and emotionally. We’re not rushing kids to master the rules. We’re helping them build focus, coordination, social-emotional skills, and confidence in a way that’s meaningful and developmentally appropriate.

We also take care to make our classes feel warm and welcoming. There's no pressure to perform or "get it right." It’s about exploration, joy, and seeing each child for who they are. The result is that kids surprise themselves with what they can do—and they have a blast doing it.

How has parenting in Greenville shaped how you designed the program?

Becoming a parent changed how I see everything—including how children learn and what they truly need to thrive. Experiencing Greenville as both a mom and an educator has helped me design Musical Chess in a way that feels realistic, thoughtful, and deeply supportive of young families.

I understand the rhythm of life with small kids—the ups and downs, the transitions, the need for flexibility, and the magic of small moments. That perspective shows up in everything from the length of our classes to the structure of our curriculum. I wanted families to feel like they could show up as they are and have a meaningful experience—without needing a background in music or chess, or a perfectly behaved toddler.

Pairing that lived experience with my professional background in arts education and curriculum development allows me to approach Musical Chess with both heart and strategy. Every activity is rooted in child development and designed to feel like play, while also laying a strong foundation for skills like critical thinking, self-regulation, and confidence.

What can families expect from a Musical Chess class?

A Musical Chess class is full of movement, music, and discovery. In just the first lesson, kids learn how the king moves—and by the end of our 7-week Act One, they’ll confidently know how every piece on the board moves.

Act Two puts it all together to learn how to play an actual game of chess. From there, moving into Act Three and on, students will explore concepts such as opening and end game strategy, middle game tactics, and so on.

Each class blends imaginative play with real skill-building. We sing original songs in a circle, march like chess pieces across a life-sized board, giggle through silly games, and tackle age-appropriate chess challenges on the board. It’s active, joyful learning—designed to spark curiosity and grow confidence with every move.

Musical Chess is beginner-friendly. How do you help families feel at ease?

We keep it light, playful, and totally beginner-friendly—with familiar songs, goofiness, and thoughtfully crafted challenges designed just for early learners. Parents can feel confident that their child will have a good time, no matter how well they “sit still” or how much they already know. We meet kids where they are and help them shine.

Tell us more about the different formats you offer.

Flexibility is key for families today, and we’ve structured Musical Chess to reflect that. Our community “Acts” follow a progressive path and give families a consistent rhythm to follow week by week. Musical Chess Jams offer a more casual, drop-in option—perfect for practicing skills, exploring at your own pace, or just adding a little extra fun to the week. Private lessons allow for one-on-one or small group learning tailored to each child’s pace and interests, while our school-based programs bring the experience directly into kids’ daily routines—making it easy and accessible for busy families. No matter the format, our goal is to meet families where they are and make meaningful learning part of their lives.

How has the Greenville community responded?

The response has been heartwarming. Greenville families have welcomed Musical Chess with so much enthusiasm and curiosity—it’s clear that there was a desire for something fresh and meaningful for young learners.

We’ve seen kids light up with pride after mastering a new piece or solving a challenge, and parents often share how their children come home singing songs from class or “teaching” them how the knight moves. One of my favorite moments was when a 3-year-old looked down at her black and white polka-dot dress, swayed side to side, and said, “The bishops would love me.” She had just learned how one bishop moves on black and one on white—and she saw herself in that moment. It was funny, sweet, and showed exactly what we hope to create: joyful connection and confidence.

The community has also embraced us through partnerships with local businesses, schools, and parent networks. It’s been incredible to see how quickly Musical Chess has become a part of Greenville’s growing family landscape.

What’s next for Musical Chess?

I’d love to continue deepening Musical Chess’s roots in Greenville—partnering with more schools, expanding class offerings, and connecting with even more families who are excited about imaginative, whole-child learning. Long-term, I’d love to see Musical Chess in communities across the Southeast and beyond—anywhere kids can discover how much they’re capable of through music and play. I have a few other ideas up my sleeve but you'll just have to follow along to see how those reveal themselves. But for now, I’m focused on growing thoughtfully—right here in a city that’s already given us so much support and inspiration.

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Ready to make your move?

Explore Musical Chess classes on the Ducklinks Dashboard

Public classes are available at convenient Greenville locations. Private lessons and school-based programs are also offered. Learn more at www.musicalchessgvl.com

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