We recently connected with Sophie Chan and have shared our conversation below.
Sophie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my Youtube video: “Asking 100 Musicians why they do Music: A Personal Journey.” A full year into my degree as a Violin Performance Major, I started to question why I was at music school. I developed Imposter Syndrome and severely lost sight of my “why” from the start. To press deeper into this question I asked myself (“Why do I do music?”), I decided to ask 100 other musicians what their answers were. I hoped to gain insight on their “why” and see if any of that what apply to me. I got to interview some of my mentors and admirable peers in the process and get to know them a little more as well.
Sophie, 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?
Hi! My name is Sophie Chan and I am a violinist and Content Creator. I am an aspiring musician and love sharing the journey along on my Youtube (@SophieCViolin or Sophie C.) and my Instagram (@Jemviolin). I began violin at age 9, but did not take it seriously until about age 16. Because of this late decision to pursue music, I felt like I was behind in the industry. However, without a doubt, music is something I cherish deeply and love sharing with others. So, I press on and continue this journey to learn what it means to be an artist. On my Youtube Channel and Instagram account, I share my life in the forms of vlogs, technique videos, practice musings, and reflection videos. I’m sharing my life as an artist second, but as a human being first. I hope you enjoy following along to see what comes of these baby steps I take everyday, and that my music and content can bring some joy to your life!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Perfectionism. I think to be a musician, there’s gotta be a perfectionist side to you. The perfectionism within can make us strive for the highest level of beauty and dive into extraordinary detail that makes all the difference.
Perfectionism can also hold us back, though. It holds us back from trying sometimes out of fear that if it’s not perfect, it’s not worth it. At least, it held me back. To let go of perfectionism was to accept humility instead. To accept that I am flawed, that it is okay to make mistakes, and that there is grace. Since letting go of my perfectionist habits, I have felt so much more freedom in my art and frankly, in my relationships and daily life.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is encouraging others to dig deeper into their most personal thoughts. Art inspires and awakens the introspective side of us as humans. No matter what field one is a part of, there is an artistic side that brings meaning to it all. Art is finding something beautiful in the mundane. There is beauty all around, and I love inspiring others to take joy in the little things.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jemviolin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SophieCViolin