Welcome to my street corner,

Between 2007 and 2018, I played flute on the street, in public places and in the subway of Montréal.

I'm happy to share the music I performed as a street musician.

Each piece features a music video with an auto-scrolling score of what I'm playing, along with nature scenes in the background.

Have a musical day.

                                          Daniel

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An early start

My parents both played flute and music was one of their favorite activities.

I started out on the clarinet and piano, but one day I tried my mother's flute and she never saw it back.

My father taught flute at the city's music school during the week-end and my mom would replace him at times. It made no sense to pay for a babysitter, so I would attend most of the lessons they gave. I started teaching flute and music theory in my early teens.

Playing on national television at twelve years old

Daniel Laberge with Wilfrid Pelletier, Montréal's symphonic orchestra founder.

Picture taken in Radio-Canada's Montréal television studios prior to
the recording of "Wilfrid Pelletier rencontre".

I played "Serenade" Op. 3 No. 5 by Franz Joseph Haydn in solo with a piano accompaniment.

When I was fourteen, I became a full time student at the music conservatory.

Each summer, I went to the Mount Orford musical camp where I would meet renowned musicians and professors.

I enjoyed playing flute, but I also liked the social contacts that came along.

Career choices

At seventeen, I was attracted by a career as a professional flutist.

Back then, there was only one way to do it; you had to play in a symphonic orchestra.

My problem was that I could not stand the conductor's authority over the musicians.

Having my boss, with a stick, grumbling in front of me at all times didn't fit my ideals of respect.

When I was eighteen, I switched from flute to conducting at the music conservatory.

One year later, I changed course again; this time I went for composition at the Université de Montréal.

Daniel Laberge at sixteen.

Pop, jazz and improvisation

Even though I was a full-time composition student, I still played flute a lot.

I found out that my music education had been very focused on reading and writing.

I had to catch up in several other aspects such as playing by ear and improvising.

I played in several jazz and pop ensembles, sometimes bringing in my own compositions or arrangements.

I have to admit that I've developed my abilities to play by ear and to improvise all by myself; by playing along recordings of my favorite pieces. No teacher has ever helped me.

The flute in the closet

I was now a professional composer with my own studio.

I preferred working with voice rather than flute.

I put together several bands, ensembles and duos by forming co-writing teams with singers.

I performed on stage as a keyboard player. I would occasionally play sax, but rarely flute.

Daniel Laberge playing with MollyBelle & Dax at the beginning of the 1990's.

Flute as an after-career

In 2002, I started taking long walks through the city.

I appreciated the street musicians for the ambiance and peace they brought to dull streets and subway corridors. I would encourage the ones I met.

Five years later, a mix of interest and necessity pushed me to take my flute out of the closet, where it had been for fifteen years, and to start practicing and planning a repertoire.

Still learning

I'm amazed that I'm still learning so much every year.

This doesn't come without some efforts; such as adding new pieces and styles.

Playing on the street can be physically demanding because you play for several hours in often hostile conditions.

I don't use any amplification for my flute, so I have to fill large spaces with sound using lung power only.

I move around while I play.

The listeners get very close to me and I appreciate this nearness.

In fact, this complicity and exchange is my main interest.

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Street musician at work