Age: 6 months – 3 years
Sessions: September – December | January – March | April – June
Locations: Richmond, Kerrisdale, UBC

Musical experiences in early childhood have been shown to significantly accelerate brain development, particularly in crucial areas such as language acquisition, reading skills, and mathematical learning. These formative years are pivotal for laying the foundation of a child’s future academic and cognitive success. Music not only boosts intellectual capabilities but also plays a vital role in the development of social-emotional skills and overall literacy. Engaging with music helps children express themselves, interact with others, and develop empathy and communication skills.

SmartStart™, an early childhood music education program developed by The Royal Conservatory under the umbrella of The Marilyn Thomson Early Childhood Education Centre, is designed to ensure every Canadian child benefits from the rich cognitive and developmental advantages of music education from the earliest possible age. SmartStart is dedicated to fostering these developmental benefits, providing children with a strong start in life through the power of music. Through this program, we aim to nurture a generation of children who are not only academically proficient but also emotionally resilient and socially adept.