The Power of Music

Song: "Trenchtown Rock" by Bob Marley & The Wailers

When I first had my son, Marley, I wanted to find a place that offered community and where he could learn and grow through a culturally enriching environment. I loved music and he loved music. But there were very few places that offered the diversity and creative outlet I was looking for.

So, God had placed this idea on my heart that I was, admittedly, ignoring because starting a business? How, Sway?! I had a full-time job, a baby, and a husband. How could I possibly start a business? Well, after obsessing pondering for months about how this thing could actually look, I finally gave in and that’s how Trap Baby & Me came to be: a space for children to learn and develop through music.

It is undeniable that music has profound effects on how we view and experience the world. I see first-hand how it positively impacts Marley and the children that have engaged with our program.

Read on.

Music and Child Development

Children love music. With influential songs like “Baby Shark” by Pinkfong and “Veggie Dance” by Gracie’s Corner, kids music has taken a viral leap across the globe.

While it might seem like just an exciting pastime, music plays an important role in early childhood development, fostering cognitive, motor, and social-emotional skills. Dancing, singing, playing, or listening to music isn’t just fun for your kids, it’s helping them build lasting skills like improved memory, problem-solving, social-emotional awareness, and language development that can be transferred into their daily lives. Music engages almost every part of the brain, stimulating growth in a natural way.

Cognitive Development

a. Language Development

Music is a fundamental part of learning languages. It strengthens the brain’s ability to process and distinguish sounds. Lyrics, rhythms, and melodies are associated with language performance, they allow children to break down the structures of grammar. Introducing children to a diverse selection of music exposes them to new vocabulary, strengthening their language comprehension skills. Children enjoy listening to the sound of their parents’ voices, so singing, as researchers have found, can lead to greater language fluency.

b. Memory

Music helps improve memory. There is evidence that supports children who undergo musical training have higher efficiency in attentional and memory processes, this extends to social development that is caused when people sing, play music or dance together in unison. Just try stating the ABCs without that familiar melody. A little difficult, isn’t it? This is all due to repetition and pattern recognition. Music has sequences and patterns within its melodies and lyrics that make it easier to learn anticipated placements, fueling critical thinking in areas like math, reading, and science.

c. Problem-Solving

Children are inquisitive about the world. Music becomes a channel through which they can develop their problem-solving skills. Constant exposure to music can improve executive functions such as planning, organization, and task-switching. Listening to music helps children focus on attention to detail. These analytical abilities are probably why they can pick up on even the smallest sounds in the background of songs. Rhythm, beat, and timing are all elements requiring mathematical decision-making and reasoning, reinforcing their math skills.

Cognitive Development at the Trap

I’ve interacted with children for years and love to teach them. I’m big on transferable skills that will serve children in the future, especially as an environmental engineer myself. Music can directly influence how children process information, whether it’s a simple beat or learning the colors of the rainbow. Trap Baby & Me classes seek to advance your child’s growth in language, memory, problem-solving, and other cognitive functions. 

We accommodate your child's personal growth. Some kids learn at different rates than others. I remember at one of our first classes, there was a 6-year-old girl who kind of kept to herself. She was observing what was going on and taking time for herself to get accustomed to the environment. A few days later, her mom contacted me to let me know that when they left the class, her daughter was singing some of the songs from the lesson and having a great time. This moment beautifully illustrates a key part of cognitive development: children often absorb and process new experiences internally before expressing what they’ve learned. Memory, attention, and understanding were all at work. So, Trap Baby & Me tries to offer a comforting space while also giving boundaries when needed.

Motor Skills

a. Fine Motor Skills

Tactile engagement is valuable to a child's physical health. Music allows them to practice fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination and concentration. Playing instruments or fingerplay songs supports reaching and grasping capabilities, developing the small muscles in children’s hands. These tiny movements are important for dexterity and fluid motion as they grow.

b. Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills like dancing, jumping, and bouncing along to music helps balance and coordination. Music is a stimulating experience! Infants and toddlers move their hands, arms, feet, legs, and torsos, slowly building strength and mobility. Fast and slow music help children gain spatial awareness by moving to the rhythm of the beat and matching the pace of the song. Musical activities prompt children to figure out how their bodies work and operate.

Motor Skills at the Trap

When starting Trap Baby & Me, I wanted to highlight the importance of movement, having a space where children can be active and engaged through music. We incorporate interactive learning into my classes and events, using phrases like “freeze” or “stomp” to describe how they should move their bodies. It shows that they’re listening to instructions, physically being active, and hopefully these lessons can be used by parents at home.

The experience wouldn’t be complete without instruments. Leveraging instruments like drums, tambourines, and shakers gives kids the chance to explore music through touch and sound. Playing an instrument encourages independent fine motor movements and group synergy. Curious little ones imitate what they see, so by the end of the class, most are banging on drums together in a choir of melodies.

