From Piano Lessons to 100K Subs: Composer Zach Heyde on Building a Modern Music Career

Written By Drew English

Episode Overview

Drew sits down with LA-based composer and educator Zach Heyde to unpack how he’s blended film scoring, a 100,000-subscriber YouTube channel and a thriving mentorship program into a balanced creative life. They dig into sustaining passion, ditching hustle culture, and why sharing knowledge can be a business model in itself.

Key Topics & Timestamps

  • 00:01 – Zach’s early start: piano at 7 and first composing gigs → landing “Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight” (dream job) NSP - Zach Heyde

  • 08:00 – Reality of writing 10 min of orchestral music per week & protecting creative energy NSP - Zach Heyde

  • 16:00 – Moving from Tennessee to LA for community, not clout—how genuine relationships create work opportunities NSP - Zach Heyde

  • 20:50 – 18 years on YouTube: what 100 K subs taught Zach about intention vs. vanity metrics NSP - Zach Heyde

  • 33:00 – Inside Zach’s Composer Bootcamp & Pro Group: teaching the business of music, not just theory NSP - Zach Heyde

  • 42:30 – Lowering the “publish” barrier: tactics for beating over-thinking and sharing in real time NSP - Zach Heyde

  • 50:00 – Upcoming projects: recording live strings in Budapest and turning the process into content NSP - Zach Heyde

Takeaways

  • Your creative “North Star” evolves. Let the fog clear naturally.

  • Time-boxed scoring (3 hrs/minute) demands new workflows; balance craft with sustainability.

  • Authentic networking = making friends first; work follows.

  • Audience trust grows faster when your content serves genuine curiosity, not algorithms.

  • Teaching can satisfy creative, financial, and community needs simultaneously.

  • Ship fast: capture the impulse before perfectionism kills momentum.

Resources & Links

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From Hustle to Purpose: Redefining Success as a Creative