Christopher Hull is a percussionist and ethnomusicologist whose work focuses on tensions between tradition and innovation in contemporary music. As a passionate performer of solo, chamber, and orchestral percussion, he seeks to ground his work in his classical training while simultaneously transcending the conventions of the conservatory. With classical percussion degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Alaska Fairbanks, a performing arts certificate from the Arts Institute of Indonesia Denpasar, and his current studies in ethnomusicology at the University of Toronto, Christopher’s genre-defying work exhibits a world of experience.
As an orchestral percussionist, he frequently works with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, the Hamilton and Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestras, and Sinfonia Ancaster. He has appeared as a chamber musician and soloist in festivals such as Open Ears, International Gamelan Festival Munich, Young Artists Niagara, and Sacred Rhythm Jakarta, and can be heard playing drums, vibraphone, and synthesizer on commercial recordings by Call Me Moon and Treephones. He is also Associate Artistic Director of Toronto-based Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan, commissioning and premiering new works for Sundanese degung, and director of the University of Toronto’s Balinese gamelan ensemble, Dharma Santi.
Get to know Chris…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Reading, cycling, and synthesizers
Musical influences: Jojo Mayer, Benny Greb, David Garibaldi, Gary Burton, Tony Miceli, Steve Reich, Glenn Gould, Bill Evans, I Dewa Made
Favourite food: Noodles
Least favourite food: Quiche
Favourite music: R&B, hip-hop, funk; Western modernism and minimalism; Balinese gender wayang; Sundanese degung; Orchestral; beatsce Favourite song:!
Favourite movie: The Departed
Favouirite movie music: Old modern romantic soundtracks (eg. Spellbound)
Favourite musical theatre/opera: West Side Story/Turandot
Best quote from your teacher: “When we perform, we smile. If we make a mistake while performing, we smile bigger.” -Dewa Suparta
Favourite quote: “I’m a man who leaves nothing to chance.” -Maestro Boris Brott
Favourite book: Dance, Dance, Dance by Haruki Murakami
Best thing about teaching at ABC: The lovely students
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Director’s Note: Important Chris Update
Hello Drumming and Percussion Families!
I am writing with a bittersweet bit of news, namely that Chris has proposed to his girlfriend and moving to England to be with her. This is great news, of course, as Chris is a great person in addition to being a great teacher.
Chris will most likely be gone after March. We have been working on some replacements, one for Saturday and one for Tuesday, and we will update you on them as soon as possible.
If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to call me directly in the office, or text the office number. Chris, I am sure, will also be happy to tell you about the new adventure he is beginning.
-Barnaby
Saturday, April 5th
Jack
Continued working on Jam by michael jackson, try to stay in time with kick snare pattern, We will be adding in cymbal and hi hat as a next step
Tova
Cupid by 50/50: now up to pre chorus. Doing great with counting the off beat, if struggling use the play the on beat on a random note method.
Will be doing some chamber music next class (I will play the chord)
Tracie
Warm-Up:
Turnstile Blues by Autolux
Familiarise yourself with the rhythm through paradiddle, then move over to the kick and snare to play the rhythm, L=snare, R=kick
Right now we are at 120 for eighth notes the goal is 95 for quartet, 190 for eighth notes
Always use metronome
Add in hihat(LH) next
Jared
Warm-Up: work on Stick Control Page 9
Variation: first bar triplet, second bar 16th notes, practise with metronome (TIP: throw the 16th and relax for faster rhythm!)
building solo! Use the roadmap that was given in lesson, explore cymbal sounds, try to time yourself doing each section, explore snare drum rhythms that you want to do the third section of the solo on
Start Bring me to life for next class
Mario
Warm Up:
Grab and throw motion for the triplet exercise!
My Friend by RHCP
work on transition from hihat(open) to ride on my friend by rhcp
Use the drumset musician p11 ex to warm up brain —> one bar ride one bar hi hat —> then to the song
Do it slow!
Always aim to the end of second bar, if uncertain dont play yet! Avoid learning the wrong thing!
Aleksander
Warm-Up: work on Stick Control Page 9
Variation: first bar triplet, second bar 16th notes, practise with metronome (TIP: throw the 16th and relax for faster rhythm!)
great work with playing intro to Living On a Prayer, already at speed, but gotta make sure we can do it after the 7 previous repetition. Next step the pre chorus triplet lick!
Preferred Books for TCHRNAME Students
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COMING SOON
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COMING SOON
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