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, April 23rd
Myles
Xylophone
–Review of C major scale, identifying the musical alphabet
–up to p29 in the pno book** Great work!!!
Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
–Chorus Beat: Same idea, but Right-Hand Lead***
–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 Sunday, May 5th at 1:30pm
Jonah
Joel Rothman Book: Lesson 17**
Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy: adding in the chorus
–use the chorus beat as a warm-up
**Larnell Lewis foot exercise
PRACTICE CHALLENGE: Re-establish your practice routine by making sure to practice every day this week (1 freebie allowed). Aim for 30min per day, but if you can’t do 30, 10 will be fine! It’s more important to do at least some than it is to do lots!
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…)
NEW SONG: Dani California
–Add in chorus (RH on the ride)**
–New post-chorus fill (4e+)**
Welcome back!!! Saturday, September 7th
Nova
Goals this year!:
–Nova has a xylophone now!
–Gary Burton and Chick Corea: four mallet technique
–Hamilton musical: drum set stuff
–Bloom from Scott Pilgrim
–Photo ID Remi Wolf(?); Sabrina Carpenter; Call Me By Your Name; Over it by Dux
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
Jack
Goals:
–Puss in Boots theme
–drum solos cymbals and
–big drum solos
–Two-handed playing
Puss in Boots:
–LH plays beat at tempo
–groups of three notes (LRL and RLR) at slower speed
Jared
Goals this year:
–Faster bass drum
–Joan Jett: Cherry Bomb
–Get more creative with drum fills and beats (Benny Greb book?)
–Funk Drumming? Latin Drumming? Other styles.
–Bruno Mars for open house at school (Treasure; Locked; Die with a Smile; 24k or Uptown Funk)
Warmups:
—Stick Control ex 1-13 goal tempo: 60bpm
—-Play each exercise 4 times, one measure rest before moving on
Bruno Mars: Treasure
–Practice this whole song with the recording, next week we’ll work on getting creative to make drum part more interesting
Preferred Books for TCHRNAME Students
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