Karel Gondor – Drums, Percussion, Piano

$30/half-hour, $45/45 minutes, $60/hour

Karel started playing drums at the not-so-tender age of 15, and was immediately performing in bands, venturing from his hometown of Pickering into Toronto to play gigs at whichever venues that Toronto's infamous promoters would throw at him. Afterwards, he completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Music at Humber College.

Since then, Karel has relentlessly pursued a career in improvised music, developing his skillset accordingly. Additionally, since 2019, Karel has been increasingly focused on developing his abilities as a composer. Karel has played at numerous Jazz and World Music Festivals, including: Ontario Latin Arts Festival, Toronto TD Jazz Festival, Pan-American Jazz Festival, and the Summer Olympics Team Canada Inauguration Party.

Karel tailors lessons according to the student's individual goals, but with a strong emphasis on fundamentals, such as proper technique and critical listening. "I like to think that music connects us to the present. When we create and perform music, we celebrate existence itself. I want my students to discover for themselves the richness of a life steeped in music, and my style of teaching is firmly rooted in this understanding."

In addition to drums, Karel also teaches a variety of percussion, including Pandeiro, Repinique, Tamborim, Surdo, Agogo Bells, and Congas. Currently, Karel is working on various musical projects, performing in and outside of Toronto, and is currently completing a Masters of Composition at York University.