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 9th Assignments
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 1 at a faster tempo.
How to practice effectively: Each day I want you to warm up by playing some 8-8-16 and working on your full/legato stroke. Focus on using the wrist and being aware of the line connecting the elbow to the tip of your sticks. We want each stroke to be the same volume and only hit the drum head once, avoiding any buzzing at the moment. Then after you’ve played some good strokes, try working through all the stickings on the stick control exercise sheet. Finally, keep working on the Lesson 1 beat so that the coordination is fluid and the whole thing becomes like second nature.
So great to be with you in person today, see you next week!!
Lucas
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you to work on playing Another One Bites the Dust with the music.
How to practice effectively: Hey Lucas thanks for sticking through the technical difficulties today. It would be great to see you next week in person so be sure to have your mom send ABC all of your info so we can meet! Next lesson I want to focus on having you play Another One Bites the Dust with the music so we can work on timing. For practicing this week then I want you to be able to play the beat like its second-nature. That may mean you have to keep building it up at first but aim to be able to play at any moment. In addition, spend a little time every day trying to play along with the music and staying in time with the drummer and the bass riff. The whole song is pretty much the same beat with a few fills sprinkled in, so I know that you can do it!
Hope to see you in person next week!
Jonah
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: This week Jonah I want you to work on the Lesson 12 beats again as well as the first verse and chorus for the TRANSCRIPTION of Ride by Twenty-One Pilots.
How to practice effectively: Good job with the beats today, but I think they could still use a little polishing, so try to clean up each one this week so that I can hear you play through all of them again next week. In addition, try working on the beat for Ride and playing it with the song, we’ll be working on that next week too!
Good job working through the technical difficulties 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 from the beginning to the second chorus in Todd Rundgren’s It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference. Here is the UPDATED TRANSCRIPTION.
How to practice effectively: Lots of good progress today Samson, and next week I want to hear you play the whole thing so far. Work on each section with a metronome, and then try going through the whole thing smoothly. In addition, try playing it along with the song slowed down a little to get the melody and different sections in your head. Then next week we’ll go through some new sections.
Be sure to have your mom send your vaccine info to ABC if you want to start meeting in person, I think that would be fantastic!
Preferred Books for Gordon’s Students
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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.
