We were lucky to catch up with Qin Yu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Qin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Pursuing your passion is both a privilege, and in my opinion, a must – That is, assuming you are lucky enough to have one. I am aware that not everyone does (in which life is still wonderful in its own way) but if you do have anything that makes your heart beat a little faster, I think it is absolutely worth pursuing or else there will be at least a little bit of the “what if” question niggling at you from time to time. It is also a privilege and gift because not everyone has the means or support to do so. If life has given you that gift, then I believe it is a risk absolutely worth taking.

One thing I always feared was wasting my money, effort and time investing in something that might amount to nothing. I studied film composition at the Berklee College of Music, an institution not exactly known for being cost-friendly, and without any financial aid or scholarship at that. I moved to Los Angeles soon after graduating and was on the “starving musician” grind for awhile, and can say it was absolutely worth the blood, sweat and tears in exchange for the creative high and emotional fulfillment I received.

However, one important lesson I also learned was that passions/interests can change, and it is absolutely okay to pivot and change direction with no guilt tying you down. You may also realize your passions aren’t strong enough to sustain a full-time job or emotional satisfaction, and that is also okay. Although I still compose as a hobby, my main gig is no longer in the creative realm and I felt torn up about it for the longest time, partly because I felt like I had tossed my entire college education in the bin.

I know now that is absolutely not the case, and I would do it all over again if I still felt the same amount of passion as I did in those years. The risk was still worth taking, and gave me some of the most fulfillment I have ever felt even if it wasn’t long lasting.

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.

Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, I started learning piano by ear at the age of three and then shortly began my musical education & lessons the following year. Classically trained by a number of prestigious Colorado-based instructors, I participated and won awards for annual state competitions, was featured in performances with the Colorado Symphony Guild, and regularly composed music as a part of my practice routine. My favorite classes were always Orchestra and Choir in which I was heavily involved throughout grade school. Determined to secure my passions into my future and broaden my musical horizons, I applied to Berklee College of Music and was accepted in the Fall of 2013.

I emerged out of my classical roots in undergrad; I began training in more contemporary styles and learned about a wide range of music cultures around the world which influenced my music palate and boosted my versatility. At Berklee, I studied Film-Scoring with a minor in Music Production & Engineering so I could develop my love for composing and discover my own sound.

Now located in the heart of Los Angeles, I had worked under composer Bear McCreary for several years and have had the incredible opportunity to contribute music for film & TV projects alongside the other amazing composers at his company, Sparks & Shadows. Being exposed & falling in love with other aspects of the film music world throughout this journey, I grew the desire to learn the ins and outs of the industry and expand my knowledge in the music business; while I have never stopped composing to satisfy my creative itch, I am now working as a music coordinator at NBC Universal managing composers and overseeing the entire film music production processes.

For the past six years in Los Angeles, I also have been working as a part-time piano instructor on the weekends for children using my original music and self-written lesson books. I have always had a love for children and spreading the joy and beauty of music to others.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Being a creative professionally in the previous years had been a very turbulent road, but full of magical opportunities, incredible & inspiring people, and immense growth. Struggles included finding my place within the competitive and cut-throat music industry while constantly questioning my worth and purpose.

Being in an industry where your success heavily relies on the opinions of others can be soul-crushing especially when every bit of your work is personal and comes from a vulnerable place. Feeling like the weakest link at work was always a constant struggle as well. However, the most important thing is also to not take the opinions of others to heart; it was just difficult when I constantly doubted my capabilities and potential.

Even today, I experience an ongoing struggle of feeling lost and wondering what it is I’m meant to be doing and if I’m passionate enough to pursue composing again. However, I’ve found beauty in the struggle and uncertainty and am not in a hurry to find any answers. I enjoy the steady journey of discovering myself while meeting amazing people along the way. I learned to take every critique with gratitude and grew more and more resilient to mistakes and ways to improve every single time.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Personally, using it as an emotional outlet and a way to express yourself and all the complex, messy emotions beautifully and in ways that are impossible with words

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.qinyumusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qsquared3/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qin-yu-b4b592a6/

Image Credits

Jimmy Song