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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Ella
Recommended Practice Time: 30mins
What to practice: This week I want you to go over the sheet on stickings and beats as well as some of the fills on Last Kiss. Here is the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1alyo2YFt3lUO9pcJ9F7GyGaG9rC-Gs-1/view?usp=sharing
How to practice effectively: Like what we talked about with building technical vocabulary, I want you to engrain these patterns in your hands so you can just look at it and play it fluidly. Ways to spice up this practicing include splitting the hands on the hi-hat and snare and playing the bass drum on beats 1 and 3 and you can also try finding a song you like at a good tempo for you and practice the patterns along to it.
Its been super fun playing with you Ella, keep up the good work!
Jonah
Recommended practice time: 15mins
What to practice: This week Jonah I want you to practice the reading section of Lesson 4, it should be the second page on this document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1axscYfZanx3aGxGA6RKRLx2zOJofOMOB/view?usp=sharing
How to practice effectively: This takes a little bit of focus but it will be so worth it for you in the future! If you have the paper try to write in the counts of the rhythm, this page is all 8th notes so you’ll count it 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +. Try counting it out loud first, then counting and playing at the same time, and then just playing it. Don’t worry if its confusing, we can continue working on it together on Wednesday!
Its always a blast playing with you Jonah, hope you have a great week!
Samson
Recommended practice time: 15mins
What to practice: This week Samson I want to see if you can get comfortable with all of lesson 4. You said that you had looked at the stickings and the beats so try to focus on the reading page which should be the second page of this document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bMG6Uuvge6fdRX3vR6YuTmcNwfzK2iSe/view?usp=sharing
How to practice effectively: Try to follow exactly what we did in the lesson which was the process of writing in and learning the counts to the rhythms (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +), counting out loud and playing, and then just playing by itself. I think you’ve got a good handle on it but it can still be kind of frustrating to practice so be patient with yourself and take lots of breaks so you don’t wear yourself out.
It was really great seeing your work on this lesson even just on Wednesday, keep it up this week too dude!
Sylvie
Recommended practice time: 30mins
What to practice: Keep trying to work through the counting in Lesson 6, here is the document: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bPzC5MdNW4diylXBJjAnjLiST6a-0hpx/view?usp=sharing
How to practice effectively: I know this was a bit tricky for you in the lesson but stick to the process we outlined: learn and write in the counts (8th notes with one connected line on top will be 1 + 2 + 3 + and 16th notes with two connected lines on top will be 1e+a 2e+a 3e+a. Then go through and try to count out loud and play at the same time, its ok if you trip over the numbers or the counting a little bit I just want to make sure you’re learning the rhythm correctly. Then try just playing the rhythm. If you hit a road block or have trouble ask your parents for help!
Good job working through this stuff last lesson, I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it through some more practice 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.
