The 37-year-old self-taught musician and founder of Reynolds and Co Studios in Hamilton is a prolific composer whose instrumental pieces have been played on US television programs including The Grammys, The X Factor and The Voice.

"It's all the [music] that's in the background - for example, at the People's Choice Awards, its played when presenters were walking up to stage, or at the Grammys when the stars are walking the red carpet," he says.

When not composing, Mr Reynolds is busy consolidating his music school, which employs 15 teaching staff and has students ranging in age from 5 to "somewhere in the 70s, I don't want to ask because I'm polite."

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the school is trading with strict social distancing measures and now offering three-quarters of its students virtual lessons via Zoom.

"All of our teachers use iPads anyway, so it's going well," he says.

Raised in Singleton, Mr Reynolds's interest in music began when he heard the school band was going to America on tour. "I wanted to go and they gave me a trombone and said, 'Here's your ticket," he laughs.

Later, bass guitar became his main instrument. After school he played in local bands but wasn't thrilled with their playlist.

"I never saw why bands always just played a certain style, I wanted to do lots of different styles," he said.

Making valuable connections in the US by emailing and pestering people in handy places allowed Mr Reynolds to launch his TV composing work, dabbling in everything from rock and hip hop to country, orchestral and dance music.

His philosophy of moving to his own beat in music extends to his music school, founded in 2012. There, students learn the technical side of their craft but are also greatly encouraged to improvise and learn all aspects of music to help them become creative thinkers.

"We customise lessons to their learning goals - if they want to become a rock star then we can help them try and do that, or if they want to strum in their bedroom. We have lots of opportunities for them to join bands; and a recording studio," he says.

"I like to give them a holistic approach to learning all the different facets of the industry, and give them the education would have wanted growing up: Learning how to improvise, compose, get a gig, what you have to do to keep getting gigs."

Music, he says, will continue to work its uplifting magic in these uncertain times.

"It plays a massive role in society - it's a mood booster, a universal language."