Sheldon Rocha Leal, PhD
@sheldonrochaleal.bsky.social
Music Educator, Academic, Songwriter, Singer, Writer, Commentator
After 18 years of teaching I’ve been reflecting on the journey and the way the Educational Ecosystem has been sullied by well-meaning, but sometimes misguided parents. This is the topic of my new Medium article. Hope you enjoy 😉
shelrochaleal.medium.com/the-educatio...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/the-educatio...
The Education Crisis Parents Don’t See
by Sheldon Rocha Leal
shelrochaleal.medium.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:58 AM
After 18 years of teaching I’ve been reflecting on the journey and the way the Educational Ecosystem has been sullied by well-meaning, but sometimes misguided parents. This is the topic of my new Medium article. Hope you enjoy 😉
shelrochaleal.medium.com/the-educatio...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/the-educatio...
I was so excited to watch this documentary about Led Zeppelin and it was very disappointing. The whole thing included these massive musical interludes, which although were good, disrupted the storytelling. I started getting very annoyed.
December 31, 2025 at 5:24 AM
I was so excited to watch this documentary about Led Zeppelin and it was very disappointing. The whole thing included these massive musical interludes, which although were good, disrupted the storytelling. I started getting very annoyed.
As we come to the end of 2025 I reflect on one of the most tumultuous & rewarding years of my life. A creative career is demanding, I guess the way one approaches The Journey yields constructive outcomes. My @Medium article explores some these adventures
shelrochaleal.medium.com/the-journey-...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/the-journey-...
The Journey V
by Sheldon Rocha Leal
shelrochaleal.medium.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:04 AM
As we come to the end of 2025 I reflect on one of the most tumultuous & rewarding years of my life. A creative career is demanding, I guess the way one approaches The Journey yields constructive outcomes. My @Medium article explores some these adventures
shelrochaleal.medium.com/the-journey-...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/the-journey-...
I love a good murder mystery and this one was particularly good. Uzo Aduba was excellent in the lead role, who was a modern interpretation of Sherlock Holmes. It’s such a pity that the series was cancelled after the first season, as I thought the concept was so good.
December 26, 2025 at 7:17 PM
I love a good murder mystery and this one was particularly good. Uzo Aduba was excellent in the lead role, who was a modern interpretation of Sherlock Holmes. It’s such a pity that the series was cancelled after the first season, as I thought the concept was so good.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of her Christmas album, Christina Aguilera did a special performance on top of the Eiffel Tower and this is the album. Some of the arrangements are amazing and yet others are a little confusing.
December 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of her Christmas album, Christina Aguilera did a special performance on top of the Eiffel Tower and this is the album. Some of the arrangements are amazing and yet others are a little confusing.
As a music person people always ask me what my favourite songs are and 15 years ago I started writing this series of Medium articles. This is the 2025 edition and features some of my favourite jams of the year. Hope you enjoy 😉
shelrochaleal.medium.com/my-favourite...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/my-favourite...
My Favourite Things 2025: XV
by Sheldon Rocha Leal
shelrochaleal.medium.com
December 26, 2025 at 6:10 AM
As a music person people always ask me what my favourite songs are and 15 years ago I started writing this series of Medium articles. This is the 2025 edition and features some of my favourite jams of the year. Hope you enjoy 😉
shelrochaleal.medium.com/my-favourite...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/my-favourite...
This Chris Isaak album is quite good. Not the best thing I’ve heard but it did the things. He reminded me of Elvis in certain parts. His voice generally works for this genre. Worth a listen, but not the best.
December 25, 2025 at 11:18 AM
This Chris Isaak album is quite good. Not the best thing I’ve heard but it did the things. He reminded me of Elvis in certain parts. His voice generally works for this genre. Worth a listen, but not the best.
I know this movie was slated by critics, but tjarrra I haven’t laughed like this in a very long time. Jack Black killed as “Satan”. Such a cute movie. I mean it was very predictable, but the journey was a vibe.
