During school he began to study piano with Ferenc Bognar at the Vorarlberg State Conservatory, where he completed his classical concert diploma in 2005.

Since 2000, Helbock has also taken lessons with the New York jazz pianist Peter Madsen, with whom he also played in his ensemble CIA (Collective of Improvising Artists) and more recently formed the Austrian Syndicate.

In 2014, Helbock appeared as a soloist on Michael Mantler's CD The Jazzcomposers Orchestra - Update, released by ECM Records.

Up to date Helbock released six albums on ACT - "Into the Mystic" (2016 with the David Helbock Trio), "Tour d´Horizon" (2018 with Random/Control), "Playing John Williams" (2019 - Solopiano), "The New Cool" (2021 with Arne Jansen & Sebastian Studnitzky), "Playground" (2022 with French singer Camille Bertault) and "Austrian Syndicate" (2023 with his former teacher Peter Madsen and an Austrian rhythmsection dedicated to Joe Zawinul and featuring guest appearances of Dhafer Youssef, Lakecia Benjamin, Maria João (singer), Fred Wesley & Alex Acuña ) In 2010 he released his "Personal Realbook", a compositional project, where he wrote one tune every day for a whole year, inspired by the Brazilian jazz legend Hermeto Pascoal.

Helbock is a prizewinner at the world-biggest Jazzpianosolo Competition in Montreux 2007 and 2010 and also won the audience prize.