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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January 5th Assignments
Lucas
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you to work on the Lesson 6 beats and the first two and a half lines of the Stick Control Exercise.
How to practice effectively: Really great work with the lesson 6 rhythms! This week go slowly and count to work through the beats. For the Stick Control exercise, the rhythm is all the same but the sticking for each pattern is different. Make sure your sticks are in the center of the drum and make sure each stroke starts and stops 6 inches above the drum head. Repeat each pattern 4 times and do the first 5 patterns.
Keep up the good work Lucas!
Jonah
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: This week Jonah I want you to review the reading for Lesson 11 and work on the second page of Lesson 11 with the sticking patterns and beats.
How to practice effectively: This stuff isnt too tricky, just be sure to count carefully and work through the patterns. Try to play each beat 4 times through and once you feel good try playing them one after the other with no break. Good work with the ties today, next week I also want to hear you go through those sections again!
Samson
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Samson I want you to work up to the first chorus in Todd Rundgren’s It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference. Here is the UPDATED TRANSCRIPTION.
How to practice effectively: Good job learning the new stuff today! Remember to keep counting and playing while you’re still getting things in your hands. Shoot to be able to play through the whole thing and listen to the song a good bit to get it in your ear. Be sure to work on the fill bars a little more since they’re tricky. Try to work on it just a little bit everyday, after all the best part of drum lessons is getting to play drums!
Great job man, excited for another season of lessons with you!
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.
