M.Mus (UofT) in-progress
B.Mus (Eastman)
Gordon is a percussionist and educator interested in performing, creating, and engaging within a multitude of musical styles, invested in how music might be embodied in a variety of forms through joyful exploration.
From Tampa, Florida, Gordon became acquainted with music through piano lessons, eventually moving on to drum set and marching percussion in high school. In 2019, Gordon completed his undergraduate studies at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Michael Burritt. At Eastman Gordon performed and premiered works with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Eastman Percussion Ensemble, and Musica Nova in addition to serving for two years on the board of the student-led new music ensemble, Ossia.
He is also interested in the intersection between music and technology and has contributed to creative projects with the Eastman Audio Research Studio and the University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble.
Gordon is currently working towards completing his Master’s degree at the University of Toronto under the instruction of Aiyun Huang.
Get to know Gordon…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, watching movies, reading, spending time outside, tossing a frisbee and playing Spikeball
Musical influences: Rush, Mutemath, Max Roach, My Brightest Diamond, Son Lux, Rachel Podger, Michael Burritt, Steve Schick, Paul Rennick, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Jess Ray, Mark Andre…
Favourite food: Kanafeh (Middle-Eastern dessert)
Least favourite food: Brussel sprouts
Favourite music: Rock, Jazz, Contemporary Classical, Indie-folk, Electronic
Favourite song: One favorite is Humble Heart by Jess Ray
Favourite movie: Another favorite is Tree of Life by Terrence Malick
Favourite movie music: Bernard Herman in Vertigo, Ennio Morricone in Once Upon a Time in the West
Favourite musical theatre/opera: Hamilton, Invisible Cities by Christopher Cerrone
Best quote from your teacher: “Listen…”
Favourite quote: Romans 8:37-39
Favourite book: The Giver by Lois Lowry
Best thing about teaching at ABC: Sharing music with the students.
Latest Homework from Gordon
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February 16th Assignment
Sebastian
How many minutes to practice: 15-30mins
What to practice: This week Sebastian I want you to play 8-8-16 and Stick Control Exercise every day as well as working on the beat for Lesson 2 beats and reading.
How to practice effectively: Good work today Sebastian! If you can see if you can get a hold of the book we’re using, its Joel Rothman’s Reading, Rudiments, and Rock Drumming. This week focus on writing in the counts for the reading in Lesson 2 and trying out the beats, it shouldn’t be too crazy. For the stick control stuff, just work on each pattern some more this week and then next week we’ll try it with the feet. If you want to build some speed, try playing 8-8-16 every day slow, medium, fast, and as fast as you can. I promise if you relax and use your wrist at the fast tempos, you’ll get way faster singles in just one week!
Have fun with your grandma this week!
Lucas
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you to keep working on playing Another One Bites the Dust with the music.
How to practice effectively: So awesome to finally get to have an in-person lesson! You did great!! You’re almost there with this beat, just play it as much as you can and you’ll get the hang of it. The goal is consistency of rhythm. When you play with the song, listen carefully to make sure you’re playing in time, its easy to be fast or slow so make sure that you’re not speeding ahead although I think dragging the bass drum is more of your tendency. If you can play with your dad thats great!
Have a great family day weekend!
Jonah
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: This week Jonah I want you to work on the first verse and chorus for the TRANSCRIPTION of Ride by Twenty-One Pilots as well as the Lesson 13 beats.
How to practice effectively: The Lesson 12 beats sounded good today Jonah but Ride could use a bit more work. Try to focus on that this week and practice the Lesson 13 beats whenever you get the chance.
Good job working through the technical difficulties again today Jonah, I appreciate it!
Samson
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: Next week Samson I want to hear you play everything we’ve got so far in Todd Rundgren’s It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference WITH THE MUSIC. Here is the UPDATED TRANSCRIPTION.
How to practice effectively: Fantastic work today man! It really sounds phenomenal! I think the biggest challenge facing you with playing with the music will be making sure that you don’t lose time in the transitions and fills. So practice those a lot more than the rest of the song so that they become second nature. Then, when you try it with the music, notice where you get off and what happened. Work backwards and find the problem spot and iron it out. You’re probably still a little bit under tempo so either slow the song down or relax and try to keep the energy up. Next week we’ll dig into the new sections.
Be sure to have your mom send your vaccine info to ABC if you want to start meeting in person, that would be awesome!
Preferred Books for Gordon’s Students
Click to buy them here, and they’ll come right to your house! What could be easier?
STICK CONTROL
George Lawrence Stone’s Stick Control is the bible of drumming. In 1993, Modern Drummer magazine named the book one of the top 25 books of all-time. In the words of the author, it is the ideal book for improving: control, speed, flexibility, touch, rhythm, lightness, delicacy, power, endurance, preciseness of execution and muscular coordination, with extra attention given to the development of the weak hand.
Reading, Rudiments, and Rock Drumming
This beginner book contains the basic 3 R’s of drumming-Reading, Rudiments, and Rock, in an easy to learn format.
Intermediate Snare Drum Studies
The Art of Bop Drumming
The definitive book on bop drumming—a style that is both the turning point and the cornerstone of contemporary music’s development. This comprehensive book and audio presentation covers time playing, comping, soloing, brushes, more jazz essentials, and charts in an entertaining mix of text, music, and pertinent quotes.
