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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April 7th Assignments
Lucas
Recommended Practice Time: 15-30mins every day
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you to play through beat 1 of Lesson 2 for me 8 times and start going through the reading for Lesson 3!
How to practice effectively: COUNT EVERY TIME! The powers of counting have been documented for ages, don’t be afraid…You’ll need that counting to get through Lesson 3! So exciting to finally get the snare into the beat! Keep up the good work!
Ella
Recommended Practice Time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Next week Ella I want you to play through the first chorus of Verbatim
How to practice effectively: Really great work using the check pattern to get the verse beat more comfortable, I can tell that its really paying off! For the chorus keep that relaxed feel and get used to the fill measures and the groove will continue to improve!
And here is some fun listening if you’re interested:
Imogen Heap, Speak for Yourself
Muse, Black Holes and Revelations
Great progress this week, keep the feel up!
Jonah
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Next Jonah I want you to play through the chorus in this transcription of Uptown Funk.
How to practice effectively: Go through and learn the music and then try putting it together with the music. Remember the hi-hat splash in the beat we worked on today, I wrote it in the music! Cool inventions you had today Jonah! I love to see the other things you work on.
Samson
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Next week Samson I want you to play through the chorus of Uptown Funk
How to practice effectively: Read along my transcription and try to play it to the music!
Keep up the practicing Samson!
Sylvie
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: This week Sylvie I want you to play through all of Lesson 9
How to practice effectively: I want you to practice the rhythms with counting and dynamics like we have been practicing. Then also practice the hand exercises even though we don’t usually do them. We can work on the beats together since they are a little tricky.
Awesome job with the fills today, sounded really smooth and locked in!
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.