A moment I will never forget is when a baby sat up for the first time in a class. It was a proud day for the parents. For me, it had not even occurred to me that this might happen in one of my classes! But it showed me that the impact that Trap Baby & Me can have for families is beyond what I could even plan for.

Social-Emotional Learning

a. Social Awareness

Being involved in music can nurture leadership, strengthen collaboration and communication, and build healthy relationships. It helps children learn to perceive social cues. They observe body language, facial expressions, vocal tones, and personal space. A 2021 study from SAGE Journals found that children involved in group music lessons exhibited higher levels of empathy and emotional regulation. Singing with a parent or sharing an instrument with a friend enhances a child's social awareness.

b. Self-Expression

Music is a form of self-expression. It helps children process their emotions and articulate how they feel. It shows high levels of emotional intelligence when a child can understand their own emotions and the emotions of others. They learn how to respond to others, overcome challenges, and maintain relationships.

This results in deeper connections, whether familial or with their peers.

c. Culture

Music is a part of someone’s identity. Music is cultural. Children listen to the songs and absorb the dances that have been passed down for generations. It’s an introduction to heritage that’s both profound and emotional, preserving diverse musical traditions and reinforcing a shared sense of belonging. Not only that, cultures are meant to be shared. Music opens the door for cultural exchange between individuals, groups, and countries.

Music is also just fun to listen to! Hearing a song you enjoy, instantly brightens your mood. The music you listen to influences how you feel and react. Hype music gets you excited, emotional music makes you sad and teary eyed, and relaxing music has you feeling mellow. Celebrating music at festivals, concerts or small gatherings is fun for everyone involved.

Social-Emotional Learning at the Trap

Navigating work and making time for your child is difficult. It’s important for your child to have social interactions with children their age. That’s one of the main reasons for the existence of Trap Baby & Me. I created this space so my son could not only make connections by talking and playing with other children, but also for parents to spend quality time with their little ones and bond more personally. The memories made will forever be cemented in your family.

It isn’t always just songs and activities for the kids, these classes are for the parents too. We put on a little bit of Busta Rhymes or Lil’ Kim because it’s music that we love and want to experience with our children. One thing about our classes is that the adults are having fun- moms, dads, and grandparents! 

One of the greatest things that has come out of our classes and events is seeing the parents meet and get acquainted with one another. It feels like we’re all creating a community of friends we can share experiences with, catch up with, and even show each other cute pictures of our kids.

Support Music Learning

Music is a powerful tool with the range to inspire, cultivate, and unite. It brings joy but also promotes learning in early childhood. From clapping their hands to pressing the keys of a piano, children are developing cognitive, motor, and social-emotional skills.

Parents can get in on the action too, by doing musical activities like playing instruments, finding sing-alongs, or even just turning on music while eating lunch. Families can also join Trap Baby & Me at events and classes throughout the year, connecting through music, movement, and play.

Ready to incorporate the power of music into your child's growth and development?

Click here for class details and registration

And follow our social media pages for updates @trapbabyandme.

Song: "Trenchtown Rock" by Bob Marley & The Wailers

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Resources:

East End Arts. (2024, September 11). Sound heritage: The role of music in shaping cultural identity. East End Arts. https://eastendarts.org/music-and-cultural-identity/

Forbes Music Company. (2023, July 29). How music enhances cognitive abilities and boosts learning. https://www.forbesmusic.com/how-music-enhances-cognitive-abilities-and-boosts-learning/

The Importance of music in early childhood | UMD College of Education. (2024, May 10). https://education.umd.edu/importance-music-early-childhood

Music in child development | HeadStart.gov. (2025, February 25). HeadStart.gov. https://headstart.gov/curriculum/article/music-child-development

Miendlarzewska, E. A., & Trost, W. J. (2014). How musical training affects cognitive development: Rhythm, reward and other modulating variables. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 7, Article 279. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2013.00279

Pino, M. C., Giancola, M., & D’Amico, S. (2023). The association between music and language in children: A state-of-the-art review. Children, 10(5), 801. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10050801

Positive Action. (n.d.). Social awareness: An introductory guide. https://www.positiveaction.net/blog/social-awareness

Professional, C. C. M. (2025, March 19). Fine motor skills. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/25235-fine-motor-skills

Rosen, P. (2024, April 2). Emotional intelligence: What it means for kids. Understood. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-importance-of-emotional-intelligence-for-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences

Tanja, L., Adriana, S. G., & Mari, T. (2021). Perspectives on the potential benefits of children’s group-based music education. Music & Science, 4. https://doi.org/10.1177/20592043211033578

Wright, L. W. (2024, April 2). 4 types of social cues. Understood. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/4-types-of-social-cues