Founded in 1886, The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) is a renowned leader in music education, setting the benchmark for curriculum, assessment, performance training, teacher certification, and transformative arts-based social programs.
RCM’s mission – to unlock human potential through music and the arts – is driven by the conviction that the arts are among the most powerful tools for personal growth and community impact.
The Royal Conservatory of Music Smart Start, launched in 2014 at RCM’s Marilyn Thomson Early Childhood Education Centre and offered through the Oscar Peterson School of Music in Toronto, has been rigorously studied by RCM’s Neuroscience Research Centre, demonstrating measurable gains in children’s perceptual, linguistic, and cognitive development.
For more than two decades, RCM has pioneered arts-based programs that address pressing social challenges—from empowering at-risk youth to nurturing early childhood development and promoting wellness for seniors.
Created to Unlock Every Child’s Potential
The Royal Conservatory of Music developed RCM Smart Start to unlock every child’s potential during the most important years of brain development.
- Aligned with RCM’s mission: This program reflects The Royal Conservatory’s vision to transform lives through music and to use the arts as a powerful tool for education, well-being, and human development.
- Early brain development: The first years of life are critical for growth. Music engages multiple areas of the brain at once, strengthening memory, attention, language, and emotional development.
- Building foundational skills: RCM Smart Start goes beyond music—it nurtures curiosity, confidence, creativity, and social-emotional skills that support lifelong learning.
- Accessibility and impact: With a structured, scalable design, RCM Smart Start empowers parents, educators, and institutions to integrate the arts into early education in a meaningful, research-driven way.
People Behind the Program
The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) is one of the largest and most respected music education institutions in the world, providing the definitive standard of excellence in curriculum design, assessment, performance training, teacher certification, and arts-based social programs.
RCM Smart Start was developed side by side with neuroscientists and pedagogues, ensuring a research-backed and high-quality program. Our in-house teams — including programmers, certified educators, and development leaders — collaborate to create a seamless, engaging, and effective learning experience.
The program builds on the foundational work of Sean Hutchins and Catherine West, combining innovative research with practical classroom application to empower educators and enrich children’s development
Dr. Sean Hutchins
Director of Research at The Royal Conservatory and founder of its Research Centre, Dr. Hutchins is a neuroscientist specializing in music cognition. His research shaped and validated RCM Smart Start’s evidence-based curriculum.
Catherine West
Former Pedagogy Leader at The Royal Conservatory, Catherine co-developed RCM Smart Start, drawing on her expertise in early childhood music education and teacher training to craft its innovative curriculum.
The Royal Conservatory’s Smart Start program wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our champions. Special thanks to:
Temerty Foundation, David Thomson & Severine Nackers, TELUS, Heather Edwards,
The Krawczyk Family Foundation, and The Sidney E. Frank Foundation
Your vision and commitment help bring RCM Smart Start to life and empower the next generation of learners through music.