What is Smart Start?
Smart Start is an Early Childhood Music Program developed by the RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) in Toronto.
Grounded in neuroscientific research from its very inception, Smart start was developed with the twin goals of enhancing both musical skills and cognitive skills.
The smart starts curriculum is designed to emphasize an enhance the types of cognitive work that naturally occur during music practices: attention, memory, perception, and cognitive flexibility.
Each activity in the smart start curriculum address one or more of these cognitive skills in addition to its musical goals (beat, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, listening, singing, movement, engagement).
Smart Start is an Early Childhood Music Program developed by the RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) in Toronto.
Grounded in neuroscientific research from its very inception, Smart start was developed with the twin goals of enhancing both musical skills and cognitive skills.
The smart starts curriculum is designed to emphasize an enhance the types of cognitive work that naturally occur during music practices: attention, memory, perception, and cognitive flexibility.
Each activity in the smart start curriculum address one or more of these cognitive skills in addition to its musical goals (beat, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, listening, singing, movement, engagement).
Silvia Buttiglione is the first Smart Start Certified Teacher in Quebec, having completed her certification in April 2024.
With a Smart Start course, your child can have the opportunity to start his music education with a qualified music teacher that offers music classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers in a familiar and friendly environment.
The music classes are bilingual and they includes multicultural lullabies and children songs in different languages from all over the world.
With a Smart Start course, your child can have the opportunity to start his music education with a qualified music teacher that offers music classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers in a familiar and friendly environment.
The music classes are bilingual and they includes multicultural lullabies and children songs in different languages from all over the world.
Winter 2025:
Group lessons start on January 24th to April 24th (14 lessons).
Private lessons:
Music lessons are also available in private form at my studio in Outremont or at your domicile. In this way you can respect the schedule of your baby/toddler.
For private lessons, please contact me directly. Private lessons fees will apply.
Group lessons start on January 24th to April 24th (14 lessons).
Private lessons:
Music lessons are also available in private form at my studio in Outremont or at your domicile. In this way you can respect the schedule of your baby/toddler.
For private lessons, please contact me directly. Private lessons fees will apply.
Smart Start Baby - Music Classes for babies from 0 to 12 months
CA$350.00
Rhythms and rhymes!
Learn some new lullabies, and have fun with your little one!
Small groups of max 5 babies and caregivers.
Smart Start: 0-12 Months
Exploring Together!
Each term is 14 weeks long.
(Babies 0-12 Months)
Weekly classes (14 sessions)
Wednesday mornings from 10:00 - 10:45 am
Instructor: Silvia Buttiglione
$350 per session (14 bilingual English/French classes)
Group lessons in Outremont
Parking is allowed on the street (Vignette n. 1) for up to two hours
450 metres from Metro Outremont
Children are naturally curious about music from a very early age, and the positive atmosphere of this class helps foster lifelong connections with music, builds strong parent-child emotional bonds, and provides a weekly forum for social interaction. The goal of this course is to expose you and your child to the basic concepts of music through sensory awareness and self-creation, with particular attention paid to beat, rhythm, and listening skills.
Infants are just beginning to explore the world around them, and that includes their musical world. Even before they are born, children can hear music all around them, and our classes start from the very beginning. In this class, you and your child will start to learn about the fundamentals of music through movement, singing, and play. The course is designed to foster basic cognitive skills through a musical framework, and to help parents and caregivers learn ways to interact with the child through music. A typical class begins with a greeting song, followed by gentle bouncing games, finger plays, movement, and many songs. The class concludes with lullabies or other songs for all to enjoy.
A parent or guardian accompanies their child for each class for the full session.
Learn some new lullabies, and have fun with your little one!
Small groups of max 5 babies and caregivers.
Smart Start: 0-12 Months
Exploring Together!
Each term is 14 weeks long.
(Babies 0-12 Months)
Weekly classes (14 sessions)
Wednesday mornings from 10:00 - 10:45 am
Instructor: Silvia Buttiglione
$350 per session (14 bilingual English/French classes)
Group lessons in Outremont
Parking is allowed on the street (Vignette n. 1) for up to two hours
450 metres from Metro Outremont
Children are naturally curious about music from a very early age, and the positive atmosphere of this class helps foster lifelong connections with music, builds strong parent-child emotional bonds, and provides a weekly forum for social interaction. The goal of this course is to expose you and your child to the basic concepts of music through sensory awareness and self-creation, with particular attention paid to beat, rhythm, and listening skills.
