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, September 21st
Jack
Puss in Boots drills:
1) Playing the beat with your LH
2) playing along with the sticking L-R-L-rest, repeatedly
3) playing along alternating between “L-R-L” and “R-L-R”
Jack has really been enjoying watching the Montreal drummer Max Sansalone on Youtube (Channel: dimsunk)! He might like to watch more of his videos at home.
Nova
Warmups:
–Stick Control first 13 exercises
Remi Wolf: Photo ID
–Intro fill (3e a4e+ )
–Main beat: Basic beat level two
–Verse: drums drop out, bass drum pattern
–For next week: fills in the second chorus
Xylophone:
–C Major Scale and Arpeggio (C-E-G-c-G-E-C)
–Piano Adventures p 46-47 (counting in 3)
Cirone Book: “Step 6” (pdf in Nova’s personal gdrive folder)
–Review note reading using the Step 6 melodic exercises
–If you need help or a reminder about which notes are which, look back at lesson 5
–Be careful to follow the correct stickings and rhythms!
Aleksander–Welcome!!
Warmups (30 sec each):
–Single strokes (R L R L…)
–Double Strokes (R R L L….)
–Paradiddles (RLRR LRLL…)
Basic Beat Exercise Level 1
Step 1) Count “1 2 3 4”
Step 2) With your right hand, play the Hihat on all counts
Step 3) With your right foot, add in the Bass Drum on “1” and “3”
Step 4) With your Left hand, add in the Snare Drum on “2” and “4”
Level 2! Same as 1 but with eighth-notes on the hihat instead
Step 1) Count “1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ”
Step 2) With your right hand, play the Hihat on all counts
Step 3) With your right foot, add in the Bass Drum on “1” and “3”
Step 4) With your Left hand, add in the Snare Drum on “2” and “4”
Koel–Welcome Back!
Goals for this year:
–a few more songs than last year
–Jazz: challenging but fun
–Finish off VH: Jump
Warmups (1min each):
–Triplet Ex. 125bpm**
–Ride pattern exercise with sixteenth exercise on the cymbal (goal tempo 105)
Van Halen: Jump (scan of chart in your personal folder)
–Drill counting out the into to make sure your opening fills land at the right time
–Work on everything up until the chorus***
Tracie
Warmups:
–Triplet exercise (85bpm)
–Rhythm Ex. 60bpm–>counting!
Deftones: Minerva
–Make sure to count aloud
–You’re doing a great job of playing this beat in time with the song, but remember to adjust slightly if you get off…don’t panic!
–Begin listening to the rest of the song and see if you can identify when/where/how the drum parts change in different sections
Have fun in New York next week!
Jared
Warmups:
–Stick Control ex 1-13 goal tempo: 70bpm
—-Play each exercise 4 times, one measure rest before moving on
Bruno Mars: Treasure
–Awesome
Bruno Mars: Uptown Funk (chart in your personal folder–please print)
–Everything up until the chorus
–Make sure the snare hits in the chorus begin at the right time (“and” of 3)
Preferred Books for TCHRNAME Students
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