We recently connected with Jacqueline Jensen and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacqueline, thanks for joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I’ve forever said that “I had always planned on doing music” and while that is true, I wouldn’t currently have the teaching business I have now, if it wasn’t for a massive leap of faith.

A couple years after graduating with my music degree, I found myself extremely burnt out and stressed. I was working multiple jobs, hustling as hard as I could, and had very little time to do things that brought me joy. It got to a point where, even though I was surrounded by incredible people, I just couldn’t do it anymore. I felt deeply unfulfilled and I missed making music everyday—something I swore I would always do.

So, in the spring of 2017, I decided to quit all my jobs. I took the entire summer off, lived off savings, and spent the next three months rediscovering what was important to me. I rested, I hiked with my dog, I swam, and most importantly, I created. At the beginning of that summer I gave myself a firm deadline; I would be teaching private lessons by the end of August. I am so proud to say that when August came, I was ready. I trusted that something wonderful was just around the corner, and so I redid my resume and made the cutest business cards you ever did see! By the end of that month I had 13 amazing students, contracted through a couple lesson companies. By the end of that semester, I had over 30 students, and I was teaching full time! 7 years later, I have my own studio, my roster always stays full with 40+ students, I’ve taught more that 22,000 lessons, hosted countless events, and have truly been blessed to have made music with so many incredible humans.

Jacqueline, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

When strangers ask me what I do for a living I have a habit of saying “I am a music teacher!” and leaving it at that. And while that is certainly true, it doesn’t truly represent who I am and everything I do.

On a technical level, I am a multi-genre vocal coach, advanced piano teacher and vocal producer. I work with students and artists of all ages and am proud to teach many different modalities and genres of music. In private lessons we have the option of working on multiple instruments, genres like pop/contemporary, musical theater, classical, jazz, etc., we do ear training, music theory, and so much more. For the vocal production side, I help artists create the best projects they can, through private coaching in the studio and out, arranging, crafting harmonies, songwriting and more. The opportunities in both lessons and vocal production really are endless.

At the core of everything though, and what sets me apart from other ‘music teachers’, is that my highest priority is empowerment. My goal is to create an environment for my students and artists where they can fully express and be themselves. With me, you are safe to experience every emotion, make every single mistake, and express yourself creatively, in all aspects. I have found that creating spaces like this leads to the greatest learning potential, as well as rock solid and trusting relationships. Which, as a teacher is invaluable, because when I ask you to make really weird noises in your voice lessons, you’re more likely to trust the process.

Lesson time with me is trauma informed and will always focus on compassion and championing your strengths. I firmly believe that music is for everyone and I will forever try my hardest to create that space.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

A few years ago, after I’d been teaching for a couple years, my mother shared with me that from the moment I entered this life, her greatest hope for me is that I would be an instrument of change for the greater good, and that I’d leave a lasting positive impact.

It brings me immeasurable joy knowing I get to do that with my students, in my lessons. Every single day I get to uplift people through music and compassion, while helping to not only instill musical abilities, but a deep seated confidence in who they are.

I of course love performing in my own right, but goodness, there is nothing sweeter than watching a student absolutely smash a performance after months and months of hard work. Due to the nature of my job, I very often am blessed by getting to work with my students for a long time, sometimes years. I get to watch them grow and adapt into new versions of themselves, be creative with their self expression, and figure out exactly who they are and what they have to offer to the world. And I get to do all that while we make music.

It is truly the most rewarding thing in the world to see them grow, work hard, and then get on stage and perform. The pride and joy that radiates from them afterwards is unlike anything else, and my life’s goal is to extend that feeling to as many people as I can.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Taking it back to the start of my teaching career, I know a ton of people thought I was absolutely bonkers for quitting my jobs, before having the next chapter of life lined up. It wasn’t “practical”, they said. I unequivocally knew, though, that everything would work out. I trusted that life would unfold exactly as it should, and that my desire to make music in this capacity was needed.

Ultimately, I think that’s the thing makes creatives special—their fiery and unwavering desire to do what their soul calls for, even when it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Creatives beautifully challenge that notion of practicality by creating lives centered around expression and joy. I think if every person had the opportunity to fill their days with what fulfills their souls, we’d all be a lot better off.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://JacquelineJensenMusic.com
• Instagram: @Jacqueline.Jensen.Music
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/JacquelineJensenMusic
• Youtube: https://Youtube.com/JacquelineJnsn

Image Credits

Madison Jackson