diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/sound/SoundPlayer.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/sound/SoundPlayer.java
index 0d9787f4..854bad28 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/sound/SoundPlayer.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/sound/SoundPlayer.java
@@ -116,6 +116,18 @@ public abstract class SoundPlayer
         return (!_disabledTypes.contains(type));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Is sound on and is the specified soundtype enabled?
+     */
+    public boolean shouldPlay (SoundType type)
+    {
+        if (type == null) {
+            type = DEFAULT; // let the lazy kids play too
+        }
+
+        return _clipVol != 0f && isEnabled(type);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Turns on or off the specified sound type.
      */
@@ -250,15 +262,6 @@ public abstract class SoundPlayer
      */
     protected abstract Frob loop (String pkgPath, String key, float pan);
 
-    protected boolean shouldPlay (SoundType type)
-    {
-        if (type == null) {
-            type = DEFAULT; // let the lazy kids play too
-        }
-
-        return _clipVol != 0f && isEnabled(type);
-    }
-
     /**
      * Gets the run queue on which sound should be played. It defaults to {@link RunQueue#AWT}.
      */