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

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

Zach’s YouTube channel – https://youtube.com/zachheyde

Zach’s IG: @zachheyde

Zach’s Composer Pro Group & Bootcamp – details on https://zachheyde.com

The Call of Raven’s Hollow (Album): https://zachheyde.bandcamp.com/album/the-call-of-ravens-hollow

Connect with Drew

Creative Balance Newsletter: https://thedrewenglish.substack.com/

Drew’s IG: @drewenglishh

Drew’s Website: www.drewenglish.com