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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May 19th Assignments
Lucas
Recommended Practice Time: 15-30mins every day
What to practice: This week I want you to focus on the hand exercises for Lesson 4! It will be on the second page of the document linked. If you have time check out the beats too! How to practice effectively: Go through and count R and L when youre playing. Also try to keep the stick about 6in above the head and make sure each stroke starts and stops there!
Really awesome job with the reading today!! Also if you have time, ask a parent to help get your snare in the right spot!
Ella
Recommended Practice Time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Practice all of Verbatim!
How to practice effectively: Tie it all together! Go through each section and practice it with the song. If you feel stuck listen to the recording as see if that will help you!
Super excited to finish this song with you Ella!
Jonah
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Next week work through Lesson 11! How to practice effectively: Give it your best shot and we’ll work on it together next week! Note that the note that is tied gets added to the note before it.
Had a great time playing with you today! Be ready to play with some songs next week!
Samson
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: This week I want you to play these exercises for 1 minute at a 83, 95, 108, and 115 bpm. Use the metronome on your drum kit!
How to practice: These exercises will help develop your hands for playing this groove. Focus on relaxing and lowering your stick heights as much as possible as it gets faster! You made some great progress playing with the met so keep it up and be listening to see if you are right with it, too fast, too slow, or just inconsistent. Always be subdividing and counting before you start playing an you should be golden! Your tendency right now is to be on the slow side so don’t be afraid to drive the bus, and a good way to feel that is with your bass drum since its playing quarter notes right along with the metronome!
Good work today! Also ask your parents about fixing your bass drum beater with a drum key!
Sylvie
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Work through as much of Lesson 10 as you can!
How to practice effectively: Write in your counts for the reading and then practice playing and counting out loud! The beats are probably the next trickiest part.
Great job with the paradiddles today, really good improvement! Let me know next week if you have any songs you want to work on!
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.
