There was a piano in the center of the home where I grew up. The funny thing is that my mom and dad didn’t play. As an only child, I found ways to occupy myself. The piano was just there waiting to be played with. I would start playing random keys, finding sequences I liked. Sometimes I fell upon known melodies such as « somewhere over the rainbow ».
My mother thought her plan was working. So she hired a piano teacher to build upon what seemed to be my natural interest for playing music. The teacher was well intentioned and patient with me. But his focus was on playing the right way. Going up and down the scales, placing my hands and fingers in the right positions. For the second session, I expressed my will to learn to play songs and I’d figure the technical things out as we go along. That wasn’t how one is supposed to learn piano. The rigidity of the method to play correctly ruined the pleasure I had in creating joyful melodies. There was no third session.
As for any culture, music occupies a special place in Quebec. For us, music is a means to promote the French language and ideas dear to our culture. A 2011 Leger Marketing survey found that about 73% of Quebec residents have learned to play a musical instrument, the highest rate in Canada [1].
The province’s musical roots, shaped by French, First Nations, and Celtic influences, created traditions where music-making brings people together. Before playing songs at rural gatherings, family celebrations, and urban festivals, musicians actively play around to find and harness what will become good music. « Jam sessions» is one way to partake in the experience of creating music. Simply put, music is forged in a spirit of playfulness and creativity.
This playful attitude is especially clear in Quebec’s folk traditions. Rhythmic foot tapping (podorythmie) and the « turlutte », an expressive form of wordless vocal improvisation, encourage musicians and audiences to experiment, take risks, and enjoy surprises. Instruments like the violin, accordion, and jaw harp combine with clapping and dancing to create performances that are lively and inviting. These moments welcome everyone to join in and have fun[2][3].
Quebec’s music scene further celebrates improvisation and experimentation. Montreal is known worldwide for its jazz scene, where traditional jazz meets new forms. The Montreal Jazz Festival highlights this openness by showcasing spontaneous jam sessions, cross-genre creativity, and collaborative performances between international musicians[4][5]. Improvisation also thrives in underground music collectives and innovative ensembles, where musicians create new sounds together with a sense of community and joy[6].
Quebec’s music-making blends with dance and storytelling, creating experiences that feel shared and lively. One such creator is Fred Pellerin. Fred Pellerin’s music style is a vibrant tapestry woven from Quebec’s deeply rooted folk traditions, a sparkling sense of playfulness, and his remarkable talent as a storyteller. Emerging from the rural village of Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, Pellerin draws on the oral heritage of his community, infusing his songs with the cadence, warmth, and eccentricity of local legends. His unique style stands out not just in francophone Canada, but across the broader landscape of singer-songwriters.
At the heart of Pellerin’s approach is his profound connection to the tradition of conte, or storytelling. He is as much a storyteller as a musician, deftly blending narrative passages and poetic imagery with his melodies. This interweaving of story and song creates works that feel alive, often populated by colorful, larger-than-life characters that reflect village life, childhood memories, and the quirks of everyday people. His language is playful and rich with wordplay, double meanings, and invented expressions.
Overall, the cultural importance of music in Quebec is yet another expression of our joie de vivre. Whether at festivals, family gatherings, or popular tv shows, music in Quebec is a celebration. It stems from our playful creativity and collective happiness. As for me, I still just play with the piano, but I am no musician.
Sources
[1] Learning A Musical Instrument May Boost Life Long Success https://www.niagaraconservatory.com/blog/title/learning-a-musical-instrument-may-boost-life-long-success/id/18/
[2] Québécois Music – Québec: French Culture, First Nations & … https://guides.loc.gov/quebec/quebecois-music
[3] Folk Song and Music in Quebec: a Brief Introduction, by Stephen D … https://revelsdc.org/canadiancd/article.html
[4] Jazz in Montréal, from the Roaring Twenties to Today https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/jazz-montreal-roaring-twenties-today
[5] Festival International de Jazz de Montréal: Celebrating … https://thatcanadianmagazine.com/featured/festival-international-de-jazz-de-montreal-celebrating-music-and-culture/
[6] The Montreal Music Underground – Montréal Serai https://montrealserai.com/article/the-montreal-music-underground/