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"I didn't grow up with the arts," my friend Shelley complained over coffee recently.

"I wish I had. I'd like to give my kids some exposure to art and music, but I'm not really sure where to start."

Shelley was asking me for advice, not because of any music or art degree (I have neither), but she'd noticed my kids either da-da-da-da-ing along with Beethoven's Fifth, rehearsing lines from Shakespeare, or studying a book of French Impressionism. Maybe she was struck that they seemed comfortable and unembarrassed—as though Mozart was as valid a teen choice today as 'NSync.

I was like Shelley once—intimidated by high-brow culture. I grew up in a home where country music and black velvet paintings were the rule. My mom was too exhausted from eking out a living to do much more than laundry on the weekend. I thought concerts and museums were only for school field trips.

But as a young mother, I was in a position to change that for my kids. From my Montessori training, I knew that the best time to introduce kids to anything was the early years, when all the windows of opportunity were wide open.

In 1998, Georgia, South Dakota, and Tennessee hospitals began sending parents of newborns home not only with disposable diapers but also with Mozart CDs. In Florida, legislation was introduced requiring government-funded child care centers to play classical music.

These innovations were spurred by studies showing that classical music improves academic performance. Now, just a few years later, parents and teachers can buy background Bach for study time. And the studies continue: one shows that 3-5 year olds improve their spatial-temporal reasoning (the basis for engineering and math) after 6 months of piano lessons.

Above and beyond these fringe benefits, though, classical music is a rich addition to any child's life. And the earlier it's introduced, the better.

Try a little Mozart in the morning, a little Brahms at night. You'll find that a background of calm classical music will even out the tone during those cranky times. If you thought of classical music as something for older folks, you'll be surprised at how even the youngest family members will perk up their ears at the first measure. If you're not sure where to start, check the music store's children's section for new classical CDs featuring works that hold the most kid appeal. There are even opera selections available with children in mind.

An added blessing for believing parents: some of the most inspired classical works are part of our Christian heritage. Handel's Messiah, for example, is a major work consisting solely of prophecies about Jesus and Scriptures from his life, death, and resurrection. Listening to these verses set to rich music and sung by the world's greatest voices can be a powerful reinforcement of your family's faith—especially at Christmas and Easter.

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