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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November 10th Assignments
Lucas
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you to focus on working through the rest of Seven Nation Army with the music. UPDATED TRANSCRIPTION of Seven Nation Army and a link to the song.
How to practice effectively HERE IS A VIDEO OF ME PLAYING THE PART. Great job with the song work so far Lucas! This week I want you to focus on keeping the drum beat with the song during the chorus. To work on that try clapping your hands or clicking your sticks to the beat while listening to the song. Focus on listening to the overall pulse, not just the drum part, and see if you can hear how guitars and vocals fit in. The rest of the song is the same as you’ve already learned just that next choruses are repeated more.
Have a great weekend, good work!
Jonah
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: This week Jonah I want you to keep working on the Peters IV accent exercise.
How to practice effectively: For this go through the exact same process we did today. First look at where the accents are, figure out what counts they fall on, and then practice the measure slowly until you can play it correctly, then try it faster. Remember to not make the accents too tense, keep the taps down low, and make sure the rhythm is solid and consistent. Also next week come with some song ideas and we can start working on a new one!
Great to hear you had a good time with go-karts this weekend!
Samson
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Samson I want you to work through the Accent Tap exercise with the feet and play through Dark Red at full speed on youtube. Here’s a link to the song.
How to practice effectively: Accent tap is coming along! This week I want you to focus on keeping the timing consistent while still playing the exercise accurately. The easiest way to do this is to break it down and take small chunks until you can play through the whole thing smoothly. Memorizing it will also help. Then once you’ve played each part a few times well, put it together slowly and then try it faster! Dark Red is pretty much there, try playing it with your sister sometime this week, I would love to hear it for next lesson!
Good job this week, always great having 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.
