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 16th Assignments
Lucas
Recommended Practice Time: 15-30mins every day
What to practice: This week I want you to write in the counts for the reading for Lesson 5 in addition to working on the beats!
How to practice effectively: For the reading just write the counts in above the lines like we’ve been doing and then count out loud while you practice them! For the beats its also super important to count out loud while you learn them, then when you’ve gotten better at them you can count in your head!
The lesson 4 beats sounded fantastic today Lucas, its so awesome to hear your improvement!!
Ella
Recommended Practice Time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Work on these beats and fills for Michelle
How to practice effectively: Practice beat 1 a good bit, and then when you’re comfortable try going back and forth between beat 2. Then start adding in some of these fills, focus on taking the rhythms and then orchestrating them around the drums. You could even try to listen and pick up what exactly they’re playing on the recording. The goal is to be able to play along with the song freely and get used to the 6/8 feel.
Super fun playing with you today Ella, thanks for a great song!!
Jonah
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: This week Jonah I want you to write in the counts for the Lesson 11 reading in your book and work on the first beats for Starlight.
How to practice effectively: Please write the counts in this week!! Remember that for Lesson 11, with the tied notes, only the first note is played and the length of the second gets added to the first. For the first half just write 1 2 3 4 over the quarter notes but for the second half write in 1+2+3+4+ for the eighth notes. Then counting and playing it will be a cinch! For Starlight, keep working on the beats and playing with the song! Here is a form chart of the song as well as the recording of the song.
Sorry for all the interruptions today Jonah, good job focusing towards the end!
Samson
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: This week I want you to play the single stroke speed exercise and the groove for Rock with You at 115 bpm as well as working up to the pre-chorus in the song.
How to practice: Warmup by practicing the speed exercise, then start with the hands on the hi-hat in the groove, then once you’re ready add the bass drum, and then the snare drum. Your tendency is to slow down when you have all of that together so be sure to relax and conserve as much energy as possible, making sure to use your wrists more than your arms and keeping the heights nice and low. When you feel good in the groove try working further in the transcription and maybe even play along to the song!
Theres so much improvement each week, keep pushing!
Sylvie
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: This week I want you to work on the last two lines from the Lesson 10 Reading section with your bass drum on every quarter note. After that work on the rock breaks!
How to practice effectively: You’ve basically got the rhythms down, its just about getting them consistent and to the point of second nature. Think about your bass drum grounding everything your hands are doing, and make sure that its only playing on the down beats and not on random rests.
Glad we could fix your seat today Sylvie! Also thank you for blessing us with a new emoji
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.
