Mike Tremblay

Imagine a teacher with the magic touch, someone whose motivational aura is so strong that his students rush home after their lesson because they just can’t wait to—practise. Most teachers can only dream of inspiring that level of dedication. It’s one thing to get students excited about music. It’s quite another to inspire them to invest in the process and commit to a lifetime of disciplined study. Only a couple of top-tier instructors wield this much influence. Today, for UNESCO World Teachers’ Day, Robin, Brady, Samuel, Justin, Meghan, Jarrod and Dave celebrate the teaching achievements of one such teacher: Mike Tremblay, Prince of Persuasion and Motivational Maverick.

Special thanks to Jarrod Goldsmith and Ryan Purchase.

October 5th holds a special place on the calendar for students worldwide, as it marks a day dedicated to celebrating outstanding achievement and excellence in teaching. Among those who best embody the esteemed role of Teacher is Mike Tremblay.

Mike stands out as a remarkable saxophonist—a musician who has conquered the heights of live performance and recording. Yet perhaps his greatest legacy lies in his unwavering dedication to sharing his talents with his students, year after year.

In my role as Secretary-Treasurer, I have had the privilege of observing the profound impact of Mike’s mentorship. His students consistently aspire to great heights, pushing themselves further, and performing with enhanced skill. This is all thanks to Mike’s support and guidance.

Beyond his own creativity and musicianship, Mike Tremblay inspires confidence in his students, empowering their success. His influence is reflected not only in their musical abilities but in the way in which they believe in themselves.

Robin Moir

Secretary-Treasurer

Musicians’ Association of Ottawa-Gatineau

Local 180

Ah, Mike Tremblay! The man, the legend, the ever-present summer sandals. You would be hard pressed to find a saxophonist active in Ottawa today who has not studied with Mike or otherwise benefitted from his knowledge, generosity, and humour. I met Mike in 2001, studying with him until 2007, and playing my part in turning his hair grey. Sorry about that, Mike. His patience and honesty were much appreciated during those anxious years. The impact of his charismatic warmth and dedication to music education can be felt across the city, from lessons and clinics to his long-running saxophone camps, as well as his highly successful jazz camps based out of Carleton University. He is a pillar of the music community. On top of his gorgeous sound and high performance standards, his friendly attitude sets a great example for all those learning from or working with him. It was a pleasure to have had the privilege of studying with him. May many more be so lucky as to do so.

Cheers to ya, Mike.

PS—Sorry about that time I high-fived you with darts in my hand.

Brady Leafloor is a professional saxophonist and educator based in Ottawa, ON.

I started saxophone lessons with Mike Tremblay when I was in high school. Together, we worked on technique, theory, improvisational concepts, transcriptions, the American Songbook, jazz standards and much more. Studying with Mike Tremblay helped me become a better musician and saxophone player. He is not only an important member of the Ottawa music and jazz community, he is also a valuable member of the Ottawa music and jazz education community. He is an extremely helpful and kind person and deserves all the recognition he gets. Thank you so much, Mike, for all your help and for everything you do.

Originally from Ottawa, Samuel Cousineau is a saxophonist and educator with degrees in jazz performance from McGill University and the University of North Texas, where he played with the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. He has performed, recorded, and studied with world-renowned artists, and is currently teaching while completing his DMA at the University of Toronto.

Mike Tremblay is not only Ottawa’s finest saxophone educator, he is also a cornerstone of the jazz community, a dear mentor, and friend.

I was lucky to study privately with Mike for a few years. Lessons would start with a chat, probably for too long, but I loved picking his brain about what he was listening to and what gigs he was playing. When we did dive into the lesson material, Mike’s uncanny approach allowed him to hear what I could be doing better. He gave great advice based on his own experiences and what his predecessors had taught him. After the lesson I was always excited to get back home so I could practice my instrument.

Mike Tremblay isn’t just a teacher; he’s a storyteller, a pedagogue, a therapist, a horse whisperer, an occasional tough guy, but most importantly, a truly great man. It’s the extent of his humanity that allows him to connect with so many of his students, and what helps him mould them into fantastic players.

Justin Hay is an alto saxophonist currently studying at the University of Toronto where he is majoring in jazz performance. He is a current member of the University of Toronto 12tet ensemble, a previous member of the Carleton Ravens Quartet and the Capitol Youth Jazz Orchestra and previously took part in the Ottawa Jazz Festival Youth Summit.

Mike Tremblay is humble and kind. He has high expectations for all of his students, from the high school level through to post-secondary (and beyond). He pushes his students to be the absolute best that they can be, even when they can’t see it for themselves.

I took lessons with Mike for almost seven years. Even on the days when I would drag my feet into a lesson, I would leave feeling more motivated and more determined to continue improving. Mike’s consistently positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond for his students are qualities that have made a lasting impression on me. I now strive to include his positive mindset and work ethic in my own professional music education practices.

