“We take lesson 10 of the method. In position ! », says Hervé Treille, who has directed the music program at Saint-Luc school for 25 years.
At the Montreal school service center, three public secondary schools offer a music-study program. However, the Saint-Luc school, located in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce district, is the only one to make it accessible to all. “There is no selection, no audition, no musical prerequisites,” emphasizes Mr. Treille.
With few exceptions – including the addition of a harpist this year – the program is made up of 200 strings students and 300 wind students.
A large part of the class has never played an instrument, or almost nothing, like Racim Djenane, who arrived in Montreal six years ago from his native Algeria and who barely played the flute in elementary school. .
The program gave rise to a real vocation as a violist in him. Next year, he is going to study at Vincent-d’Indy. “Later, I would like to be part of the Orchester Métropolitain. »
Music as a factor of integration
Some, like a young Ukrainian violinist and a young Mexican double bassist – who both immigrated a year ago – on the contrary arrived at the Saint-Luc school with a solid musical background.
Aren’t they a little bored, among many beginners? They assure us that no, that whatever the level, they feel privileged to be part of an orchestra.
“Their knowledge of music, which allows them to help others, was a factor of integration for them,” believes Mr. Treille, who points out in passing that a Ukrainian troika will be included in the next Christmas concert.
Everyone has their own instrument. Violinists and cellists bring their instruments home, while the school lends double basses at home to older students.
The educational approach is that of collective musical practice.
The program is focused on the pleasure of playing. It takes into account the pace of each student. Those with greater interest and potential receive special attention to be able to occupy the first chairs and play solo scores.
Hervé Treille, who has directed the music program at Saint-Luc school for 25 years
Lesson teachers – including a harp teacher this year – also come from outside almost every week to work with the students.
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PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Skander Aïssa finds that playing the violin “it relaxes the brain”. “I didn’t know how to read notes, I thought it would be difficult, but I learned it quickly, actually. »
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PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Dariia Lezhnina immigrated from Ukraine a year ago, with seven years of violin lessons. “I like coming to eat at our place. My friends asked me to help them, we practice together. I like it, I always enjoy playing. »
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PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
“My family is hot, we actually moved here so that Saint-Luc would be my neighborhood school and so that I could enroll in the music program,” says Agathe Chabot, who has been playing the double bass for nine years. She was introduced to it by the community organization Le garage à musique, in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
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PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
“My passion for the violin was born here, at the Saint-Luc school,” says Racim Djenane, who was born in Algeria and who arrived here at 6 years old. He wants to become a professional musician.
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A fragmented repertoire
On the walls of the premises, photos of Christmas and end-of-year shows reflect a shared pleasure in music, in a very vast repertoire.
There was this program with music from Japanese films by Joe Hisaishi, with extracts from cartoons projected behind the stage. For other concerts, it was The Wallby Pink Floyd (official anthem of the student rebellion of all times), or an orchestral suite of Quebec songs (Gilles Vigneault, Claude Léveillée, Harmonium, Beau Dommage, Jean Leloup, etc.).
Last year the reception class joined the orchestra to learn the song We write on the walls, in choral and strings version. “Several students did not yet speak a word of French,” says Mr. Treille. One word at a time, we taught them the song, with the correct pronunciation. »
The show last June was particularly moving. It was the last end-of-year show for Mr. Treille, who is retiring in December, a long-planned departure so as not to disrupt the students in any way.
“Several former students came to attend the last concert conducted by Hervé. Some alumni even played in the orchestra. Everyone had tears in their eyes,” says Mariane Charlebois-Deschamps, music teacher.
A guaranteed succession
The minutes passed, the students of 3e secondary school have just entered class. Mme Charlebois-Deschamps goes to the desk to direct them.
“Very beautiful crescendo! », she tells them in the middle of rehearsing the Tango Traicioneroby Kirt Mosier.
” Look at her ! The next generation is assured,” whispers Mr. Treille in an interview.
Then, while listening to the students, added: “When they play, they go for real! »
Hervé Treille says he is impressed by the musical level reached by these students who have only been playing music since 1D secondary. He says it without anyone suspecting he is trying to take credit for it.
He is more the type to strongly insist that we mention that it was Robert Jodoin who founded the music program, around fifty years ago.
Mariane Charlebois-Deschamps is also surprised by the talent and attitude of the young people. “They are kind, respectful, hardworking. »
Their music is beautiful, but very secondary for their teachers, we understand, especially when Mr. Treille lets slip that he hates evaluations, clearly very far from his priorities.
What matters for him “is the transmission of the values behind the orchestra: personal development, respect, democracy, solidarity, commitment and autonomy”.