Music at the theater

My name is Pierre Tripard. I am a sound designer and composer, mainly for theatrical projects. I have been playing the guitar for 12 years and the saxophone for 9 years and, in parallel, I study and work in the theater world. It has now been 7 years since I decided to combine my passions for music and theater to devote myself to my career as a sound designer, which today allows me to bring my sound and musical touch to several productions a year. It is a source of pride for me to have reached this level in my career, which I have built largely on my own, jumping from project to project bigger and bigger.

My musical journey

I had the chance to go to an elementary school where we didn't learn the recorder, but... the guitar. Without reducing the importance of the flute, I believe that it is a little more impressive to find yourself in front of a wall of a thousand guitars, including two hundred electric guitars (approximate according to memories of a child from the beginning of elementary school). And believe me, what is even more fascinating for a child than holding a guitar in his lap is knowing how to play it! So I started my classical guitar lessons at the Conservatoire de musique at the age of ten with my brand new acoustic guitar. First lesson: there are several kinds of guitar. So my parents bought me a brand new classical guitar for second class and thus began my uncontrollable collection of instruments of all kinds and in various formats (hence my upcoming move). Although my interest in music probably came from lessons in the studio of a thousand guitars, perseverance was instilled in me by my first guitar teacher, Margita Slobodova. Her patience and especially her passion allowed me to progress quickly in classical guitar, to play ever more difficult pieces and, most importantly, to know how to properly file the nails of my right hand to have the most beautiful sound possible!

A little noteworthy advice: "You must file, not cut!" ".

Pierre Tripard at the 2012 CMM Gala. Courteousy CMM.

When Margita left the school, I had a new teacher, Raphaël D'Amours, who introduced me to the electric guitar (another for my collection!) and acoustic guitar (I will finally be able to use it!). But Raphaël also showed me something of paramount importance for my future career: how to record music. So it was towards the end of high school that I started composing with my brand new recording software. At the same time, I took up the saxophone thanks to the orchestra and the jazz band from my high school, led respectively by Émilie Guertin and Pierre Richard. Simulatanously, I took all possible “drama” options in my busy high school schedule. All of this finally converged (mathematically impossible, but I guarantee it happened), in 11th grade, with the thespian group: “Les Imposteurs” led by Évelyne Pelletier and Audrey Leclair, where I composed a three-minute musical piece that was incorporated into the show! It was my first composition for the theater and the gateway to my new favorite field.

After high school came college! Yes, I decided to do them in that order. I continued in theatre, without losing sight of music. Besides, a little trick to keep playing: never put away your instruments. Having them in sight makes all the difference! In my second year in the Citron bleu troupe, directed by Jean-Marc Dalphond, I realized that I liked working in the theater production much more than playing on stage. So I enrolled in the Professional Theater School of Lionel-Groulx College (ETP-CLG, even the acronym is long) in theater production.

And here I am, four years later, finishing up, with several professional productions uner my belt as a sound designer as well as a contract for the play “Kilimanjaro”, directed and written by Mario Jean, which will be performed at the Théâtre La Marjolaine in summer 2022. I am thoroughly enjoiyng this career launch!

(There are tickets left: www.lamarjolaine.info)

What my musical journey has brought me

The main lesson that I received from my musical journey is perseverance. This is what gives all its importance and meaning to the path I have traveled since this quality does not come from within me. It was the people around me, my family, all those I mentioned above and many others, who gave me confidence in myself, in my current and future abilities and who gave me a good support to continue.

I am convinced that the success of a child depends in large part on the positive feedback we give him. Telling a child who is playing his first piece that he is a great musician will probably allow him to become one one day.

So I would like to say thank you to everyone who lied to me when I was little so that the lie could come true(…)

My advice to young musicians

Find what you like in music, play songs you like to listen to, but above all, give yourself the gift of never saying to yourself "I'm quitting and I'll never do it again!" ". It happens to everyone to get discouraged, to get tired or to have the impression of not progressing. Each instrument has its own wall, the one that makes you believe that it will be too difficult to go further, but believe your teacher when she/he shouts at you from the other side of the wall "Keep going, I'll help you, you'll see, on the other side it is beautiful! ".

But beware parents: it is on the other side of the wall that the uncontrollable urge to collect instruments begins. ;)

To learn more, visit :
www.pierretripard.com
www.lamarjolaine.info