Montreal musician teaches positivity through song

Montreal musician Francine Jarry is blending her spiritual resources with her extensive musical background to find a unique way of teaching wellbeing to children and adults alike. Just as children use music to learn their ABC’s, Jarry says, she hopes her songs and musical e-books will help all learn positive self-esteem. 

Jarry’s early exposure to music involved playing Classical piano. How that translated into a musical career was “kind of accidental,” she says, but she was lucky enough to get a few record contracts.

Following a career journey that took Jarry from winning music competitions, to performing solo and with bands in and out of the recording studio, to Ontario, New York City and beyond, she says it was self-development, wellness and psychotherapy workshops that got her thinking. 

“[The classes] were giving affirmations and I said, ‘these are so boring to say, why don’t I put them to music?’ That’s how it started and then the music just started coming to me,” the singer, songwriter and producer told CityNews.

She added: ““They teach children A, B, C, D, E, F, G…you remember it that way. So I was taking very simple positive concepts for self-esteem and well-being, self-empowerment – putting them in songs so you can remember them.”

At 82, Jarry has released over 22 albums, which she has transformed into roughly 150 youtube videos including over 250 songs. Some of her recent discography includes “Follow the Rainbow,” “It’s Up to Me If I Want to Be Happy” and “If You Love This Planet.”

The musician hopes her messaging will resonate with parents, students and teachers.

“It’s very hard to get into the schools because the teachers are already so overburdened, overwhelmed, too much to do. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing now,” she said, adding, “I’ve always envisioned maybe when they have an assembly at schools, to have the whole school sing.”

Meanwhile, music-lovers can find Jarry’s music on streaming platforms, Youtube and at rainbowmusic.ca.