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Note: This blog post accompanies The Latina Mom Legacy Podcast Episode 705 with Maddie Welch, an inspiring conversation on the power of music for raising bilingual kids, nurturing heritage, and building community. Here, you’ll find the episode’s key moments, action-ready takeaways, and quotes to spark your own joyful bilingual journey. ¡A cantar y bailar se ha dicho!
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Check out Fiesta musical - En Casa by going to www.cybconline.com. Use our special promo code MILEGASI and you will get 10% off the course at checkout.
What if supporting your child’s Spanish and cultural roots was as simple (and fun) as putting on a favorite song? In this uplifting episode, I sit down with Maddie Welch, Boricua bilingual educator and founder of Canta y Baila Conmigo. Together, we explore how music (not just passive listening), but singing, moving, and connecting, can be a game-changer for language development, memory, and heart-felt family connection.
Whether you’re a musical mami or can barely carry a tune, you’ll leave inspired to integrate music into your daily routines, discover heritage songs, and maybe even lead bilingual music classes in your community!
Timestamps & What You’ll Discover
02:07 – Maddie’s Bilingual Upbringing & Musical Roots
Hear Maddie’s early memories of music in Puerto Rico: from family singalongs to school choirs, showing how authentic music carries and preserves both language and culture.
07:40 – Music, Memory, and the Developing Brain
Discover why music and language are processed in overlapping (but not identical) parts of the brain, and how both boost memory, executive function, and even empathy.
10:59 – Cultural Belonging Through Song
Janny shares her daughter’s story of learning Bulgarian folk songs and why knowing the music of your heritage creates a profound sense of belonging and identity.
14:10 – What is Canta y Baila Conmigo?
Learn about Maddie’s Spanish immersion music and movement program for kids 0–5 (and their grown-ups!). The philosophy? Don’t just “learn vocabulary” acquire language through joyful, shared music grounded in authentic Latin American traditions.
20:22 – Bringing Canta y Baila Conmigo to Your Community
Curious about teaching bilingual music classes—or starting a class for your own little? Maddie explains how moms (and anyone with musical passion) can train, get support, and change lives while building a flexible business.
25:25 – Easy, Everyday Ways to Use Music at Home
Get practical tips: Don’t just have music in the background, interact! Think dance parties, homemade maracas, and singing with abandon (perfect voice not required).
27:25 – How to Connect With Maddie & Find a Class
Where to find Canta y Baila Conmigo classes (now in 30–40+ locations, plus online), and how to join the movement!
29:52 – Fast Round: Maddie’s Latinx Legacy, Traditions & Bilingual Dreams
Hear Maddie’s reflections on heritage, food traditions, remedies, and what she wants her family’s legacy to be.
Quick Bilingual Parenting Takeaways:
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Making music together (not just listening!) supercharges language and cultural learning.
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Real songs from your own (or your partner’s) heritage transmit culture and create belonging.
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It’s not about being “musical,” it’s about presence and enthusiasm. Your child’s favorite singer is you!
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Music can take many forms in daily life: singing lullabies, drumming on Tupperware, spontaneous dance parties, just get moving and connecting.
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Programs like Canta y Baila Conmigo empower both kids and bilingual moms to engage, build community, and even start their own businesses!
About Maddie Welch
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Bilingual educator, musician, and native Spanish speaker from San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University and an M.A. in Bilingual Education from Boston University
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Over 10 years of experience teaching bilingual preschool and elementary students in Massachusetts
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Founder of Canta y Baila Conmigo, inspired by her passion for music, teaching, and raising bilingual children
Viral Quotes from the Episode
Maddie Welch:
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"Music carries language and culture with it. The music of a people is their story and their belonging."
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"I want everybody to be proud of who they are of, remain proud of who they are, especially in this. In this world, which can be so contrary to that. To share who they authentically are, to not grab onto their roots so much so they don't grow, but to go ahead and carry it with them. And if. If participating in music class or getting inspired by. By the music that I've recorded over the years, that helps you with that, that is legacy enough for me."
Janny Perez:
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"Singing, dancing, and sharing songs from your heritage create deep bonds and a strong sense of belonging. Don't worry about perfection. Your enthusiasm and presence matter more than your voice."
Resources Mentioned in the Podcast
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Canta y Baila Conmigo– Maddie’s music-based bilingual resource for families. Check out Fiesta musical - En Casa by going to www.cybconline.com. Use our special promo code MILEGASI and you will get 10% off the course at checkout.
How You Can Support & Engage
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Apply to Be a Guest – Share your bilingual parenting story!
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Leave a Review – Apple Podcast or Spotify. Your feedback helps more families discover the show.
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Join the Newsletter – La Lista at Milegasi.com. Get exclusive tips, printables, and updates!
Interested in Sponsoring the Show? Reach an engaged bilingual parenting community. Contact us → Sponsorship info
Connect on Social Media
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Instagram: @milegasi
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Threads: @milegasi
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Podcast Instagram: @thelatinamomlegacy
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Pinterest: @milegasi
Final Thoughts
Music is more than entertainment, it’s a bridge to language, memory, and our roots. Don’t aim for perfection aim for connection. Through song, rhythm, and shared movement, you create a legacy your abuela would be proud of.
Keep singing, keep connecting, and pass on your heritage one song at a time.
Want more inspiration and actionable bilingual parenting strategies? Visit milegasi.com and cantaibailaconmigo.com.
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