A recent article in The Globe & Mail (Sat. Nov. 7, "The link between exercise and more brainpower" by Anne McIlroy) got me thinking, once again, about the importance of music in our children's lives.  McIlroy's article discusses the benefits that students are having from programs in which they exercise vigorously during the school day.  Exercise affects the executive functions of the brain, those skills that relate to focusing on a task and then completing it.  Music lessons also improve executive functions.  The benefits of music have been discussed for years and there are lots of articles that link music instruction to improved academic performance and mental discipline as well as increased self-esteem and teamwork ability.  To read more about children and music, try one of these titles: 615.8515 Cam   The Mozart effect for children:  awakening your child's mind, health, and creativity with music 780.7 Phi   Give your child music 780.77 Cas   Your child needs music 780.77 Gre   Your children need music : a guide for parents and teachers of young children Music instruction is a wonderful thing to give your children and you can prepare your child from birth for future engagement with music.  Most of our branches offer Books for Babies, a half-hour program that combines music, stories, and rhymes and the system has a large collection of compact discs with music especially designed for babies and children.  There is everything from classical music (The best of Mozart), to rock (21 really cool songs by the Sugar Beats), to lullabies (the Rockabye baby! series), to jazz (Jazz Baby), to traditional songs (What will we do with the baby-o? by Theo Heras), to original compilations (Snacktime! by the Barenaked Ladies). All our storytimes, whether for babies, tots or 3-5s, include some form of music or rhythm such as singing, chants, dancing, "singable" books like Froggie went a-courtin', instruments like shakers and tambourines, clapping, nursery rhyme raps or kazoos.  Shake, Rattle & Read, a storytime for 3-5s, combines music and picture books organized around a theme.  So, don't wait until your child is old enough for private music lessons or learns to play an instrument in school, put music in your child's life from the very start.  And don't worry if you think you can't carry a tune.  Your child will still love singing with you.