Today we’d like to introduce you to Youngmin You
Hi YoungMin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In many ways, I feel like my life has been all about defying the odds and rising above the impossible. But I know the true reason behind all of my success in life is this — It’s only because of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and grace that I am where I am today.
When my parents were pregnant with me, my mom prayed Psalm 33:2-3 over me…”Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” (It’s never been lost on me just how powerful the prayers of a mother and father are for their children.)
Growing up in South Korea, I remember being in awe of my older sister. She looked so cool playing Chopsticks, that at 6, it became my life mission to play piano just like her. Only, my family didn’t have any money…My dad was a pastor of a small church, and both of my parents lived humbly and generously. I still remember the 50 sq. ft. apartment we lived in and the four of us sharing a bed each night. So I went on YouTube and taught myself how to play.
But when I turned 15, my life changed forever. Even though my parents couldn’t afford it, they gave me the opportunity to be an international student in America. I thought it would be my chance at a perfect life, but instead, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. After a 14-hour flight, I had lost everything…family, friends, food, language….everything I knew was gone. But God reminded me I still had two things: God and piano.
The next two years were some of the most challenging, yet rewarding, times of my life. I lived with 7 different host families in those two years. But amidst the constant changes, God became my best friend and piano was my way of communicating with Him and everyone around me.
I kept teaching myself how to play by ear, and eventually decided to pursue music as a career. But money was still a huge problem. I only had enough money to take 3 formal piano lessons and apply to 1 school. If I didn’t get accepted, my only option was to go back to South Korea and serve in the military.
Even though people told me I couldn’t do it, God had greater plans for me, and through a series of miracles, I was accepted as a music composition major to my dream school: the Wheaton College-Conservatory of Music!
In 2016, after graduating and getting married to my wife, Chantelle, we began working as musicians in our own business. And all along, God has brought us opportunities and blessings beyond what we could imagine.
My first album ranked on Billboard Chart Top 10, our business won a 2 Comma Club Award for hitting 7 figures, and we have students and clients in 70+ countries. Today, I compose and record my own music to reach people around the world with the Gospel of Christ.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One challenge within the world of music is that you spend years developing technical skills around your instrument, but receive little to no instruction around being a business owner. So when my wife and I graduated, we fell into the cycle most musicians fall into — saying yes to every opportunity and gig that comes your way.
I always knew having an online presence, especially one on YouTube, was vital to our success. So during the day (9am-4pm) I would create originals or cover songs to record and release. Then, I would play at a local restaurant from 5pm-11pm. I was literally playing the piano anywhere from 5-10 hours a day for over two years. But my body couldn’t keep up with the pace, and I eventually developed serious hand injuries.
After seeing a few different doctors, I was told I had to quit playing piano for 3-6 months or risk losing piano for the rest of my life. So at the start of 2019, Chantelle and I made the decision to give me the rest I needed. This marks one of the most challenging periods of my career, but seeing how God used it for our good is such a powerful testimony!
During those 6 months, God opened the doors for me to start studying online marketing and business. I still remember setting up a Shopify page for cat toys and thinking, “What if I applied all these same tactics to my music?”.
A few months later, I did just that with my very first album. Not only did it get ranked on Billboard Chart Top 10, but that year, we made 10x MORE online than my best year gigging!
Another challenge I face as a creative is staying true to the vision I have for projects while remaining patient in the waiting.
My biggest project to date was a music video we did on the helipad at Ventanas (downtown ATL). I had a super clear vision of bringing a grand piano, a string quartet and a huge cross onto a helipad and getting shots of Atlanta in the background. But the number of helipads in the city are limited…and I’m sure you can imagine how some of those conversations went. Haha!
And to make things even more challenging, when filming outdoors you need to be mindful of the weather, so this left a very limited window of opportunity. But I wasn’t willing to compromise on my vision. I knew that if God gave it to me, He would see it through to completion.
While I waited to hear back from helipads around the city, I worked with a carpenter on building a 10-foot cross, hired a string quartet, and found a brilliant videographer who shared my vision for the project. We picked a date to film in faith, but 2 weeks out from the shoot date, we still didn’t have a location secured.
Not going to lie, I was pretty nervous at this point. But once again, God worked it all out! At just the right time, I was able to secure a meeting with Lauren Engelke and her team at Ventanas — and the vision I had been holding onto for months suddenly became my reality.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In all the music that I create, my goal is to encourage and inspire my listeners, and share the love of God with them.
Some years have higher output than others. (Last year alone, I composed, recorded and released over 40 pieces of music.) This year, even though I’ll still be releasing original music, I have a lot more travel planned to film music videos and reach people in person.
I’ve also created a couple online courses that build others up so they can live out their dreams.
In 2020 I released my Signature Beginner Piano Course which serves over 5,000 students worldwide. And in 2022 I released The Elite Musician, an online course that teaches musicians how to build, grow, and maintain an online business that serves their audience and mission. Between my group coaching and 1-on-1 clients, I’ve served over 1,000 musicians/entrepreneurs, ranging from Grammy nominated artists, musicians who are featured on the radio, and professors at some of the most recognized schools of music.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My faith is central to everything I do. My mission is to use all my gifts, talents and time to glorify God and bring others closer to Christ.
Pricing:
- $27 – Creation Immersive Listening Experience
Contact Info:
- Website: https://youngminyou.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngminyou/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youngminyoumusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/youngminyou
Image Credits
Credits for “Additional Photos”
Top Row: Paul Vermeesch (far left) – Addison Rudicile (far right)
Center Row: Cara Khayat (far left) – Tabor J Photo & Film (center and far right)
Bottom Row: Tabor J Photo & Film (all photos)
