“Music is a way to express my experiences as an artist and as a human”:  Interview with Pianist and composer, talented musician YoungMin You

YoungMin You

ML&L - Who or what inspired you to take up the piano?

YoungMin - My older sister! When I was 7, my 10 year sister started playing piano and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.


ML&L - What kind of musical background or training did you have?

YoungMin - I learned most of my musical skills and knowledge by watching YouTube videos. After graduating from high school, I attended the Wheaton College Conservatory (IL) and received a degree in Music Composition.


ML&L - How often and for how long do you practice daily?

YoungMin - When it comes to piano playing, I practice about 2 hours daily. I also continue to practice my composition and arranging skills every day. Depending on the project I am working on, and adding everything together, I probably practice my music 4-6 hours a day.

ML&L - Have you ever ventured with the electric piano or synthesizers?

YoungMin - Yes. I have a few Synthesizers, including a couple of brands like Yamaha and M-Audio. I love to mess around with plugins and exploring all the different sounds. It’s especially fun to play drums on my synth pads!


ML&L - How do you make your repertoire choices ?

YoungMin - My inspirations come from many different places. Sometimes I accidentally come across a new song on the radio. Sometimes I have a sudden creative idea on how to put my own spin on a song I like. Other times, my fans or family members give me ideas and requests.


ML&L - What tips do you have for people interested in playing piano or wanting to improve their playing skills?

YoungMin - The most important thing is to find an artist that you really love, and dive deep into their compositions and/or arrangements. For me, growing up, one of my favorite pianists was John Schmidt from the Piano Guys. Even before he got big with the Piano Guys, I was a huge fan and bought all of his sheet music. I listened to all of his music on repeat and practiced them like crazy every day until I mastered them. So, find an inspiring artist and really dig into their style and learn what makes their music so compelling, both through intense listening and playing!

ML&L - What's the hardest part about being a musician and what's the best?

YoungMin - The hardest part about being a musician is that you have to be extremely self-disciplined if you want to make music your career. Just like many other freelancers, you will have to be your own boss and be able to multitask well. The best part is that I get to be a part of my people’s lives in both their lowest and their highest moments, and share my life with them through what I love the most.


ML&L - What do you do when you are not involved with music?

YoungMin - I work out, I play my favorite computer game Starcraft, and I spend a ton of time watching Gary Vee and Ravi Zacharias on YouTube.


ML&L - What music do you most enjoy playing?

YoungMin - I live in the moment, so it really is whatever project I’m working on at the time. I only work on stuff I truly love and believe in, so it becomes a small obsession of mine and gets 100% of my attention and favor.   


ML&L - What does the word 'interpretation' mean to you?

YoungMin - You make it your own. You can have the same composition, but depending on how you perceive it and feel the music, you can express it very differently. I would say, it’s like putting seasoning on your entree. The main dish is there, but depending on how you garnish it, it will taste like a very different dish.

ML&L - What are your goals as a musician?

YoungMin - The most important thing for me is to share love, joy and passion through my music.


ML&L - Any final thoughts?

YoungMin - I am beyond grateful to be a musician, especially in this day and age. It’s such an incredible thing to be able to share my music on different social media platforms and connect with fans from literally all over the world. The fact that I can have even a small impact on people across the world through my art is such a blessing to me and I will never take that for granted.