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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November 18th Assignments
Ella
Recommended Practice Time: 30mins
What to practice: Next week I would like to hear the coordination exercise with two songs of differing tempos, you can either use the first two songs in this playlist or use two songs you like with similar tempos. Also I would like you to run through 10:15 Saturday Night as well.
How to practice effectively: With the coordination exercise, the key will be to isolate and practice the difficult patterns and transitions slowly (specifically the 3rd and 4th lines) and then go back and try bigger chunks. Get it pretty solid with the slower song before moving to the faster one and see if you can stay focused on playing while still grooving with the song.
Listening Assignment: Check out this Muse album this week!
Muse, Black Holes and Revelations
There’s some good progress with the coordination exercise this week, keep working on it everyday until you don’t even have to think about the stickings!
Jonah
Recommended practice time: 15mins
What to practice: This week Jonah I would like to hear the second half of the Lesson 5 Reading, first clapping and counting and then playing. I really would like to hear you nail this next week. And if that’s the case we can move onto some new beats and fills next week!
How to practice effectively: I think the way we tried today will be helpful: count the eighth notes 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + and then clap the rhythm, work to get it where you can play through each line smoothly and accurately. Then try transitioning to playing it on the drum. I know this is trickier than memorizing beats, but if you can develop the patience and ability to read unfamiliar rhythms well, then you’ll be able to play anything!
It was impressive hearing you breeze through the Lesson 5 beats man, thats some great stuff. Now keep working hard on these Reading exercises and soon it’ll be just as easy for you!
Samson
Recommended practice time: 15mins
What to practice: Next week Samson I want to hear you play through all of Crab Rave 2.0 in time and with good listening. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ftUXzChBoqx5DEHxrzhVO7its0877-TL/view?usp=sharing
How to practice effectively: You made some great progress on this dude, now just keep working on listening while you’re playing, feeling the groove, and staying with the track. To go to the extra level, record yourself with your phone or other device while you’re playing, and try to feel if you get off and notice where it happened. Then, check the recording and see if you were right and find out whether you were were rushing or dragging. The idea is to build a strong sense of time, and be able to feel immediately when you are getting off from the music and acquire the instincts to know how to correct it!
Hey dude keep pushing and honing in on this tune, it was awesome to see you play through the whole thing. Try to get some more good practice in and then next week we can start on some new stuff!
Sylvie
Recommended practice time: 30mins
What to practice: This week Sylvie I want you to new coordination warmup and play it with the Red Hot Chili Peppers song in this playlist or with another song of your choice at a similar tempo
How to practice effectively: Work through the tricky patterns SLOWLY and be sure to line up the hands with the feet properly. Again, each sticking pattern can be repeated as much as you want before moving on. The idea is to warmup your hands by playing different patterns while grooving along to the time you’re keeping in your feet. Also don’t forget to keep the tips of your sticks in a nice arrow and start and end each stroke about 6in above the drum head for this exercise.
Keep up the awesome work Sylvie, I can’t wait to hear the improvement next week!
Paulina
Feel better and get some good, quality, at-night sleep this week!!
Here’s some more fun listening for you this week!
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.
