JP Bouvet on Teaching Improvisation, Learning Songs, and Bandleading

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Chapters
0:00 - how has his approach to improvisation changed
7:20 - when to start students improvising?
14:50 - how do you entice students to go deep enough without making then bored?
21:00 - why does so little drum instruction focus on improvisation
31:00 - is JP SURE students should never sing what they want to play?
35:15 - our collective ire toward some conventional wisdom
37:37 - how did JP get into bandleading
40:44 - how does JP learn complex songs so fast?

[@jonpiers2325]

the point about transcriptions having a tendency to be “one really long rudiment” for ill equipped players is do spot on! I’ve done some basic transcriptions in the past and have yet to really even explore the concepts therein b/c i just wasn’t that kind of player at the time + didn’t have the idea to investigate and understand the concepts within a transcription on a deeper level. Saw an interview of Greb lovingly scrutinizing newer players moving from concept to concept and asking “but what have you mastered?” And that changed my perspective totally. Now I’m focusing on some core concepts and not letting them go until it’s beyond in my bones, permutations and all. Couldn’t help but think of that quote watching this, Great Stuff!

[@JeffRandallDrumming]

Really enjoyed this.

[@funchcymbals3400]

Much love from the Funch family to JP!! Very inspiring to hear you two share improv philosophies

[@t3hgir]

so cool to see JP continue to grow and evolve as a musician and share his experience on the drum set. I always loved his playing but what impresses me most is how eloquent he is when discussing drums/teaching/everything. He will always be a legend for the "I filled in for Matt Halpern gig vlog" that bit around 27 minutes about "you hear cool drums in your head (as a beginner/intermediate) but there's not any actual detail/discreteness to the phrasing" is huge, I experienced this revisiting the guitar after years of playing drums. I would hear shred lines in my head and then try to learn them by ear, but without the rhythmic vocab (or technique) to properly plan out the phrases... good luck.

[@styrosynth3917]

JP Helped me understand why the things i liked sounded so good, and how they were built. I really thought they were all Martian alien stuff, but the way he puts them into simple words and steps. No over complicated or abstract stuff that i thought it was some elite kind of “feeling”. He gives you a roadmap. Most advanced teachers are soooo far advanced that they forget that students have not yet internalized sounds or melodies. JP understood this.

[@alejandrocifuentes603]

Great work Nate. These podcast are amazing. Congrats!

[@PerpetualTwilight88]

This conversation is very interesting. ....i think 80/20 Drummer podcast interview series would be so sick

[@jonashellborg8320]

So good, amazing to hear Nate and JP talk. Such enthusiasm for drums, how to play, how to get better,

[@bhanrahzul]

I appreciate the Darren King mention. I feel like his unique drumming voice is underrepresented in the online drum space. I am definitely going to check out that course now!

[@cpizz99]

JP's insights are next level 🔥🔥🔥

[@artemcultura6191]

Big respect for Japes.

[@bigfatpaul1759]

That point about practising something twice a day rather than once...

[@ImaginaryAsh]

I had a Skype lesson with JP many years ago and I remember him telling me about this.

[@Euthyphro]

You should try and get Bruce Becker. He’s my teacher, and the chats we have are honestly awesome.

[@alexanderednie1205]

“I never play to music” not sure how I feel about this

[@8020drummer]

When did he say that?

[@alexanderednie1205]

@1:26

[@alexanderednie1205]

I’m not saying it’s good or bad I’m saying I don’t know I feel about that

[@8020drummer]

@@alexanderednie1205 ah. Well different strokes. He sure sounds good with his band.

[@alexanderednie1205]

@@8020drummer if you don’t play along to James gadson on kissin my love can you really learn to groove one handed 16th notes…next…on 20/80guitar who wishes he was a drummer Love all your videos. Been watching for years

[@ignacioperezdelcastillo3182]

Great

[@PerpetualTwilight88]

I was the 88th person to hit the like button