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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October 6th 2021 Assignments
Lucas
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you to work on the 17th and 8th measures of Seven Nation Army focusing on playing the snare drum with the other limbs. HERE IS A VIDEO OF ME PLAYING THE PART!
How to practice effectively: This is the transcription of Seven Nation Army and here is a link to the song. The beginning starts with just the low tom, bass drum, and hi-hat pedal on 1-2-3-4. Then after that gets repeated you add the snare on 2 and 4. Work on keeping things at a consistent tempo, even if its slower than the song. I’m going to try and record a video by Friday to help you so come back and check this page then.
Good work today Lucas, lets keep pushing to make improvement for next week!d
Ella
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: Play Paranoid Android at tempo with the song and work through as much of the bridge as you can. Here is the UPDATED transcription and a link to the music And HERE IS A VIDEO OF ME PLAYING THE PART
How to practice effectively: Good work today! I’m going to try and update the transcription and make a video by Friday to cover the new section so keep playing through the stuff we covered today and for the next section be sure to work it out nice and slowly, listening to the song and video for reference.
This beat sounds great, keep up the good work!
Jonah
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: This week play accent tap with the feet and try working on Three Camps. We’ll work on some more details for Rock With You soon so check for the transcription to updated by the end of Friday. Here’s a link to the song too.
How to practice effectively: For Accent Tap, look at the foot notes that I added and work to be able to play them with the exercise. Three Camps is totally new but work on playing through the whole thing keeping the accents high, and the other notes really really low. Rock with You is really coming along! When the transcription is updated check it out and try to work through some of the new stuff.
Great job playing through Rock with You today, super inspiring to see your improvement Jonah!
Samson
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Samson I want you to work through the Accent Tap exercise and work on trying to play it with the foot part. Also take the time to work on the Dark Red beat. Here’s a link to the song.
How to practice effectively: Good improvement with the accent-tap exercise today, keep focusing on keeping the non-accented notes, or the taps, really low and consistent. Then when you feel good about getting through it with just the hands, try it with the bass drum and hi-hat part, making sure to stay grounded to your feet and keeping the time solid. This exercise will help a lot with the Dark Red beat because it will help you accent the notes on the ride cymbal properly. Once you feel comfortable playing the beat, try it along with the song!
Good work this week Samson!
Sylvie
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: Next week I want to hear you play So Much to Say all the way through the second Pre-Chorus up to the bridge with the music.
How to practice effectively: Good work today Sylvie, now this week I want you to focus on the second pre-chorus, like we did today. Go through the last bit slowly, making sure to play all the notes accurately, especially the crashes. Then once you’ve got that down, go back through and tie everything together! Remember to stay aware while you’re practicing!! That attention will help you focus on how to diagnose the problems you’re having and give you clues on how to fix them!
Good job and keep pushing!
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.
