If you’ve ever peeked into one of our classes, you know what it looks like on the surface: children singing, dancing, banging on drums, shaking egg shakers, laughing, and sometimes just sitting quietly and taking it all in. It’s joyful, it’s musical, and it’s a little bit chaotic in the best possible way.
But there’s something deeper happening underneath all that perceived chaos.
Music education - especially in the early years - isn’t just about learning to keep a beat or match pitch. It’s about supporting whole-child development in a way that’s joyful, natural, and incredibly effective. Here's how:
Music is full of patterns - melodic, rhythmic, structural. When children experience and play with these patterns, they’re actually strengthening the same part of the brain that supports math and language development. Every time your child anticipates a beat drop (you won't believe it when you see how little babies can do this!), sings the “la la la” part of a song before it comes, or imitates a rhythm pattern, they’re building neural connections that support memory, sequencing, and problem-solving.
Singing helps children hear the subtleties of speech - pitch, tone, and rhythm. This is called "prosody," and it’s a foundational piece of early literacy. Babies who babble along with music or toddlers who sing nonsense syllables are actually laying the groundwork for clearer speech, stronger vocabulary, and better reading comprehension as they grow older.
Plus, musical play encourages turn-taking and communication, both key pieces in early language development.
Music invites children into shared experiences. When we all sing the same song or move in the same way, we’re creating a sense of connection. In early childhood, this matters so much. Group music-making helps children practice empathy, cooperation, emotional expression, and even self-regulation.
And for shy or hesitant children, music offers a safe way to participate - whether they’re singing full voice or just swaying gently to the rhythm they are always a part of our music-making circle and are welcome to participate in whatever way they like.
Clapping, drumming, spinning, jumping, tapping sticks together - these aren’t just fun; they’re supporting both gross and fine motor development. Coordinated movement to a steady beat helps children develop balance, timing, and body awareness - all of which are essential for everyday tasks and school readiness.
One of the most beautiful aspects of Music Together® is the way it brings parents and caregivers into the learning process. When you sing with your child, even if you think you’re “not musical,” you’re modeling joy, connection, and presence. That’s powerful. Children don’t care if you’re in tune - they care that you’re with them.
At City Lights Music Together, we believe music is every child’s birthright - not just because it’s fun (although it is!), but because it supports development across every domain in the most natural way: through play, connection, and joy.
And the best part? You get to be part of it.