Daily Inspiration: Meet Garrett Becker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Garrett Becker.

Hi Garrett, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Since a young age, I’ve shown interest in music. I grew up hearing over and over how as a child, I was constantly humming songs and would request songs be played whose names I couldn’t even pronounce.

Naturally, I was encouraged to pick an instrument to play in the elementary school band when I was old enough to join, and due to my love of The Simpsons, I picked the saxophone.

Years passed, and while I enjoyed playing my instrument, I never really put a ton of work into practicing or improving until high school. Once there, I was influenced by a combination of my awesome band director, Mike Wooten, and a bad breakup to finally start taking my music more seriously (both because of my genuine love of music and also to fill all the free time I newly had at the time).

Skipping ahead, I spent three productive years at Citrus College, gaining valuable knowledge and experience gigging around town in their big band and performing in school theater productions. And another two years at CSUN in the jazz program, meeting amazing people and musicians whom I’m fortunate to still have strong ties to today.

In the time since my graduation in 2017, I have been building my private lesson studio, teaching woodwinds and piano, and performing with groups of practically every genre, from ska and EDM to performing originals at jazz clubs and in pit orchestras for musicals.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t always been the smoothest haha. My time at CSUN was some of the most fun and most important to my development as a musician and person as well honestly. However, the level of talent at that school was so high I practically always had an undercurrent of stress in my mind because I was desperate to not sound like a complete beginner compared to everyone else. The first day of school, I remember warming up in a practice room next to a freshman saxophonist (I already had three years under my belt at a community college), and this dude was just absolutely shredding! I was just thinking, “Uh-oh, what have I gotten myself into??”.

Covid also was a rough time. Just when I felt I was starting to build some momentum in my career, suddenly I was losing half my students and ALL of my gigs for an unknown amount of time. My dad’s periodic reminder that the USPS was hiring started to look more and more enticing…

Fortunately (or unfortunately), my stubborn streak kept me hustling for new musical avenues of income, and I somehow made it through the pandemic without owning any mailman outfits in my closet.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I play kind of everything, haha. I’m that guy who’s down for pretty much any gig where they need some sax, flute, or clarinet. In any given month, I might go from performing in a burlesque show at El Cid where I play some screaming, raunchy blues-type sax, then the next night, perform Sweet Caroline at a wedding and then end my weekend by playing with a southern rock band at the Troubadour. It’s an awesome lifestyle at times, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I love my own gigs, with originals and the whole shebang, but what I love about the LA scene is the musical diversity, and I’m lucky to be able to experience that. I would never want to get boxed into playing just one style have to perform in just one musical scene.

What matters most to you? Why?
I think at the end of the day, what matters the most to me is that I’m still able to have time for the important people in my life after making the money to pay the bills. Lately, I’ve been hustling a little too hard, giving too much of my energy and time for some pieces of paper, and haven’t given myself any time to just sit down with some friends or family and just enjoy life, so that’s what I’m going to focus on for the immediate future.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garrettbeckermusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettbeckermusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@garrettbeckermusic204