We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeffery Ou and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jeffery, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Consistency. If I had to sum it up in one word it would be consistency. Consistency in practicing, in learning, in discovering as much as I possibly can about the repertoire and who I am as a musician. Consistency in taking small steps especially when working on larger projects.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a pianist and emerging piano teacher. By emerging I mean very much in the process of developing and learning the ropes of teaching! (But such is life – a constant process of learning and discovery). I remember I began lessons in piano when I was about 7, and have played pretty much ever since then. I was an unusual child in that I did not participate in a myriad of activities or extracurricular endeavors outside of school. Sure, I enjoyed many things any normal kid would like movies, watching endless cartoon marathons on Saturday mornings and hanging out with friends, but I remember a vast majority of my time was spent practicing. Fast forward to college, I received my bachelors and masters in music from UNT College of Music, and then spent a few years working mostly as a collaborative pianist and teaching sporadically until 2020, when I had the opportunity to further my education at UT-Arlington in the Performance Certificate program. Being a musician definitely hasn’t been an easy road. I’ve struggled more times than I can count with finances, self-esteem, and of course the art of survival in a big, big world doing what I do. I would say my proudest moment (and most unexpected) was when I had the opportunity at age 18 to compete on America’s Got Talent. It was in its fourth season in 2009 and I was just about to graduate high school when I tried out completely on a whim in May. I remember it being quite a whirlwind of a summer – making trips back and forth between home in Carrollton and LA one day, then Vegas the next, having to travel at a minute’s notice and so many experiences in between as I progressed through that season. Plus preparing for college move-in as August rolled around and emailing all my freshman professors about being involved with television and needing accommodations for deadlines, etc. (wonderful first impressions all around, right??). But in the end everything worked out fine. I think the biggest lesson I have learned in my own journey is that life is what you make of it! Find a passion you’re wild about, and really work ceaselessly to maximize your potential in it.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Most definitely all the Korean bbq!! You simply can’t visit the DFW area without majorly sampling the Asian cuisine and wider cultural scene – everything from bakeries to gift shops, parks, museums, malls and community events abound in the Dallas area. It would honestly take at least a good month and a half to navigate most of what DFW has to offer.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely. I am eternally grateful to all my wonderful teachers whom have shaped every aspect of my identity as a pianist: my instructor throughout high school (Baya Kakouberi) who was in countless ways my musical mother, my esteemed college teachers Dr. Steven Harlos, Gustavo Romero and Dr. John Solomons. My parents who moved their family half a globe away to build a life in the States and especially my mom who was the real backbone of my musical upbringing.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ou.jeffery?igsh=MWEydXg0aXU3dDZwcQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Youtube: https://youtu.be/-jvetbLIL-s?feature=shared
Image Credits
Devon Cass