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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10/21/20 Assignments
Ella
Recommended Practice Time: 30mins
What to practice: Add feet coordination to the Lesson 6 reading exercise (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zp6B4iwsqtoJYc8r3wrxPkfXZNtU3Zvc/view?usp=sharing) and to the Lesson 4 Sticking and Beats page (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1alyo2YFt3lUO9pcJ9F7GyGaG9rC-Gs-1/view?usp=sharing).
How to practice effectively: So for the Lesson 6 stuff, do the kick on 1 and the hi-hat on 2, and then for the 3/4 stuff do the kick on 1 and the hi-hat on 2 and 3. Aim for smooth, groovy playing. Then for the sticking sheet try the bass drum on 1 and 3 and split the hands between the hi-hat and snare, again aiming to groove like a beat and see how fast you can get it. Also take a look at the beats under the sticking exercises and we’ll do one last run of Last Kiss focusing on the feel of it.
I know this doing a ton of reps on these coordination exercises isn’t your favorite thing so I really appreciate your hard work on it today. Don’t forget to be patient with yourself and not tense up while you’re working it out!
Jonah
Recommended practice time: 15mins
What to practice: This week Jonah, even though its simple take another look at the Lesson 4 reading material especially at the last 2 chunks on that page. Also try out the beats and the stickings on the second page. Link here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1axscYfZanx3aGxGA6RKRLx2zOJofOMOB/view?usp=sharing
How to practice effectively: Even though its not too difficult, see if you can challenge yourself to play these rhythms well every time and really play them smoothly and with good counting.
Hey dude we got through some great stuff today, looking forward to digging into it more next week!
Samson
Recommended practice time: 15mins
What to practice: This week Samson I want you to work on Crab Rave with the song and look at the beats from Lesson 4 (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bMG6Uuvge6fdRX3vR6YuTmcNwfzK2iSe/view?usp=sharing)
How to practice effectively: I want you to be thinking about fluidity and groove in your playing, so when you play with Crab Rave try to stay with the song and not fall behind. Also see if you can play it without looking at the page. Also if you can, get a metronome or download an app before next lesson!
You’re getting a lot of the stuff we’re talking about, keep the focus up!
Sylvie
Recommended practice time: 30mins
What to practice: This week Sylvie I want you to work on these stickings and beats from Lesson 4: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dErziSeE3EgWI51sdDpgcFgA6BcHzapl/view?usp=sharing
As well as trying to get the bass drum and hi-hat coordination that we did today in Lesson 6: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bPzC5MdNW4diylXBJjAnjLiST6a-0hpx/view?usp=sharing
How to practice effectively: I want to work on you feeling and grooving comfortably with some more difficult limb coordination. With the Lesson 4 stickings, once you feel like you have them in your hands, I want you to try and play them with the kick on beats 1 and 3, try this also with the hi-hat foot on the same beats. Then for the Lesson 6 reading page, try to get the kick on beat 1 and the hi-hat pedal on beat 2 for the first section, and then for the other two sections in 3/4, do the kick on beat 1 and the hi-hat pedal on beats 2 and 3. Its going to be tricky and frustrating but just try to chip at it a little every day and it will get better, be sure to count out your rhythms as well while you play them to make sure you’re playing them accurately. As always ask your parents for help if you need it!
Great job pushing through some tough material today, I know that if you keep working it will get a lot easier and things will start to click faster!
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.