Infants are just beginning to explore the world around them, and that includes their musical world. Even before they are born, children can hear music all around them, and our classes start from the very beginning. In this class, you and your child will start to learn about the fundamentals of music through movement, singing, and play. The course is designed to foster basic cognitive skills through a musical framework, and to help parents and caregivers learn ways to interact with the child through music. A typical class begins with a greeting song, followed by gentle bouncing games, finger plays, movement, and many songs. The class concludes with lullabies or other songs for all to enjoy.
A parent or guardian accompanies their child for each class for the full session.
Smart Start: Music Classes for toddlers 12-24 Months
CA$350.00
Toddlers on the move!
Channel your child's natural energy through music and movement learning.
Smart Start: 12-24 Months
Stepping Up!
Winter Term
January 14th to April 24th 2025
Weekly classes (14 Bilingual Sessions)
11:00-11:45 am
Instructor: Silvia Buttiglione
Lessons in Outremont
Parking is allowed on the street for up to two hours
The active, music-based activities in this class help support your child's cognitive, social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development, while facilitating parent-child bonding. Coordination, body control, and spatial awareness skills are accrued through games built around walking, dancing, and age-appropriate percussion instruments such as shakers, drums, and bells.
As infants grow into toddlers, their musical abilities and needs develop as well. This class works with toddler's ever-expanding cognitive skills through rich and engaging musical activities with the child and caregiver. Activities focus on topics such as musical memory, creative artistic play, and active imitation. Parents and caregivers both participate, providing further exemplars to interact with your child musically.
The activities in this class have been specifically designed to develop listening skills and improve memory through repetition, as well as to enhance cognitive skills. The toddler's social skills are also developed through experiencing music in a group setting.
A single designated care provider accompanies their child for all classes for this course.
Students are registered by age as of December 31.
Channel your child's natural energy through music and movement learning.
Smart Start: 12-24 Months
Stepping Up!
Winter Term
January 14th to April 24th 2025
Weekly classes (14 Bilingual Sessions)
11:00-11:45 am
Instructor: Silvia Buttiglione
Lessons in Outremont
Parking is allowed on the street for up to two hours
The active, music-based activities in this class help support your child's cognitive, social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development, while facilitating parent-child bonding. Coordination, body control, and spatial awareness skills are accrued through games built around walking, dancing, and age-appropriate percussion instruments such as shakers, drums, and bells.
As infants grow into toddlers, their musical abilities and needs develop as well. This class works with toddler's ever-expanding cognitive skills through rich and engaging musical activities with the child and caregiver. Activities focus on topics such as musical memory, creative artistic play, and active imitation. Parents and caregivers both participate, providing further exemplars to interact with your child musically.
The activities in this class have been specifically designed to develop listening skills and improve memory through repetition, as well as to enhance cognitive skills. The toddler's social skills are also developed through experiencing music in a group setting.
A single designated care provider accompanies their child for all classes for this course.
Students are registered by age as of December 31.
Fall term 2024 -Smart Start: Music Classes for Toddlers 2 Years
CA$350.00
Getting Active!
Set your child on the right path by engaging them in music and movement based play.Set your child on the right path by engaging them in music and movement based play.
Confident, active kids become confident, active adults! (Birth Year 2021)
Spring session:
Tuesdays
September 11th to December 11th, 2024 (14 bilingual lessons)
10:0 am to 10:45 pm
Instructor: Silvia Buttiglione
Lessons in Outremont
Parking is allowed on the street for up to two hours
This class focuses on developing gross motor function in toddlers by encouraging them to move their bodies in time to sounds and music.
At age 2, children are beginning to develop more complex cognitive skills that will aid them later in life. These classes focus on cognitive skills relevant to music, such as sustaining attention, remembering songs, and recognizing perceptual cues. Children in these classes will learn how to apply these skills towards musical exploration, and gain greater musical independence through basic musical skills. At this age, parents or caregivers assist their child's musical creativity and gain further skills for musical interaction with their child.
