Biography
Biography
about Étienne:
“Charismatic... unbelievable.... students are actually excited about learning grammar.”
The Hamilton Spectator
“He is dubbed the Eminem of Children’s Music because his unique blend of music wins over audiences.” Windsor Star
“...The performer that teachers trust most.” London Free Press
“Parents are impressed and grateful to see their children enhance their language skills, but have fun doing it.” Shoreline Weekly
“The music is life-changing” M. Goble, Teacher
Coming off a successful World Tour 2007 and FRENCHSTOCK 2008 (www.frenchstock.ca) that saw him perform sold-out concerts across Canada, the United States, and all over Australia, Étienne is at it again. “Le retour,” Étienne’s ninth album released by Educorock Productions Inc. is now available! Songs on this CD include:
1. Sauvez la planète (club dance song featuring vocab. on recycling and environmental issues)
2. Le passé composé (hard rock anthem on regular –ER, -IR and –RE verbs)
3. The Flag Song (dance track on use/placement of pronouns from « me,te,se…lui,leur,y, en »)
4. Des verbes irréguliers au p.c. (hip hop song for the passé composé of most irregular verbs)
5. Ma famille (rock song covering key family vocabulary and interesting brain-teasers)
6. Pourquoi Take French (famous rap song that tells exactly why students should take French)
7. Allô! Salut! Bonjour! (hip hop song covering dozens of basic French expressions)
8. Le monstre sous mon lit (scary music backing this fantastic descriptive art exercise)
9. Des expressions avec être et avoir (funky song covering dozens of useful expressions)
10. The Beauty of Discovery (touching ballad from a FFLA/Glencoe McGraw-Hill song contest)
11. Le monstre sous mon lit (instrumental version)
12. The Beauty of Discovery (instrumental version)
Continuing in the spirit of his eight previous releases, this CD comes power-packed with catchy hip-hop, club dance, rap, rock and reggae tracks. This musical versatility is the reason children continue to enjoy the music of Étienne into their teen years. Each high-energy song is matched with its purposeful, educational lyrics which are designed and guaranteed to improve literacy in French.
Since arriving on the Children's music scene in 1993, tens of thousands of children, parents and educators, in homes and classrooms around the world, have been rockin' and hip hoppin' to the distinctive English, French and Spanish music of Étienne. One of the most recognizable names in Children’s and Educational music, Étienne breaks down barriers and makes learning fun for all ages. Parents and teachers praise the music as inspiring. Each song effectively teaches a range of topics from basic alphabet, numbers and vocabulary to all forms of grammar. The popularity of the music and demand for concert appearances compels Étienne to split his teaching duties with his musical obligations. His performances are praised as "interactive and motivating," "a class act," and the "ultimate educational experience." Étienne juggles a teaching career with sold-out concert tours, annually presenting keynote addresses and workshops at major North American Foreign language conferences, as well as writing and producing new material.
Étienne is the stage-name of Steven Langlois, a teacher with the Greater Essex County District School Board. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, he began performing at a young age. While attending the University of Windsor, where he graduated with a B.A. in French Language and Literature and a B.Ed., he began composing songs designed to help children learn English, French and Spanish using popular styles of music. Now residing in LaSalle, Ontario, with his wife and two children, he has taught English and French to students from grades one to twelve for the past sixteen years.
Étienne authors and composes for several widely-used international school programs produced by leading educational companies including Thomson Nelson, Oxford University Press, Pearson Education, Prentice Hall, Ginn, Gage Canada and Denmark’s Forlag Malling Beck. His music is distributed in most major music stores and by Children’s and Educational distributors worldwide.
Recent Awards and Honours Include:
*2009 and 2005 Nominee for “Canada’s Favourite Children’s Artist of the Year Award” (CMW “Indies” Awards).
*Winner of the “Canada’s Favourite Children’s Artist of the Year Award (2004)” (CMW “Indies” Awards). Nominees for this award were chosen by members of the music industry and winners were determined by national fan-based voting.
*Winner of the “2003 Children's Album of Year” award at the Canadian Music Week “Indies” Awards ceremony where his CD “C’est le temps” was chosen over those of many established Children’s artists including Fred Penner.
*Recipient of the 2003 Helen B. St. John Award for “outstanding professional contribution and leadership in the field of modern languages” from the Ontario Modern Language Teachers' Association. Akin to a ‘lifetime achievement award,’ Étienne is the youngest person to be awarded this honour.
*Winner of a “2002 Parents' Choice Award” for his video “Rockumentaire.” This educational music video was placed on the same esteemed list as the then, newly released Harry Potter film. Étienne’s CD “C'est le temps” also earned a “2002 Parents’ Choice Award.”
Reaching beyond his music, Étienne interacts regularly with his fans via his website www.educorock.com. Established in 1995, this highly-acclaimed website receives 100,000 hits per month and features the "Fan Zone Riddle Contest" where fans can win CDs, posters, videos and T-shirts for answering riddles and challenges.
Instrumentation
Étienne - singer, composer
Discography
Le retour CD - 2008
Frenchstock Compilation CD - 2007
"Beauty of Discovery" (single) - 2006
Me gusta CD - 2005
Grammar Jams 2 CD - 2004
Grammar Jams CD - 2003
C'est le temps CD - 2002
Rockumentaire (Videos Collection) - 1999
Educorock Espanol CD - 1999
La danse des araignees CD - 1998
Chez Moi CD - 1996
Étienne s/t CD - 1994
Plus several singles that Étienne has composed and produced for educational publishing companies including Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, Thomson Nelson, Pearson Ed., Oxford University Press, Gage Canada, Prentice Hall Ginn and Denmark's Forlag Malling Beck.
Links
| http://www.frenchstock.ca |