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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June 22nd Assignments
Lucas
How many minutes to practice: 15-30mins a day
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you work on repeating the beat and fill at least 4 times. Here is the UPDATED TRANSCRIPTION
How to practice effectively: The link to the video is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fR9DOnOB8p94BMU-unmwhxk37wiAZuJr/view?usp=sharing
Hey, remember today when you said you couldn’t do it, and then you did? Yeah we need to break through that wall everyday! You can totally play this beat Lucas just keep giving it your best and then for your last lesson next week we can have some fun and play through a bunch of stuff!
Phenomenal job today!
Jonah
How many minutes to practice: 30mins a day
What to practice: This week Jonah I want you to continue working the hi-hat thing I showed you for Enemy by Imagine Dragons
How to practice effectively: Take your time and work out that hi-hat rhythm I showed you. Remember that the hi-hat plays with the bass drum on the first note. Next week for your last lesson we can play through your favorite songs afterwards!
Awesome to hang with you today!
Samson
How many minutes to practice: 30 mins a day
What to practice: This week Samson I want you to try playing along to this Cuphead tune
How to practice effectively: Have some fun with this song! Next we’ll play through some more things for your last lesson.
Keep up the hard work with your projects!
Sam
How many minutes a day to practice: 30
What to practice: This week Sam I want you to work on the Accent Tap exercise, the Peters IV exercise, and the first part of the Anderson .Paak beat from Giget.
How to practice effectively: For the two accent tap exercises I want you to focus on keeping the taps low and consistent as possible supported by the wrist, and then the accents should be relaxed with just a bit of pinky pressure. The goal here is really even, consistent, control. Also try playing that first part of the beat with the 16th note bass drum notes and see if you can get that really comfortable. I recommend playing through the whole tune with that to get used to it.
Congrats on graduation 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.
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.