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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September 29th Assignments
Lucas
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you to work on the first part of Seven Nation Army!
How to practice effectively: This is the transcription of Seven Nation Army and here is a link to the song. I’ll be posting it a little bit later so keep an eye out for it.
Sorry about the technical troubles today Lucas, we’ll get a better run at it next week. In the mean time, keep working on the song, listening to it, and playing along!
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 transcription and a link to the music
How to practice effectively: Good work today! Remember to keep hitting the practice beats as a warmup every day and then pretty soon you’ll be able to play the beat at tempo. For the new stuff, keep listening to the song to get an idea of what its supposed to sound like and then work out the music slowly.
This beat is really coming along, keep practicing as much as you can!
Jonah
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: This week Jonah I want to play through all of Rock With You! I’ll be uploading the transcription in the next day so keep an eye on this page for the link.
How to practice effectively: Really good work with Rock With You today Jonah! It took us a minute to focus but once you did it was great! Keep listening to the song and try to work out some of the details in the transcription.
Samson
How many minutes to practice: 15-30
What to practice: Get Rock With You up to tempo through the prechorus.
How to practice effectively: Things sounded pretty solid today Samson, now just keep the 16th notes on the hi-hat relaxed so that you can start getting closer to the tempo of the song. Work on the beat in the pre-chorus and the transition into it so next week we can try and play up to there with the song!
Sylvie
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: Next week Sylvie 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: You’re doing great with this beat Sylvie, all you need to do now is put everything together. The best way to practice this is to start where we ended today, the second verse, work that out, and then slowly chain it back together with the stuff we’ve already done in the first pre-chorus. Then once you feel good with that, look at the second pre-chorus and add that on. If you have time you can also check out the bridge section which I’m hoping to update to the transcription later this week.
Keep up the good work Sylvie, remember to go slow and pay attention to the big picture, don’t get too stuck in the details when working on something new! Perfecting something comes later.
Aiden
How many minutes to practice: 30
What to practice: This week Aiden I want you to practice this paradiddle exercise and the transcription for Verbatim by Mother Mother. Here is a link to the song.
How to practice effectively: For the paradiddle exercise go very slowly and take as much time as you need. For Verbatim, take a little time to follow along with the music while listening to the song and then try working it out as best as you can.
It was great to get to know you better today Aiden, see you next week!
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.
