[waboremo]

I'm not 100% on youtube's algorithm, but I believe one of the points it hammers is that it's no longer about catering to the video but rather the viewer. So rather than think about weekly releases to play into the algorithm, it's generally better to focus on higher quality content that keeps people/your subs engaged throughout.

Schedules are important for fans, it's easier to grasp that they can check youtube at a certain day and see your new video over hoping they enable notifications. However if the schedule is far too much for you to handle, don't force a weekly schedule! There are plenty of channels doing great on a more spaced out release timing, but perhaps it's best to encourage some sort of schedule on yourself just to keep producing stuff.

As you said though you have to get to a point of feeling confident to even film yourself playing. That's your #1 over scheduling. Maybe livestreaming your practices could help with that, on the plus you would also have a bunch of livestreamed content you can edit down into future videos. Doesn't suit everyone and livestreaming is definitely its own challenge/realm, so it's just a suggestion! But I could see it being good for getting over that whole perfectionism angle we get ourselves into.

For music content specifically, it seems a lot of it revolves around the hopes of getting people aware of your content through fan stuff, and then pushing original stuff alongside it. So piano covers of video game music (for example) and then they also release original music; the former is easier to create/tag/practice, the latter establishes uniqueness amongst the sea of channels.

[jeffwass]

Thanks for the suggestions waboremo!

I never would have even thought to film myself practicing, I would have thought it would be way too boring for any of my subscribers to want to see.

Honestly I feel fairly camera shy, and in life I managed to roll a 3 in charisma :-) Luckily I don't need to speak in my actual published videos. But I'll give it a think and maybe try it out some time.

Yeah I mix it up w/ covers and originals. Every cover is in my own unique style, and has at least some bit of originality in it.

[waboremo]

Definitely think a lot of creatives feel the same, that practice is too boring or too raw but it's just a part of the process! Some love seeing that process, and it gives them another way to connect, others don't really care but even just seeing the process on the channel can demonstrate authenticity.

Lots of options even if you don't want to show your face or voice as well. Like short videos on how do play the chorus of (popular media here), with text/graphics on the video to help people.

Don't discount external platforms as part of the entire journey, they can feed into each other. Twitch-Patreon-Youtube combination is really common, TikTok/Insta Reels instead of Twitch is another. Best part of such video-based combinations is content reuse, you don't need to generate new content per platform, fantastic for stretching out periods between intense recording sessions. Then add in platform specific content (like opening up some rough draft originals to Tiktok duets, encouraging people to add their own lyrics), and you've got quite a substantial cycle in place without much serious effort due to all the reuse!