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 2nd Assignments
Lucas
Recommended Practice Time: 15-30mins every day
What to practice: Keep working on beats 1-6 from Lesson 4 and try playing them in two-bar combinations
How to practice effectively: Remember to always count (either in your head or out loud) when you play these beats. You can also play them two-bar patterns by combining two beats together: for example, play beat 1 and then beat 2 and then repeat from the beginning.
Thanks for your hard work today. The beats are sounding great!
Ella
Recommended Practice Time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Focus on the bridge and final chorus/outro of Verbatim.
How to practice effectively: Isolate the beat from the bridge and practice it slowly. This is the trickiest part of the song and so it will require some slow practice to get the coordination just right.
I’m really impressed with how well you can play this song Ella. Keep up the great work!
Jonah
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Review the tied notes from Lesson 11 and practice the beats and transitions from Starlight
How to practice effectively: Practice each beat from Starlight the same way we did in your lesson. Then practice transitioning smoothly between the beats: from “Beat A” to “Beat B” and from “Beat B” to “Beat C.”
You learned these beats really quickly Jonah and you’re playing them very well! Great work!
Samson
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Keep working on the speed exercises and practice the intro beat and fill from Rock With You.
How to practice: When you practice the speed exercises, start at a slow speed and ensure that the sixteenth notes are even and steady. Then gradually increase the speed until you feel like you’ve reached your limit (with the rhythm still even and steady). Then slow back down and repeat the process. With enough practice, your maximum speed will start to increase.
You’ve got a good handle on the beat and fill from the song now. Great job!
Sylvie
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Finish up the rhythms from the first page of Lesson 10 and then practice the “Rock Breaks” from the end of the second page.
How to practice effectively: Try to always count the sixteenth notes in your head when you practice these rhythms and beats: “1e&a 2e&a 3e&a 4e&a…” – This will help with accuracy and not dropping any notes or rests. With the beats, pay close attention to the stickings that are written in below the notes.
These rhythms are very challenging and you’re playing them very well! Way to go, Sylvie!
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.
