We recently connected with YE JIN and have shared our conversation below.
YE, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity, I believe, is more of an inherent trait than something you can just work hard to acquire. It’s not easy to keep that creative spark alive. For me, staying true to myself is key, having a childlike curiosity and eagerness to explore topics that fascinate me. Also, staying optimistic is crucial; it’s only when I’m optimistic that I have the motivation and energy to learn new things. Additionally, visiting different places and interacting with people from various backgrounds helps to expand my horizons. The more experiences I have, the more I can connect these people and events in my mind, which often gives me inspiration when I need it for creating something. Stepping outside of my comfort zone, not limiting my thoughts, and believing in the realm of possibilities are also vital. Most importantly, I try to avoid becoming too rational, pragmatic, and utilitarian, as these can be significant impediments to creativity.
As musicians, we can channel our creativity into composing, improvising, ensemble playing, or experimenting with different music genres on our traditional instruments. For example, I use the traditional pipa to play jazz and bluegrass, challenging conventional styles and forms. Creativity in music is a fusion of inherent talent and extensive musical experience. Being highly attuned to music allows one to create intuitively. This is why many musicians excel in playing from scores but find improvisation challenging. Improvisation truly tests a musician’s genuine skill and overall capability.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a musician who specializes in playing the Pipa – a Chinese lute. I began my musical journey at the age of 5, and over the years, I have had the privilege of performing in various countries including China, the US, and Australia.
Originally hailing from Shanghai, China, I completed my bachelor’s degree at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, with a focus on Pipa Performance. By 2010, I was invited to feature as a solo performer at China National Pavilion in the 2010 Shanghai World Exposition. After spending 3 years in the Pipa performing industry, I embarked on a new chapter by pursuing my first master’s degree in performing arts management in New York. This experience allowed me to immerse myself in American culture and Western values, enriching my perspective.
As a 13 year old,I won renown for winning the silver medal in a pipa competition in Shanghai. Since 2015, I have performed with different musicians in various major cities, including New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, in the United States, and have been committed to promoting the excellence of Chinese folk music culture. I performed as a Pipa soloist at the Queen’s Library in New York, Chinatown in Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, I won first prize at three international music competitions. These strides culminated in my serving as a judge in two international music competitions in 2019. Moreover, in 2018, and later in 2021, I joined the first and then second of the top two exclusive professional Chinese musician associations.
I am committed to overturning the tradition of Pipa, and creating a sense of sophistication and modernity in Chinese folk music. My goal is to compose musical works that are more in line with the aesthetics of the broader American audience and the American market yet distinctly Chinese. As a remarkable example of a young minority female musician in the United States. My unique background, bridging my Asian heritage with my exposure to Western countries, as well as my extensive international work experiences, set me apart from my peers.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Here’s my advice.
First and foremost, be eager to learn and willing to share. It’s vital to explore and learn about areas outside your own expertise. Avoid staying in your comfort zone, as this can lead to a narrow mindset. Embrace learning in all its forms, whether through books, experiences, or from people around you. What you don’t know yet, as seen in others, is your opportunity to grow. Additionally, don’t hold back in sharing your knowledge, be it music, ideas, or experiences, with others. This exchange not only enriches you but also those around you, creating a cycle of continuous learning and growth.
Secondly, embrace challenges and always be prepared. Success often comes to those who are ready to face difficulties head-on. Don’t shy away from challenges; instead, see them as opportunities to strengthen and develop yourself. Being prepared means accumulating experience, conserving energy, and honing the necessary skills to tackle any situation. This preparedness helps reduce anxiety and fear in the face of new challenges, allowing you to handle them with confidence and poise.
Finally, trust yourself and don’t overly focus on success or failure. Believing in yourself is crucial for personal and professional growth. Understand that success and failure are not absolute terms but are subjective and dependent on perspective. Focus on your journey, your growth, and your satisfaction rather than external validations. Remember, the opinions of others are secondary; what truly matters is your own belief in your abilities and your work. This self-trust will lead you to a more focused, disciplined approach to your goals, allowing you to appreciate your efforts regardless of the outcome.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I personally lean towards the idea of investing effort in improving areas where I’m not as strong. That’s why, after graduating from college, I went to New York to pursue a master’s degree in Arts Management, and now I’m studying for a second master’s in Business School. I want to make it clear that I’m not doing this just for the sake of obtaining degrees, but purely out of personal interest. On the other hand, I hope to combine the business and management skills I’m learning with my pipa playing to create a new career path in the future. When you have more expertise in other fields than your peers, the opportunities that come your way will naturally be yours, not theirs.
I believe that being a multi-skilled individual is already a trend. The term ‘slashers’ has been around for many years, referring to those who are capable of working in multiple different fields. Being a musician is a highly specialized job; at least for instrumentalists, starting to learn an instrument at the age of 3-5 is common, and starting at 7-10 is considered late. So, we often envied others’ childhoods when we were young. However, sometimes our intensive early training, though it makes us more proficient in our field, can quickly lead us into a comfort zone.It’s a pity for musicians to know nothing beyond music
I’m a musician who doesn’t want to be confined to a specific field; I’d rather understand other industries. Here. Here are two great examples I want to share. Elon Musk stresses the value of learning across various fields for sparking innovation. He suggests that focusing solely on one area can limit your creative potential. Instead, combining knowledge from different domains can lead to extraordinary innovations and new opportunities.Yo-Yo Ma left Juilliard to study anthropology at Harvard. He commented, “At Juilliard, I might not learn diverse knowledge, but at Harvard, I met very interesting people. They discussed music beyond instruments, unlike at Juilliard, where the focus was on instruments — a significant difference. If one always thinks from the aspect of their own behavior, they tend to develop more in terms of physical actions.” These two examples already adequately illustrate that musicians need not stop exploring other fields because of their expertise.
I believe that having a professional skill, like in sports or arts, combined with knowledge in technology, business, or other areas, will make my path broader and easier to navigate. So, while I’m young, I should go to the places I need to go, learn what I need to learn, and accept the challenges I must face. These are intangible assets that cannot be taken away and will benefit me for life. Fortunately, I’m doing just that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: jin_pipa
Image Credits
Sergio Villarini Please noted: he shot the pics with 2 red drops ones, and 1 bathtub, total is 3 . the other one is not belong to him.
