Smart Start’s Sixty Year History of Music Pedagogy

The new Smart Start™ curriculum builds on the RCM's sixty years of fine music pedagogy in early childhood. Under The Marilyn Thomson Early Childhood Education Centre in Canada, RCM has been able to bring together leading subject specialists from across Canada to develop a unique and exciting early childhood program. Together with The RCM's Director of Research, neuroscientist Dr. Sean Hutchins, our early childhood music specialists are allowing a current understanding of cognitive skills to evolve our teaching of music. Also, modern educational practices help us understand that children learn in many different ways and it is important to differentiate the way that we teach to best serve the learning needs of the child. Supporting music with the arts (drama, dance and visual art) creates a full-bodied learning experience, including physical, visual and interpersonal engagement. The Early Childhood Music Center is excited to be among the first music centers to offer Smart Start in the United States.