December 25, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I know this movie was slated by critics, but tjarrra I haven’t laughed like this in a very long time. Jack Black killed as “Satan”. Such a cute movie. I mean it was very predictable, but the journey was a vibe.
This is my #PerformanceObsession and Jam for the day. Robin Thicke is such a phenomenal artist. He just oozes Soul and this song is like a Christmas version of “What A Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers (1979). Hope you enjoy 😉
open.spotify.com/track/44db5y...
open.spotify.com/track/44db5y...
Perfect Holiday
open.spotify.com
December 25, 2025 at 10:03 AM
This is my #PerformanceObsession and Jam for the day. Robin Thicke is such a phenomenal artist. He just oozes Soul and this song is like a Christmas version of “What A Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers (1979). Hope you enjoy 😉
open.spotify.com/track/44db5y...
open.spotify.com/track/44db5y...
Watched this nugget the other night. Jim Carey outdid himself with this performance. This movie did what movies should do and transport the audience to another reality. It is just a classic.
December 24, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Watched this nugget the other night. Jim Carey outdid himself with this performance. This movie did what movies should do and transport the audience to another reality. It is just a classic.
So I thought I’d go down this Christmas road. Bing Crosby is the OG Christmas guy. He is the biggest selling Christmas artist of all time and probably the King of Christmas. This was a real treat. The arrangements and production reminded of a Charles Dickens book.
December 24, 2025 at 5:15 AM
So I thought I’d go down this Christmas road. Bing Crosby is the OG Christmas guy. He is the biggest selling Christmas artist of all time and probably the King of Christmas. This was a real treat. The arrangements and production reminded of a Charles Dickens book.
RIP Chris Rea who passed yesterday from a short illness at the age of 74. The man had such a smooth and haunting voice, who regaled us with 25 studio albums. The soundtrack of my younger years. #ThanksForTheMemories #ThankUForTheMusic #RIP 🙌🏽🙏🏽😞 🕊️
December 23, 2025 at 4:47 AM
RIP Chris Rea who passed yesterday from a short illness at the age of 74. The man had such a smooth and haunting voice, who regaled us with 25 studio albums. The soundtrack of my younger years. #ThanksForTheMemories #ThankUForTheMusic #RIP 🙌🏽🙏🏽😞 🕊️
This Christina Perri album was quite good. Although there were many Christmas standards, at least it was short and to the point. I wasn’t ecstatic about her pronunciation of certain words. Dragging out certain vowel sounds. It was a thing artists did at one point. Agggg. Anyway. Worth a listen.
December 23, 2025 at 4:33 AM
This Christina Perri album was quite good. Although there were many Christmas standards, at least it was short and to the point. I wasn’t ecstatic about her pronunciation of certain words. Dragging out certain vowel sounds. It was a thing artists did at one point. Agggg. Anyway. Worth a listen.
I followed my viewing of “Conclave” with this documentary about Conclaves, just so that I could gain a deeper understanding of how these things actually work. Very interesting.
December 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I followed my viewing of “Conclave” with this documentary about Conclaves, just so that I could gain a deeper understanding of how these things actually work. Very interesting.
Last year I heard most of the albums in this series, about 8 albums. This is the last one in the collection and it’s a collective of the best songs from previous albums. My favourite track is Tom Petty and The Heartbreaker’s “Christmas All Over Again”.
December 21, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Last year I heard most of the albums in this series, about 8 albums. This is the last one in the collection and it’s a collective of the best songs from previous albums. My favourite track is Tom Petty and The Heartbreaker’s “Christmas All Over Again”.
Anything about the Catholic Church interests me and this movie is about the election of a fictitious Pope. I found the whole process really interesting and certainly worth a watch.
December 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Anything about the Catholic Church interests me and this movie is about the election of a fictitious Pope. I found the whole process really interesting and certainly worth a watch.
At the end of every year I reflect on the year that was and my favourite brands. The idea behind this article is to delve into the thinking behind my these brands. This year I have included more South African brand than before. Hope you enjoy 😉
shelrochaleal.medium.com/my-top-10-br...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/my-top-10-br...
