Meet Xinqian Li | Jazz guitarist& Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Xinqian Li and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xinqian, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I was 13 years old, I accidentally watched a Chinese TV show, and then I started to like music. At first, I liked singing along with the show, and then I wanted to learn guitar. It happened that my mother had a friend who taught guitar, so I started my music training. After studying guitar for about a year, I discovered that I really loved music and was very talented, so I decided to pursue a career in music.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think the biggest difference between me and others may be my cultural background and the music culture I am learning now. First of all, I grew up in China, but I studied jazz, which is traditional American music. Although I am still very young, compared to young jazz musicians in the United States, I may not have grown up in a jazz environment like them. Secondly, as a female jazz guitarist, I think this is very rare, especially the guitar. What excites me the most is that I have a gift for composition and am working on my first original album, and I hope to express myself through my music. I think it has been a total of 12 years since I started learning guitar. Maybe my career has just begun. I think this is inseparable from my passion. the support of my family and the help of my teachers.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I may take them to jazz clubs such as The York, The World Stage, and Sam First. I may also take them to the beach, museums, Hollywood, etc.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
In fact, during the 12 years I have been learning guitar, I have met many good teachers, who have given me great help and guidance at different stages. But for more than ten years, what I should be most grateful is my mother. She has affirmed me, encouraged me, and supported me all the time. Without her support, I would not be where I am today. I remember when I was in high school, I was still learning fingerstyle guitar. I liked Tommy Emmanuel very much. My mother accompanied me by train from my hometown of Shenyang to Beijing to watch his concert, and accompanied me to the Fingerstyle China Summer Camp in Beijing. My mom has been very supportive of me going through conservatory and now my PhD at the USC Thornton School of Music, and even though I don’t come from a musical family, my parents are really supportive of me doing what I love. For now, I am very grateful to my professor Bruce Forman. He is really supportive and caring about me. He really wants to help me improve. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to learn from such a good teacher.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077433371658&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWZzXlQulCoUaOEhI9YhpBQ

Image Credits
Xinqian Li