After setting up a music school in India in September 2002, Young Musicians of the World decided to get involved with the young people of Quebec City. Thus, a school of traditional music opened last fall 2003 in the Patro-Laval buildings located in the St-Sauveur district in the lower-city of Quebec. Founded in 1910, Patro-Laval’s goal is to train and educate people throughout recreational activities. Founded by the Fathers of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Patro-Laval has performed a variety of services: teaching classes, making and donating clothing, and welcoming young aged from 6 to 25 years while working to reduce misery. In all these years the mission of Patro-Laval has not changed: to provide preventive services and education to Quebec city’s families in need. Those who run Patro-Laval have again demonstrated their time-honoured generosity by offering Young Musicians of the World buildings and supporting other needs of the organization for free.
Geographically, Quebec city is located in the middle of the only French-speaking province of Canada. Located at the extreme North-East of the North-American continent, Quebec is three times the size of France. Its population now is very close to 7,500,000 inhabitants, living for the most part along the majestic St. Laurent river. Bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, Quebec is covered with immense, extensive virgin forests, and strewn with thousands of lakes and rivers.
Based on an alternative model, this school offers young people of Quebec music classes totally free of charge, in accord with the mission of Young Musicians of the World: to make it possible for young people to participate in activities that stimulate them and bring them self-confidence and self-esteem. The school in Quebec wants to be both a sanctuary and a tool for these future adults. As at the Indian school, the Quebec pupils show a great interest for the music, and several already show not only musical talent and promise but also improvement in their behaviour. Parents’ comments prove to us the effectiveness of music in their children’s development. Their concentration at school improves, critical thinking develops and they demonstrate a greater sense of autonomy in their everyday life. At first aimed towards the teaching of Quebec’s traditional music, Young Musicians of the World has since changed its curriculum to offer more diversity in the choice of the offered courses. Because families from various cultural backgrounds also live in the down-town area, djembé African, the Australian didgéridoo and the dances of Eastern Europe are some of the traditions which we have included in the school’s program, to better reflect the cultural reality of our students.
Currently, 50 girls and old boys from 4 to 17 years of age take private or group lessons. We hope to see this number increase for Fall 2004. Their teachers, all professional artists, were quickly integrated into the project. We would especially like to recognize Mr. Éric Favreau for teaching violin. Mr. Favreau, an ethnologist of education and training, is considered one of the greatest players of traditional violin in Quebec and is regularly consulted as an adviser on questions about Quebec’s traditional music. Jean-Étienne Joubert, member of the famous group Polémil Bazaar is also part of the teachers’ team. Other members of the artistic community also teach at the school of Quebec: Linda Desrochers of the Yéba band (djembé), Catherine Synott (African dance) also member of Yéba, Richard Breuil (didgéridoo), founder of the collective « Okabora », Florence Vincent (violin) from Okabora, Danya Ortnann (piano), jazz singer, Daniel Lacombe (djembé and music therapy), famous percussionist and excellent educator, Gabrielle Bouthillier (traditional songs of Quebec and Brittany) member of the ensemble Strada, Bernard Grondin (traditional storyteller) and Richard Turcotte (world dance), manager of the Migrations dance company.
The two coordinators of the Quebec school are also professional artists: François Gerardin has been a musician for several years, and was member of the Bourrasque Celtique during 7 years; Sophie Pomerleau was the director of an important festival dedicated to Quebec’s heritage, the FIAT (International Festival of Traditional Arts of Quebec), for four consecutive years. Sophie also manages an active career with children and sings. The courses currently take place two evenings per week, on Mondays and Thursdays.
The first pupils begin at 4pm, for 50 intensive minutes of their chosen class. Thereafter, these same young people are invited to take part in short workshops where they take part in relaxation exercises, traditional singing, improvisation, storytelling, or group discussions. Using an alternative approach, the professors teach for the most part through a method of "training to the ear" twinned with traditional academic methods including music reading. With our new school in Quebec, we want to allow these young people to acquire good musical knowledge, so psychologically and socially beneficial to every young musician of the world.