My Top 10 Brands of 2025
by Sheldon Rocha Leal
shelrochaleal.medium.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:36 AM
At the end of every year I reflect on the year that was and my favourite brands. The idea behind this article is to delve into the thinking behind my these brands. This year I have included more South African brand than before. Hope you enjoy 😉
shelrochaleal.medium.com/my-top-10-br...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/my-top-10-br...
This song is my #PerformanceObsession of the moment. Marcia Hines was a big star in Australia, but now in her 70s she has decided to release this track, which sounds like it was released in the Disco era.
open.spotify.com/track/0qUSGo...
open.spotify.com/track/0qUSGo...
Christmas Is Groove
open.spotify.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This song is my #PerformanceObsession of the moment. Marcia Hines was a big star in Australia, but now in her 70s she has decided to release this track, which sounds like it was released in the Disco era.
open.spotify.com/track/0qUSGo...
open.spotify.com/track/0qUSGo...
In the last few weeks Kylie has had a No. 1 album and now single, “XMAS”. It is her first No. 1 single since “Slow” (22 years ago). It is also her first Christmas #1, breaking Wham’s two year streak at the Christmas #1.
December 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
In the last few weeks Kylie has had a No. 1 album and now single, “XMAS”. It is her first No. 1 single since “Slow” (22 years ago). It is also her first Christmas #1, breaking Wham’s two year streak at the Christmas #1.
Mariah Carey has now taken back her record. In 1995 Mariah & Boyz II Men broke the record for the longest stay at No1 with “One Sweet Day”, 16 weeks at No1 USA. She held the record for 23 years and then Lil’ Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus took the record in 2018 with “Old Town Road”..
December 19, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Mariah Carey has now taken back her record. In 1995 Mariah & Boyz II Men broke the record for the longest stay at No1 with “One Sweet Day”, 16 weeks at No1 USA. She held the record for 23 years and then Lil’ Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus took the record in 2018 with “Old Town Road”..
This album is a collection of Christmas songs produced by the legendary David Foster, performed by some of the industry’s greatest stars. This album embodies David Foster’s genius as a producer. Definitely with a listen.
December 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
This album is a collection of Christmas songs produced by the legendary David Foster, performed by some of the industry’s greatest stars. This album embodies David Foster’s genius as a producer. Definitely with a listen.
I was reluctant to watch this, but after some convincing, I decided to give it a chance. Tjarrrrr. This is worth a watch. My goodness, there was so much I didn’t know.
December 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I was reluctant to watch this, but after some convincing, I decided to give it a chance. Tjarrrrr. This is worth a watch. My goodness, there was so much I didn’t know.
Pop Music is constantly looking for new inspiration, but the one constant seems to be a love affair with Eastern Musical traditions. In my new Medium I explore this influence and reflect on five Pop songs that embody this reality. Hope you enjoy 😉
shelrochaleal.medium.com/tiger-pop-a4...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/tiger-pop-a4...
Tiger Pop
by Sheldon Rocha Leal
shelrochaleal.medium.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Pop Music is constantly looking for new inspiration, but the one constant seems to be a love affair with Eastern Musical traditions. In my new Medium I explore this influence and reflect on five Pop songs that embody this reality. Hope you enjoy 😉
shelrochaleal.medium.com/tiger-pop-a4...
shelrochaleal.medium.com/tiger-pop-a4...
The first movie didn’t make much sense to me and this one even less. There were so many holes in the storyline, but I must admit the lead actress, Lupita Nyong’o, was exceptional. A true talent.
December 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
The first movie didn’t make much sense to me and this one even less. There were so many holes in the storyline, but I must admit the lead actress, Lupita Nyong’o, was exceptional. A true talent.
This album by Gregory Porter is the perfect balance between old Christmas standards and new compositions. Furthermore, Gregory has the best voice for Christmas. This album is a winner 🏆
December 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
This album by Gregory Porter is the perfect balance between old Christmas standards and new compositions. Furthermore, Gregory has the best voice for Christmas. This album is a winner 🏆