Strengthening Canadian Society for 125 Years

The Royal Conservatory is one of the largest and most respected music education institutions in the world. Providing the definitive standard of excellence through its curriculum, assessment, performance, and teacher education programs, the programs of The Royal Conservatory have had a substantial impact upon the lives of millions of people globally and have helped to train a number of great artists including Glenn Gould, Oscar Peterson, David Foster, Sarah McLachlan, Angela Hewitt, and Diana Krall.

The last year also saw the creation of The Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Achievement Program, in the United States.  According to Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall, and reported in The New York Times, “Carnegie Hall is proud to align itself with The Royal Conservatory's 125-year legacy of excellence in music education.  By establishing a commonly understood set of standards for people studying music across the United States, this national program will create engaging new ways for students — both children and adults — to measure their progress, motivating them to work toward greater musical accomplishments. The Achievement Program will also assist parents who seek a better understanding of their children’s level of performance and musical growth, while supporting teachers through opportunities for high-quality professional development and curricular resources. The Royal Conservatory was a clear and obvious choice.”

Over the last two decades, The Royal Conservatory has also emerged as a global leader in the translation of neuroscientific research into practical methods that meet the learning, health, and social development needs of all Canadians. Conservatory courses foster the capacity for higher order thinking skills and analytical thought while providing a vehicle for social inclusion and personal expression among their users.

The programs of The Conservatory are designed to develop Canada’s greatest resource – its human capital – and maximize the economic growth and social cohesion of our nation across a range of important objectives, including:

Fostering the cognitive development of Canada’s children

Motivated by its powerful mission to develop human potential through music and the arts, The Royal Conservatory has emerged over the last two decades as a leader in the development of arts-based programs that address a wide range of social issues. The Conservatory is a leader in the development of early childhood education programs. Brain research over the past 15 years has proven conclusively that the early years are of critical importance and that music and arts activities, properly applied, are the primary means by which cognitive development can be enhanced. Conservatory alumni instruct tens of thousands of children annually.

Empowering future educators with effective teaching methods

Each year, The Conservatory trains over 1,400 public school teachers in the latest music and arts-based learning methodologies to achieve higher levels of student engagement and infuse creativity into the daily activities of students. The Conservatory also provides over 24,000 self-employed local community-based music teachers with training, support, materials, and services.

Training Canada’s greatest young artists for the world’s leading stages

Through its Glenn Gould School, The Conservatory provides an exceptional training environment for highly gifted students from across Canada. Alumni such as the St. Lawrence String Quartet and Isabel Bayrakdarian have achieved international acclaim, contributing to Canada’s growing reputation as a global leader in the performing arts.

Using technology and new media to inspire and link Canadians

The Conservatory is a leader in applying new media technology. With support from the public and private sectors, The Conservatory has created a variety of music education platforms and technology-driven programs that directly benefit individuals of all ages across Canada and around the world.

Improving academic achievement in Canada’s public schools

The Conservatory’s Learning Through the Arts® (LTTA) initiative has leveraged research from the field of neuroscience showing a powerful connection between music and brain development to create proven methodologies and programs that are reshaping public education in hundreds of schools across Canada. A 2001 Queen’s University study showed that LTTA students scored 11 percentile points higher in math than comparable schools.

Helping students in First Nations communities

Through its pioneering outreach initiatives, The Conservatory has supported First Nations communities in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Conservatory programs train Aboriginal artists to serve as catalysts for community-wide cohesion, to build bridges between generations, and to inspire Aboriginal youth to participate actively in learning.
 

Supporting Canada's Healthcare System

Over the past several years, The Conservatory has launched an important new area of activity, working with leading Canadian social and health organizations, including the Hospital for Sick Children and the Baycrest Centre, to provide wellness and social programs that incorporate creative activities to youth at risk, the elderly, and the chronically ill.