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One man band: Battig feels connection to his music

Fleming Island senior plays 10 different instruments

By Bruce Hope bruce@opcfla.com
Posted 2/17/21

FLEMING ISLAND – “When words fail, music speaks.”

That’s the mantra of 17-year-old Fleming Island High senior Gavin Battig, whose musical roots run deep. From two parents who played …

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One man band: Battig feels connection to his music

Fleming Island senior plays 10 different instruments


Posted

FLEMING ISLAND – “When words fail, music speaks.”

That’s the mantra of 17-year-old Fleming Island High senior Gavin Battig, whose musical roots run deep. From two parents who played instruments, to being immersed in Baby Einstein as a toddler and beginning formal piano lessons at the age of 7.

Battig is gifted to compose music and play various instruments.

“I play 10 [instruments],” said Battig. “I play acoustic guitar, bass guitar; I play some drums, piano, trombone, some French horn, some trumpet, tenor saxophone, uh, vibraphone, and marimba.” What’s amazing, is that he only had formal instruction in piano and trombone and taught himself the rest.

Battig is involved in playing music at his church, River Christian Church. He also plays at his high school, where he participates in marching band, wind ensemble and jazz band.

Like many musicians, he doesn’t just play music. He truly loves what he does. He feels a connection to his art.

“I love just being able express emotions and tell a story through all kinds of instruments,” he said. “They all have different ways of speaking, so to say. Piano, really like draws me to it. It has some of the most beautiful sounds known to man that you can make out of it, and I really love expressing my own feelings and how other people feel through music that’s already been written and my own music.”

He has many musical influences. The main one being his long-time piano teacher Dave Prentice. He also takes great inspiration from classical legends Chopin, Beethoven and Debussy.

“He’s [Chopin] my favorite composer. I often play music of his,” Battig said. “I’ve been compared to Debussy multiple times because of his impressionist music and feel.”

Gavin isn’t the only Battig child who has the musical gift. He has a younger brother, Logan, 13.

“He [Logan] is very musically inclined,” said the boys’ mother Amanda Battig. “He plays the drums and he also plays electric guitar.” When asked what she is feeding her sons, Battig said it must have something to do with all of the Dr. Pepper sodas she drank while pregnant.

“Obviously we are proud parents and he [Gavin] has taken the small talent we have given him and far exceeded our wildest expectations of him. But really there are no words to describe seeing your son being so talented and having this beautiful gift that God has given him and being able to bless other people just through his music, it’s amazing.”

He hopes to attend Florida State University where he plans to study music composition. His desire is to become a composer. He also wants to teach music at the university level. For now, he continues to play in his high school bands and at church, as well on his YouTube channel, Gavin Battig Music.