Dave Becker teaches applied saxophone at both Cal Poly and Cuesta College. At Allan Hancock College he teaches theory, recording arts, electronic music and music appreciation.
In addition to his teaching and live ensemble work in an array of settings including big bands, orchestras, cruise ships, theme parks and concert halls, Becker is also a force “on both sides of the glass.” A skilled studio musician — his many credits include the full package of doubles and then some (woodwinds plus steel drum and bagpipes!) — he is also an experienced producer, recording engineer, arranger and composer.
Becker has been an in-demand studio player and bandleader on California’s Central Coast, writing arrangements for the San Luis Obispo Symphony’s Pops concerts, arranging, directing and performing in a production of “West Side Story” with the San Luis Obispo Civic Ballet, and performing and recording Broadway shows for the PCPA Repertory Theatre Company in Santa Maria, Calif.
He earned a Master of Music degree in music education from the University of Florida (UF). He is pursuing an additional master’s degree from UF online in digital art and science. When most recently at UF, he played lead alto in the Jazz Ensemble, wrote arrangements for the Marching Band, and taught Jazz Arranging and Applied Jazz Saxophone as part of his studies under department chair Scott Wilson. Becker was deeply involved in the university’s three-year-long endeavor to create a musical database as part of the State of Florida Educators for Arts Assessment K-12. He wrote, arranged and recorded more than 300 pieces of music illustrating various styles of jazz, pop, rock, ethnic, and world music for the project through the university’s Digital Worlds Institute.
In addition to his past and current college teaching experience at Allan Hancock College, Cuesta College and Cal Poly, Becker has also been a clinician at the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band Camp and other camps and schools throughout Florida and along the West Coast. He has performed with artists including Wayne Bergeron, Eric Marienthal, Sal Lazano, Pete Christlieb, Gordon Goodwin, Bobby Shew, Andy Martin, Bernie Dresel, Bob McChesney, Dianne Shuur, Ernie Watts, Sam Rivers, John Allred, Ron Miles, Matt Cattingub, Jack Jones, Jeff Miley, James Miley, George Stone, Bob Sheppard, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Printup, Joe Barati, Manhattan Transfer, The Temptations and Marvin Hamlish.