We recently connected with Isabelle Jamois and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Isabelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I am happy as an artist, but happiness means different things to different people. Music is a grounding force in my life, but it sure shakes things up. I have to travel a lot and unlike a “regular” profession, I honestly don’t know what my life will look like in 1 year, let alone 5 or 10. My life as an artist is centered around believing everything will work out, the right connections will be made, and God will guide me to the right place. It takes a lot of faith. It also requires a lot of sacrifice: time with friends and family, exploring new hobbies, and any time away from my instrument. My flute is my copilot on all of my travels and any vacations, which means that I end up practicing in hotels and cars. But since my life has always centered around music, I can’t imagine my life without it.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Playing the flute and everything about the process of making music makes me feel connected to the world. In an activity I call “fluting”, I play, listen to, teach, rehearse with other musicians, and engage in the musical world around me. Loving music doesn’t make me special by any means; everyone loves different kinds of music for different reasons. No kind of music is inherently better or more valuable than another. Performing and teaching music, even though it is categorized as classical, still is a powerful connecting force. I could be performing a piece by Bach composed in the 18th century or a piece written yesterday by a student composer, but the driving force is the same. Different kinds of music suit different tastes, and I’m exploring how I can perform different genres of music on my instrument to suit different purposes and attract different audiences, both in solo and group contexts. I want to share this with as many people as possible as I grow into my artistic career when I finish school, including starting a private studio where I can teach young flutists how to explore their own potential and engage musically with the world around them in an authentic and personal way.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My previous mentors have been strong guiding forces in my musical life. They taught me how to problem-solve, prioritize specific goals, and work smarter, not harder. Often, there are musical issues that are easily solved by taking a step back, identifying an issue, and fixing it. It sounds simple, but it makes me take my ego away and treat myself like my own student. I want to teach these skills to the next generation of flutists. These skills go beyond the practice room and a musical context and are valuable when applied to any other pursuit.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Unfortunately, the United States as a whole isn’t the best home for classical musicians, especially ones with a passion for orchestral music like myself. Our society is beautifully diverse with people who like many different kinds of music, but classical simply isn’t getting as much hype or excitement compared to other genres. I mean let’s be honest here, Beethoven isn’t dropping anything new. But I think the public can support artists through directly engaging with the artists in their community. This means attending live concerts, which in a classical setting would be orchestral or chamber concerts, following musicians on social media and engaging with their content, or picking up a new instrument and taking lessons. It’s about trying something new; classical music wasn’t intended to be stuffy or exclusive. There’s room for everyone to engage with and enjoy this genre of art, which is what the classical culture and its artists need to thrive in today’s world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://isabellejamoisflute.com/
- Instagram: @isabelle_jamois
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005007764969&sk=about_overview
- Youtube: @isabellejamois4754
Image Credits
Shell Conner Dransart