Braidghi Romil, 17, has had a tumultuous school career. Diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and discouraged by his results at school, he decided to continue his training in an adult education center in Trois-Rivières. Despite the obstacles, he is now more motivated than ever to succeed, at school and in all areas of his life.
What explains this renewed energy? Braidghi says he owes it to the Speech workshops.
Since 2015, this non-profit organization has been introducing teenagers to writing and musical composition, particularly in reception and school adaptation classes. Not only did Braidghi take part in the workshops this year, but he also recorded an EP — the third the organization has produced and the first it has released on streaming platforms — thanks to a new collaboration with the house of Bravo Musique records.
The short album Speech Workshops, Vol. 3, will be launched on May 19, at the Ministère, in Montreal, as part of Speech’s annual “Hit-Parade” evening. In addition to the group of participating teenagers, including Braidghi, artists such as Les Louanges, Luis Clavis and Noami will be there. The host of New sounds at Radio-Canada, Nicolas Ouellet, will host the event.
Custom framing
“I’m a pretty antisocial person in life, but thanks [aux ateliers Speech], I’m a little more open. I also learned to let my imagination run wild,” says Braidghi, who signs the first track on the album with other teenagers. Every beat.
Sophia Mamodaly, a student of 4e secondary that can be heard in the song Our ideas, also emphasizes how beneficial the workshops have been for her: “I have always liked to sing, but I had never been so well supervised. Working in small groups, in a caring environment, without pressure, really allowed me to improve my writing. »
In a series of typical workshops, a “musical speaker” from Speech first meets the students in their classrooms. Those who wish to take part in the workshops are then released from their classes, at the rate of one hour per week for the occasion. Depending on their interests, they can practice more writing, composition, interpretation or all of these stages of creation at the same time.
Participants have access to several types of instruments and professional recording studios. The speakers are all more or less professional musicians, and many of them have university training in teaching. All songs fromSpeech Workshops, Vol. 3 have also been remixed by professional teams.
Mixing rap, RB and pop sounds, the album by Braidghi, Sophia and a dozen other students has nothing to envy to what can be heard on commercial radio. The two teenagers even say they are pleasantly surprised by the result, and hope to work with Speech again.
“Sublimate the wounds”
“Our goal is to promote the positive development of young people,” says Marianne Beaupré-Laperrière, director and founder of the Speech workshops. The students who work with us often come from underprivileged backgrounds or experience situations of social maladjustment. They carry within them “bobos”, wounds, but they manage to sublimate them through creation, by talking about what they have experienced in the lyrics of their songs, for example. »
Mme Beaupré-Laperrière also wishes to offer students opportunities to learn “on the fringes of the notion of performance which is encouraged by regular courses”. She explains that the majority of workshop participants “do not have learning disabilities per se”, but that they “are not adapted to the demands of the educational environment, which places them in difficulty” .
Growing up in a family of musicians, Mme Beaupré-Laperrière taught music in special education classes before founding his organization. “I understood that by organizing extracurricular activities with young people who really wanted to be there, it was all the more effective,” she says. By developing an artistic practice from adolescence, they get to know themselves better and socialize more with those around them. It is very beneficial. »
“Raise awareness in the music industry”
If she collaborated with Bravo musique for her latest album, it’s because she wants “local artists to become agents of change, to make their audiences aware” of the importance of offering new solutions. in education.
Sabrina Cousineau, executive director of Bravo musique, affirms that the music community “wants to open up to diversity”, but that there is often a lack of opportunities to “get out of the closed and homogeneous circle” of the industry. “Our artist Naomi was already [mentore] for the workshops, then the work of the young people had really impressed me. It was natural to collaborate with them. I hope we can give more visibility to their work. »
Mme Cousineau explains that she has signed an agreement to distribute the next three Speech albums. “Why not use our resources, our social networks and our contacts, to make the project grow? ” she says.
While waiting to find out if they will be able to participate in the workshops again, Braidghi and Sophia are both very much looking forward to the launch on Friday evening. “I never thought I could sing on a stage, let alone in front of more than 100 people,” says Braidghi. It’s really an incredible opportunity, ”he adds, hinting that he might well take a liking to it.