Selling Sheet Music 50. Guest Host Isaac Brooks Interviews Garrett! (JW Pepper Week, Day Five)
Oct 4, 2024
In this engaging discussion, guest host Isaac Brooks interviews Garrett, a composer and podcaster with deep roots in the sheet music industry. They explore Garrett's journey from early compositions in school to becoming an orchestrator. He shares insights on writing for diverse ensembles and emphasizes the importance of collaboration between composers and publishers. Garrett also reflects on personal influences, productivity tips, and the future of sheet music in a tech-driven world, urging new composers to carve out their niche.
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Early Middle-School Composition Start
- Garrett first started composing in seventh grade because he was bored with trombone parts and wanted to play what he wanted.
- His first premiere was in eighth grade with his middle school orchestra coached by Carol Dennis.
Copying Mancini Scores As A Teen
- Garrett did early copy jobs in Finale transcribing handwritten Henry Mancini scores from his teacher's husband.
- That experience taught him notation and gave rare exposure to professional scores as a teen.
Performance Over Genre
- Garrett cares more about getting music performed than about genre or ensemble.
- He treats arranging as a puzzle: fitting the original into the ensemble's constraints.