I teach music in various forms, mostly saxophone and flute playing, jazz combo performance, and the use of the computer to make music.
This current session (winter 2025), I am teaching three courses at Laval University, Québec, namely
Digital Audio Design and Postproduction, Interactive Music and Digital Audio Production Project.
On the other hand, I am a researcher in the field of music expertise and the psychology of music, notably with the PAM laboratory.
I will be presenting my work at the MHRI Third Annual Conference (Ottawa, Canada) in May 2025.
Some of my works are available below.
My doctoral project aims to explore the potential of musical listening as an object of attention during focused attention meditation. It is initially based on the application of a methodology we will refer to as "Consultative Research-Creation" (CR-C) with the goal of composing a musical track that best supports meditation. During the first phase, the musical track was composed based on available scientific literature regarding the musical characteristics that support mindfulness. Subsequently, the researcher-creator consulted six experienced participants after three meditation sessions to enhance the musical track through qualitative analysis of their feedback (Chapter 1). Upon data saturation and unanimous agreement among the participants, this track was considered supportive of mindfulness during their focused attention meditations, and its musical characteristics have been documented. The methodology of the CR-C approach used in this phase is detailed in Chapter 2 to inspire other research-creation projects. The second phase employs a mixed-methods approach to compare the effect of two focused-attention meditations among 16 participants: one focused on the breath (a standard practice in meditation) and the other focused on the musical track produced during phase one of this study. The results, presented in Chapter 3, demonstrate the music's ability to enrich the participants' meditative experience both by prolonging their focus and improving the quality of their attention. These promising results pave the way for further research on the role of music in supporting mindfulness and offer practical implications for third-wave therapies and wellness programs.
Ph.D. Thesis available here (about half of it is redacted in english)
The music tracks mentionned are available to listen on Insight Timer for free.
Barbier, L., Liu-Rosenbaum, A., Després, J-P., (2025, May). Research-creation: composing a music track as an object for focused attention meditation, followed by an analysis of its effectiveness in comparison to a breath-based meditation [paper presentation]. Third Annual Music and Health Research Institute Conference, Ottawa, Canada. https://www.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/events-all/mhri-third-annual-conference
Bissonnette, J., Tremblay-Grégoire, C., Struthers, G. E., Bricault, A., Barbier, L., Samson, R. L., Sasseville, M., & Rainville, P. (2025, May). Subjective musical experiences: A systematic review to propose an exhaustive framework [poster presentation]. Third Annual Music and Health Research Institute Conference, Ottawa, Canada. https://www.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/events-all/mhri-third-annual-conference
Soon in Intersections :
Barbier, L., Liu-Rosenbaum A., & Després J-P. (2024). Les caractéristiques musicales soutenant l’état de pleine conscience chez des pratiquants expérimentés. Intersections : revue canadienne de musique, 41(1).
Barbier, L., Liu-Rosenbaum A., Després J-P. Supporting Mindfulness: Supporting Mindfulness: A Comparison of the Effectiveness of a Composed Musical Track with a Breath-Based Meditation. Article submitted for publication.
Barbier, L., Liu-Rosenbaum A., Després J-P. A Consultative Approach to Research-Creation (CR-C): practical application and model. Article submitted for publication.
Audio designer on Composia, video game meant to teach music composition.
Audio designer with theater projects :
-Abécédaire de la survie et de la bio-diversité (Carole Nadeau), 2023
-Autour du Rose Enfer des Animaux (Collectif DTT), 2022
Old but gold: A video introduction to a class for beginners learning to play the saxophone.