We were lucky to catch up with Jason Lo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I knew back when my age was a single digit, that I wanted to be a musician. What kind? What style to perform? How famous? Honestly, as long as I am a professional musician, someone who makes a living from performing, that’s all that mattered to me. I can remember back as far as 2nd grade music class that I was naturally talented at the keyboard. My class mates asked if I could play Chopin’s Minute Waltz on the classroom piano. Although, I don’t appreciate being treated like a jukebox now, I craved the attention and praise because it meant that I could fit in, even if for a moment in 2nd grade music class.

Praise continued throughout my grade school years as I joined classes like band and choir. These were the classes I not only loved the most, but thrived. Friends understood and knew I was born to play the piano. To this day, I’m grateful for their encouragement. I yearned to be better, and the attention.

One of my first jobs was in high school when I was an accompanist for the Central Coast Children’s Choir. It felt great because I helped create music with a skill and talent that came naturally to me. I knew I could make a living by playing the piano. And as a performer, I knew that there was no greater feeling, no greater rush, than being on stage. I’m so happy that I’ve been able to blend these and make a living, performing what represents the extension of my personality.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

The piano makes complete and total sense to me. Notes line up on the page, and my hands take shape quickly to form chords on the imaginary black and white keys at my hands. I comprehend nothing else as quickly. I’m so grateful and lucky that I can carry on and make this a living.

When I was 18, I moved from my hometown, San Luis Obispo, CA, to Long Beach, CA to get my Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Cal State Long Beach’s Cole Conservatory of Music. Afterwards, I got my Master of Music in 2012, and Doctorate of Musical Arts in 2016, both from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, also in Piano Performance. Ever since, I’ve been freelancing and performing as much as I could, as well as teaching/accompanying for choir programs in Elementary Schools, High Schools, and making my way to Mt. San Antonio College, and now my current position at University of La Verne.

As a freelancer, I have to be flexible. One facet is that many music students hire me to perform on their degree recitals. It helps that they normally see me on stage, so they understand how focused I am, how much I care about my Art, and what is presented to the public/consumer. I’ve been asked to travel around the country to collaborate and perform, much like I do here at home, with events like the International Trombone Festival, the World Saxophone Congress, or the US Navy Band Symposium. I also teach piano at the University of La Verne. I only have a few private students outside of this since I have to maintain an active and busy performance schedule. I just have to be open and willing to explore and perform the best I know how. Some career highlights have been at Carnegie Hall (last time was September 2017), a recital and masterclass at University of Honolulu with my recital partner, Saxophonist Andrew Harrison, and even performing at the London 2012 Olympic Games as entertainment.

I try not to use the word “accompanist,” since it is heavily stigmatized. The full term is “collaborative pianist,” but I would be just as happy if you just referred to me as your pianist.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The best part about my life is that I literally play piano for a living. The endeavor in the Arts is unstable, depressing, and sometimes foolish. I can’t remember who told me, “if you have the option of another career, choose the other career.” There is so much rejection, unfairness, and competition in our respective fields, that why wouldn’t you choose something more safe?

I really can’t imagine myself doing something different. Before I got more stable positions in music education, it was literally “music or die.” I have no regrets. I am so lucky that I have this extension of my humanity, because to express is what makes us human (which is why it’s called the Arts and Humanities).

Also, the only response to when I say “I’m a freelance concert pianist,” is “wow, that’s amazing and interesting!”

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

This might be arrogant, but it was humbling for my psyche.

I grew up in a poor, high-strung, immigrant family. My parents emphasized how lazy and stupid my brother and I were, as efforts to push us. They demanded that we were in Honors/Advanced Placement everything, and to take everything extremely seriously, or we weren’t welcome to live in their house. With our due diligence and unwavering obedience, we had rather good grades and went to fabulous schools. Perhaps, I was lazy and stupid all my life, because when I finally practiced and worked hard, I could accomplish whatever I wanted and needed. I won a Teaching Assistantship during my doctorate. Hell, I even have a doctorate!

Then I started teaching after I graduated. I thought I would thrive in high schools since I was so young-spirited and relatable. When I pushed students in the classroom, I was met with resistance, and even worse, apathy. At the university, some students even took pride in not practicing. Education sure has changed since my school days/daze.

Occasionally, my mother would call to check in and see how things are going. I lamented my problems of lackadaisical students to her — it’s a cold day in Hell when I have to go to her for advice. But her response, “they just don’t have the same work ethic that you did.”

This reinforces why I have to maintain flexibility in everyone I encounter. I don’t know their whole stories. I can’t force people to practice more. All I can do to maintain my sanity, is control my output. I have to “go with the flow,” and that’s ok.

“But, you’re the one who said I was lazy all the time and that I needed good work ethic or else I’ll never get anywhere in life!”

“And look how great you turned out — someone hardworking, polite, intelligent, and passionate. Not everyone is like you.”

So the lesson is, not everyone is like me, and it’s not fair to assume that everyone is.

Touché, Mother.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jasonwlo.com
• Instagram: panda.plays.piano
• Youtube: jasonwlo

Image Credits

Marti Lynn