Mike Tremblay continues to engage young students in the greater Ottawa jazz community by offering his time and expertise through masterclasses, saxophone ensembles, post-secondary courses, and through the Carleton Jazz Camp. Working with Mike over the years at the Carleton Jazz Camp has been a formative experience for me as a music educator. I get to see young musicians become engaged and excited about jazz, just as I did at their age. Mike and I have been collaborating for over a decade, and currently provide opportunities for high school and university saxophone students to perform together at Carleton University.

Mike truly makes a difference to our music education community in Ottawa. I continue to learn from him and it’s been an honour and privilege to have been his student.

Meghan Heeney is an Instrumental Music Educator with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. She holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from Carleton University where she studied jazz saxophone with Mike Tremblay, and a Bachelor of Music Education from McGill University.

When I joined the Ottawa jazz scene in the early 2000s, Mike Tremblay was already a household name in the saxophone world. Over the years I’ve worked with dozens of saxophone players who have studied under him. Lessons with Mike are not only fun, but easy to digest. He has shaped the careers of generations of professional players through private and academic teaching at Carleton University.

His legacy continues to inspire, and he supports the music community through various initiatives. He is the co-founder/founder and director of both the Carleton University Jazz Camp and the Ottawa Saxophone Camp. He adjudicates for Musicfest Canada and the Kiwanis Music Festival. He is always helping other people.

His soft-spoken manner, immense knowledge of the industry and good humour continue to make him a pleasure to collaborate with. Mike is an in-demand woodwind session player who can regularly be found performing in shows, concerts and on recordings. He is one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever met.

Known by his signature fedora, entrepreneurship and networking expert Jarrod Goldsmith is a Canadian small business community builder. Once an archaeologist, he is now an avid networker, YouTuber, podcaster, and is the embodiment of the small business spirit. He founded both Sax Appeal Productions (Ottawa’s live music agency), eSAX (The Entrepreneur Social Advantage Experience), and is the President of the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa.

It is an honour to offer some words signifying the impact Mike Tremblay has had on my life and the lives of so many in our community. I had the incredible good fortune to meet Mike toward the end of grade seven, allowing me the opportunity to experience his mentorship for six years, and a lifetime of friendship since. His expertise, kindness and charisma laid the groundwork for my career in music as a performer and teacher, and without a doubt, I would not be where I am today without his support.

Our lessons started in another era: Mike would pick me up from school, and not only would we play saxophone, but we had long sessions playing basketball and ping pong too. His playing was an inspiration and a revelation. Hearing him warm-up before the lesson was always ear-opening and became something to aspire to. He was fun and so cool—unlike anyone I knew—and was incredibly patient as he slowly helped me internalize concepts I hadn’t known existed. He introduced me to the lore of the Real Books. Eventually, he encouraged me to be creative, and I would start to take risks as an improviser and soloist at school. My teenage years were spent immersed in this art form, learning the legacies and repertoire of the greats. Mike always had the time to listen, even finding time for phone calls when he was busy. Our lessons were the highlight of my week.

Not only that, he was always looking for opportunities where I could grow. At age 14, he was able to get me two memorable gigs: one was my first professional jobbing gig with a big band (he even gave me his old black jacket, although I did buy my own clip-on bow tie!), while the other was as a leader, where he hired his friends to play with me for a set at Jazz Ottawa. What an experience! Mike (patiently!) coached me every step of the way, while still allowing me the autonomy to approach it my own way. Furthermore, he got me to fill-in as a sub during rehearsals for semi-professional big bands. This happened so often that I eventually earned my own chair—an incredibly formative experience for a musician at that stage.

There were even a couple of road trips along the way; a frigid drive to Montreal to check out mouthpieces, and a day trip to Toronto where we each got a lesson with saxophone legend Kirk MacDonald, a mentor to Mike (and in time, to myself as well). Mike’s generosity and inclusion, in retrospect, really was and is remarkable.

As I developed, our lessons became more focused on acquiring professional skills. To this day, I use the concepts that Mike shared with me in my playing and teaching. He did everything correctly, and that legacy of information has served me (and in turn, my students!) well.

During my last year of high school, Mike was supportive as I auditioned for the jazz program at the University of Toronto. Upon my acceptance, Mike kindly told me that I was ready for future study, and that this lesson—the one we were in—would be our last. It was empowering, but as a teenager, I wasn’t emotionally ready to hear it. I bawled in the car while driving home from the lesson. (So did my mom, when she heard the news.) But in his wisdom, Mike knew it was the right time to stop. My reaction signified the impact of his contributions, not just to my skills as a saxophonist, but to my life overall.

To this day, I still relish our friendship. Whenever we speak, it feels as if almost no time has passed and we connect immediately. He is the same—caring and consistent, fun and sincere, and ready to listen and engage. And to top it off, he is every bit the top-level musician and teacher he always was. As I type, even though these memories are 35 years old, I remember them like they happened yesterday. Thank you, Mike, for everything, and congratulations on this incredibly well-deserved recognition.

Saxophonist Dave Neill is a full-time professor at Humber Polytechnic in Toronto, where he is the lead of the woodwind area.