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, January 16th
Myles
*Learn the basic shuffle
–counting: “1.a2.a3.a4.a”
–play BD on “1” and “3”, and SD on “2” and “4”
Warmups (1min ea, as fast as comfortable)
–8 on a Hand
–Single Strokes
–Double stokes
Four kinds of paradiddle: Single (LRLL..) Double (RLRLRR..) Triple (LRLRLRLL..) and Paradiddle-diddles (RLRRLL or LRLLRR)
Alfred, Solo #2: *add fourth line to your practice routine
–focus first on the notes, then we’ll add more detail together
Drumset Musician Worksheet p. 12 ex. 8-11–good, polish up 10 and 11
ACDC – Back in Black – up to gtr solo review three details:
—1) Crash on each word of “back in black”
—2) Lead into each “back in black” with bass drum on “3 & . &”
—3) Add one snare drum to the last fill before each chorus
Jonah
Warmups (1min/ea)
–Triplet Exercise (Goal tempo=120)
–Sixteenth-note exercise (goal tempo=100)
–Stick Control: ex. 57-64 (160bpm)
Joel Rothman Book: Lesson 16
**1/8 note triplets with rests on the upbeat
**Hand ex. 5-6
**Rock beats 5-8
Memphis Soul Stew
–Make sure to use a rebound stroke to keep the SD with the HH
–Learn make sure you play the next fill on p2
***Please Print (click here)***
Xylophone: pno book pg 48
Josh
Warmups (30sec/ea, as fast as comfortable)
–8 on a hand
–Singles, Doubles, and Paradiddles
–Roll exercise
Alfred Book: Lesson 5 combination study
I’m Still Standing
—To make sure you’re staying in time with the song, start by clicking your sticks to the beat; then move that to the HH; then add the BD; then add the SD
—Remember, the rolls aren’t that fast in this song. Focus on the one at the end of the “I’m Still Standing” section (chorus)
Noah
Under Pressure: finishing up
–Building the bridge from both sides in the Drum Solo section: LISTEN carefully to the passage of the music, and try to stay at the right pace, worrying a little less about the notes
–Aim for the last two lines of the page, making sure to transition at the right moment. Listen for the vocal cue into each section
–Review the fill at the end of the chorus
Robbie
**AC/DC: Back in Black
–Bringing the beat in in steps (count; hihat; bass drum; snare drum)
–Starting right after the count in altogether
–Adding in the drum fill “bada bada bada bada”
Will
Steely Dan: Peg – Full song
–nail the transition after the first chorus
–add in ghost notes on:
—-1) the “e” of beat 3
—-2) the “e” of beat 1
***Purdie Shuffle (halftime shuffle):
—focus on getting the hihat shuffle pattern with the ghost notes
—add the bass drum flutters
Francisco
Warmups (30sec/ea., find goal speed):
–8 on a hand
–Singles
–doubles
–Paradiddles
Drumset Musician p11 ex 1-7 a) and 1-7 b) **
–BONUS: go on to 8-15 a) on the next page
AC/DC: Back in Black: Up to the end of the chorus*
Saturday, April 6th
Jack
Listening and identifying fruits from the fruit salad game
Playing along with My Back Pages
–Trying to play different fruits in time with the song
–Stringing together different fruit salads
Nova
Warmups (1min each) **keep thumbs on sticks–no boxing mitts
–8 on a hand
–Singles; doubles; paradiddles
–Roll exercise (apple-apple-watermelon-watermelon)
*Alfred Solo #2
–First four lines**
Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams: Lose Yourself to Dance
**Building solos using Fruit Salad game overtop of steady bass drum
Koel
Warmups (1min each):
–Triplet Exercise 120bpm
–Sixteenth-note Exercise 100bpm–Great job with wrist control!
Syncopation Book: Lesson 4
–Ex. 12-15**
–Number 11 with accents on 2 and 4 = the Swing Shuffle
Lenny Kravitz
–Great work. This week we’re just polishing it off! Think of some new songs you might like to learn and we’ll pick one next time
Josh
Warm-ups
–8 on a hand
–Singles, Doubles
–Single, Double, and Triple Paradiddles ***
Say It Ain’t So
–Add in the chorus beat (bass-bass Crash!)**
Alfred Lesson 6: exercises 1-6**
–Make sure to use alternating sticking (L-R-L-R…)
–Ask Mom or Dad for help to make sure you’re counting these correctly
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
–Up to the end of page 2**
–Print and work on exercises 1-6 on this worksheet** (RR. 14-15)
–Bookmark this link for future use
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…)
AC/DC: Back in Black
–All the way to the end!! **
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