Episode Details

What if supporting your students didn’t rely on more practice—but on what happens at home? In this episode, Leslie Merritt shares how parents can play a powerful role in their child’s musical development through simple, consistent listening habits. Her approach removes pressure, builds confidence, and helps students connect more deeply with music in a natural and enjoyable way.

• Leslie explains that consistent listening at home builds a child’s musical foundation.
• She introduces “music immersion” as a simple alternative to theory-heavy learning.
• Parents are encouraged to use daily listening instead of structured teaching at home.
• Leslie highlights that familiarity with music improves lesson engagement and confidence.
• She explains that children learn music naturally through repeated exposure.
• The “press play” habit is presented as an easy, low-pressure routine for families.
• Leslie emphasizes that parents do not need musical training to support their child.
• She discusses how music can help regulate emotions and create calm at home.
• Exposure to a wide variety of composers strengthens musical awareness.
• Leslie reinforces that empowering parents leads to more consistent student progress.

Links Mentioned

• Leslie's Instagram page:@composerstudyclub
• Get your TopMusicLive 2026 On Demand Pass here.

Today's Guest

Leslie Merritt is a dedicated music educator and the founder of the Composer Study Club, a program designed to help parents integrate classical music into their children's daily lives with ease. With over 20 years of teaching experience and as a mother of three, Merritt developed her "easy music at home" method to bridge the gap between academic music theory and joyful, low-stress family learning. Her philosophy centers on the belief that music is a foundational tool for developmental readiness—helping children build critical listening skills and emotional regulation through consistent exposure rather than memorization. Through her digital community, she advocates for a balanced approach to music history, frequently highlighting the contributions of often-overlooked women composers alongside historical masters to show that "music is for everyone". Her mission is to empower parents, regardless of their own musical background, to create calmer, more connected homes through curated playlists and simple "press-play" habits.

About Rachel Ehring

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.

• Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
• Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
• Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
• Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

Thank you for tuning in!