We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Vess. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.

Hi David, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

Every job I’ve had has shaped me both as a creative and as a teacher, often in ways I hadn’t expected. For instance, the skills I gained working as a bartender and waiter surprisingly impact my career today. While it may sound counterintuitive, these roles taught me essential skills: how to sell ideas, speak confidently in public, and manage multiple types of clients at once. These lessons carry over directly into how I run my classroom and engage with clients in my work.

I also want to highlight a less-discussed reality: navigating two worlds at once. Early in my teaching career, I couldn’t make ends meet on adjunct pay alone. So, I became a “Professor in the Morning,” then drove into Boston to wait tables in the evening. It was a strange mix—high-status job by day, low-status by night—but it gave me a unique perspective on the resilience needed in creative fields.

Another valuable lesson came from being the youngest member of my department. It’s challenging to earn respect as a peer when older colleagues can be territorial, and you’re not always seen as an equal. But being close in age to students also brings advantages, helping me bridge generational gaps in learning.

Above all, I learned the importance of simply showing up every day. Success comes down to consistency; you win the game in the minutes, not the hours.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a composer and music educator with a focus on creating custom, impactful music and helping others launch their own journeys in composition. My approach to composition is service-oriented: I work closely with clients to craft music that reflects their unique needs, whether it’s for choir, orchestra, film, or video games. I consider everything from the available musicians to the mission behind the project, tailoring each piece to serve its intended purpose.

On the teaching side, I’ve built a niche in guiding new composers. Through my YouTube channel, Music with Dave, I share practical advice I wish I’d had when starting out, aiming to demystify composition for young creatives. My channel has been more successful than I ever expected in its first year, and I’ve had the privilege of helping several students secure spots in graduate music programs. After I graduate in May, I’m looking forward to dedicating even more time to growing this community and hopefully turning it into a full-time endeavor.

In the university classroom, I’m passionate about teaching music theory through an inclusive lens. I incorporate diverse genres and styles, going beyond traditional repertoires to reflect the variety of music our students live with daily. I want the music we study to look like the world we live in, not just a single slice of it.

If there’s one thing I hope potential clients and followers take away, it’s that my work—whether composing or teaching—is rooted in a commitment to serve, to uplift, and to broaden perspectives in music.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes, and that is a mentor. Of course there are books, videos and podcasts and that is all great – but nothing compares to having someone asking you the questions that keep you honest. I struggled and floundered early on – I didn’t really have someone who wanted me to simply be myself. Instead I had many who were ready for me to go down the same path that they had gone down – and that made things very hard. So yes, a person who you can talk to, who is solely there to help you be honest and true about what you want to do with your life – regardless of how normal or out of the box it is.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I want to help people be themselves in their music. I want to help them focus on what is fun and what brings them joy. So for me, it is when I see students that I’ve had go off and be successful – that is really the best. When that one person says something so so kind about something that I’ve made – that is just such a special feeling. I had someone tell me that they were moved to tears by a piece of music that I made – they left me speechless. It is ultimately about making a small difference, making the world a little bit better. Both writing music and teaching give me this feeling. It keeps me going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.davidvessmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicwithdave/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB0XHHV7Xb7fqKstkAXtEcw