Christopher Hull is a percussionist and ethnomusicologist whose work focuses on tensions between tradition and innovation in contemporary music. As a passionate performer of solo, chamber, and orchestral percussion, he seeks to ground his work in his classical training while simultaneously transcending the conventions of the conservatory. With classical percussion degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Alaska Fairbanks, a performing arts certificate from the Arts Institute of Indonesia Denpasar, and his current studies in ethnomusicology at the University of Toronto, Christopher’s genre-defying work exhibits a world of experience.
As an orchestral percussionist, he frequently works with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, the Hamilton and Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestras, and Sinfonia Ancaster. He has appeared as a chamber musician and soloist in festivals such as Open Ears, International Gamelan Festival Munich, Young Artists Niagara, and Sacred Rhythm Jakarta, and can be heard playing drums, vibraphone, and synthesizer on commercial recordings by Call Me Moon and Treephones. He is also Associate Artistic Director of Toronto-based Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan, commissioning and premiering new works for Sundanese degung, and director of the University of Toronto’s Balinese gamelan ensemble, Dharma Santi.
Get to know Chris…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Reading, cycling, and synthesizers
Musical influences: Jojo Mayer, Benny Greb, David Garibaldi, Gary Burton, Tony Miceli, Steve Reich, Glenn Gould, Bill Evans, I Dewa Made
Favourite food: Noodles
Least favourite food: Quiche
Favourite music: R&B, hip-hop, funk; Western modernism and minimalism; Balinese gender wayang; Sundanese degung; Orchestral; beatsce Favourite song:!
Favourite movie: The Departed
Favouirite movie music: Old modern romantic soundtracks (eg. Spellbound)
Favourite musical theatre/opera: West Side Story/Turandot
Best quote from your teacher: “When we perform, we smile. If we make a mistake while performing, we smile bigger.” -Dewa Suparta
Favourite quote: “I’m a man who leaves nothing to chance.” -Maestro Boris Brott
Favourite book: Dance, Dance, Dance by Haruki Murakami
Best thing about teaching at ABC: The lovely students
Latest Homework from CHRIS
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Tuesday, May 7th
Myles
Xylophone
–Review of C major scale, identifying the musical alphabet
–up to p 33 in the piano book**
Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
–Work on counting the number of repeats in the intro->make sure the fill lands in the right place**
Refresh Alfred Solo #2 (lines 1-6)**
RECITAL postponed to Sunday, May 12th
Jonah
Joel Rothman Book: Lesson 17**
Recital (postponed to Sunday, May 12th) Prep:
–Memphis Soul Stew
–Spongebob Song
Francisco
Warmups (30sec/ea., find goal speed):
–8 on a hand (140bpm)
–Singles (sixteenths at 140bpm)
–doubles (16ths at 90*)
–Paradiddles (16ths at 90*)
Drumset Musician p12 ex 12-15** a)
New Song*** Nirvana: Smeels like Teen Spirit
–Drill the exercises (handout in google drive)
–Work on Main Chorus Beat (first measure of line 2)
Noah
Warmups:
–Triplet choreography worksheet
–Double-stroke progression: Natural rebound–>”pick it up” after 2 bounces–>drags/ruffs–>double-strokes
No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age
–Drilling the “i don’t want..” fill
–Drill the chorus at three speeds (100-135-172)
*Begin thinking of new songs
Saturday, May 4th
Jack
Working on 4 and 8-counts
Repeat-after-Me game
Boys are Back
Working on two parts at once:
–LH plays “1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +” while RH plays on “2” and “4”
Nova
RECITAL PREP
Alouette
Row, Row
NEW SONG SHORTLIST:
–Conan Gray: Maniac
–Weezer: Island in the Sun
–Michael Jackson: Billie Jean
–Queen: Another One Bites the Dust
Robbie
Warmups (30sec/ea):
–8 on a hand exercise
–Single Stroke Roll (L-R-L-R….) playing smooth, even, controlled strokes
–Double Stroke Roll (L-L-R-R…)
–Paradiddles (L-R-L-L R-L-R-R…)
Dani California
–Add in chorus (RH on the ride)
–New post-chorus fill (4e+)
–Make sure to count these fills
Koel
Congrats on the playing test!
Warmups (1min each):
–Triplet Exercise 120bpm
–Sixteenth-note Exercise 100bpm–Great job with wrist control!
Syncopation Book: Lesson 4
–20 Bar Exercise
Van Halen: Jump
–This week, try learning the first bit of the song through the first verse
Tracie
Warmups
–Triplet Exercise 80bpm (1min) — dribble the basketball
–Rhythm Ex 60bpm (quarters->eighths->quarters->triplets->…)
SOCA BEAT!
–Sound out the rhythm slowly; make sure the beat matches your counting
–Working to get things faster by drilling the “boom-chicka”
Josh
RECITAL PREP
Another One Bites the Dust–Playing with recording, listening carefully. :)
Jared
Padwork (1min/ea)
–Triplet ex. (Goal Tempo=130)
–Sixteenth-Note Exercise (goal tempo = 100)
–Flam Taps: try “breaking down” this rudiment (slow–>max speed–>slow)
–Singles, Doubles, Paradiddles – goal tempo: 130bpm
Give It Away by Red Hod Chili Peppers
–Use the new worksheet to help build bass drum speed
Preferred Books for TCHRNAME Students
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