Joël Tardif attended a bow-making workshop proposed by the Banff Centre of Fine Arts and bow makers given by the master William Salchow and David Tamblyn in Toronto.
He worked for eight years for Richard Compartino, a Luthier who was located in Sainte-Foy, Quebec. At this time, he deepened his knowledge in bow making, instrument repair, and practiced all the daily tasks of the Luthier.
Joel Tardif graduated from l'École de lutherie artistique du Noroît (ÉLAN), in Quebec City, in 1996. He received two scholarships during his training.
In 2004, he founded the Luthiers Schönau & Tardif inc. with his colleague Guillaume Schönau, in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste area in Québec.