With an emphasis on the fundamentals of listening and singing, playing simple instruments like maracas and drums, and taking turns, this course helps develop music competence and fosters confidence, belonging, and security among its weekly attendees.
A single designated care provider accompanies their child for all classes for this course.
Students are registered by age as of December 31.
Set your child on the right path by engaging them in music and movement based play.Set your child on the right path by engaging them in music and movement based play.
Confident, active kids become confident, active adults! (Birth Year 2021)
Spring session:
Tuesdays
September 11th to December 11th, 2024 (14 bilingual lessons)
10:0 am to 10:45 pm
Instructor: Silvia Buttiglione
Lessons in Outremont
Parking is allowed on the street for up to two hours
This class focuses on developing gross motor function in toddlers by encouraging them to move their bodies in time to sounds and music.
At age 2, children are beginning to develop more complex cognitive skills that will aid them later in life. These classes focus on cognitive skills relevant to music, such as sustaining attention, remembering songs, and recognizing perceptual cues. Children in these classes will learn how to apply these skills towards musical exploration, and gain greater musical independence through basic musical skills. At this age, parents or caregivers assist their child's musical creativity and gain further skills for musical interaction with their child.
With an emphasis on the fundamentals of listening and singing, playing simple instruments like maracas and drums, and taking turns, this course helps develop music competence and fosters confidence, belonging, and security among its weekly attendees.
A single designated care provider accompanies their child for all classes for this course.
Students are registered by age as of December 31.
Fall term 2024 - Smart Start: Music Classes for Preschool-aged Children 3 Years
CA$350.00
Sing & Dance!
Singing, dancing, playing games - children adore this active, play-based learning environment. In this class, children learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and dynamics.
Smart Start: 3 Years (Birth Year 2020)
Fall Term 2024
Tuesday
From September 10th to December 10th, 2024
11 am to 11:45 am
Instructor: Silvia Buttiglione
$350 per term (14 bilingual english/french classes)
Lessons in Outremont
Parking is allowed on the street for up to two hours
In this class, children learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and volume together through educational, movement-based games and multi arts activities.
By age 3, children are beginning to develop their singing voices, and as such, singing a wide range of songs is a vital component of the Smart Start curriculum. By age 3, children's basic cognitive skills are in place. Smart Start is designed to work with these cognitive skills through activities such as recognizing musical patterns, focusing on the most important aspects of music, and understanding connections across artistic representations. Children work in musical and artistic collaborations designed to foster basic musical knowledge and spur on individual and group creativity.
Socialization and personal growth are strengthened via group engagement. Many children are ready for an independent music class without their care provider at age three. Generally, we recommend a parent or caregiver attend for the first few classes, until the child is ready to attend class independently. This decision is individual and flexible.
Students are registered by age as of December 31.
Singing, dancing, playing games - children adore this active, play-based learning environment. In this class, children learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and dynamics.
Smart Start: 3 Years (Birth Year 2020)
Fall Term 2024
Tuesday
From September 10th to December 10th, 2024
11 am to 11:45 am
Instructor: Silvia Buttiglione
$350 per term (14 bilingual english/french classes)
Lessons in Outremont
Parking is allowed on the street for up to two hours
In this class, children learn foundational musical skills such as tempo, meter, pitch, and volume together through educational, movement-based games and multi arts activities.
By age 3, children are beginning to develop their singing voices, and as such, singing a wide range of songs is a vital component of the Smart Start curriculum. By age 3, children's basic cognitive skills are in place. Smart Start is designed to work with these cognitive skills through activities such as recognizing musical patterns, focusing on the most important aspects of music, and understanding connections across artistic representations. Children work in musical and artistic collaborations designed to foster basic musical knowledge and spur on individual and group creativity.
Socialization and personal growth are strengthened via group engagement. Many children are ready for an independent music class without their care provider at age three. Generally, we recommend a parent or caregiver attend for the first few classes, until the child is ready to attend class independently. This decision is individual and flexible.
Students are registered by age as of December 31.
Interested in learning more about Smart Start before joining my classes in Montreal?
Discover the groundbreaking new early childhood music education curriculum being offered in your area!
Backed by research and co-crafted by renowned expert in neuroscience, Dr. Sean Hutchins, and early childhood expert, Catherine West, Smart Start is a unique program.
We hope to see you in a Smart Start class soon!