We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Helen Jiang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Helen below.
Helen, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
Born and raised in China, I moved to the United States alone at the age of 16 to pursue higher education. Taking such a step during my teenage years played a major role in shaping both my personal growth and my development as a professional musician.
I began playing the piano at age three, but I didn’t truly see myself as a “working professional” until my junior year of college. My first teaching opportunity came unexpectedly when a fellow pianist needed someone to fill in for her students while she was traveling. My first performance job followed a similar pattern—another pianist couldn’t make it to a wedding gig and asked me to step in at the last minute. These two experiences marked my first steps into the professional music world.
Suddenly, I was navigating issues like work authorization, paperwork, cultural differences in education, and the expectations placed on professionals—expectations that go well beyond simply being a good student. I’m grateful that these opportunities came when they did, after I had already adjusted to life in a new country. That timing allowed me to better manage the logistical and cultural challenges that came with them.
That being said, as someone who learns best through observation, I wish I had started earlier in immersing myself in the world of working musicians and recognizing the value of building a musical community. Attending more conferences, exploring a wider range of performances, or even organizing informal gatherings for fellow musicians—these are things I now see as essential. Music doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and “getting better” is not just about productivity in a practice room. As an art form, it thrives on the exchange of ideas, experiences, and inspiration. From a career perspective, too, this field often depends more on personal connections than job listings. Building relationships within the music world is not just enriching—it’s essential.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a performing pianist and music educator. I regularly perform in recitals and concerts, and I teach piano and musical arts to all of my students, whether they are in a classroom setting or taking private lessons. In terms of my uniqueness as a performer, every performing musician has their own take on music interpretation and their understanding of tone and color. That is for me and every listener to judge. As an educator, I am proud to say that I not only teach piano playing to my students, but moreover, the understanding of music and other connected art forms – something I wish I had been exposed to much earlier than I did. I will introduce them to operas, symphonic music, and the history of the music rather than only focus on what’s on the paper.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
The educational programs offered by major cultural organizations and performing venues can be incredibly enriching. For example, the Metropolitan Opera has an education department that hosts programs giving teachers and students behind-the-scenes access to productions. Similarly, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Carnegie Hall have dedicated education departments that actively invite public engagement. These programs are valuable resources—not only for students but for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the arts. They also play a vital role in fostering a community of like-minded creators and thinkers.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
It’s the sense of validation I feel when I take a risk in a business decision and am rewarded with a positive outcome. Additionally, there’s something deeply satisfying about witnessing my own growth and becoming more knowledgeable over time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.changhelenjiangpianists.
com - Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelen-jiang/
