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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March 31st Assignments
Lucas
Recommended Practice Time: 15-30mins every day
What to practice: This week Lucas I want you to play through both of the Lesson 2 beats for me 8 times!
How to practice effectively: Remember to try to get comfortable playing the cymbal if your right hand, or you can practice leading with you left too if you want! Work the cymbal and bass drum together first and then add the snare drum. Good work today, keep asking questions and figuring out everything that confuses you!
Ella
Recommended Practice Time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Next week Ella I want you to play through Etude IV again and work through the first verse of Verbatim.
How to practice effectively: For the etude our goal this week is to play through it smoothly, practice it in chunks everyday and play it with the accents on the tom like we did in our lesson. For Verbatim work on the practice beat for the verse first and then incorporate that relaxed emphasis on the second note to the beat in the verse.
And here is some fun listening if you’re interested:
Imogen Heap, Speak for Yourself
Muse, Black Holes and Revelations
I can tell you’re starting to get the feel down, good job!
Jonah
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Next week Jonah I want you to take a listen to Uptown Funk and work some more on the new beat I showed you today! How to practice effectively: Good work today Jonah with the beats it was sounding really good!
Keep working on that new fill Jonah!
Samson
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: Next week Samson I want you to play the opening of Uptown Funk,
How to practice effectively: Listen to the song and try to play along as much as you can. Remember to keep up with the tempo of the song and keep your shoulders relaxed!
Keep up the practicing Samson!
Sylvie
Recommended practice time: 30mins every day
What to practice: This week Sylvie I want you to play through the beats for Lesson 8 one more time and all of Lesson 9
How to practice effectively: Pretty much same stuff as we did this week, for the lesson 9 reading don’t forget to pay attention to the dynamics! For the beats try to get creative with how to play them around the drums! Also don’t forget to return each stroke to 6 inches above the head. I’m looking for consistent, accurate rhythms. We will work on dynamics and beats next week!
Great counting today 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.
