A chat with a drum champ about drums and life

DA — Hi JP,

First off, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. I’m sure you are crazy busy and this means A LOT.

I’ve been a fan of yours for a while now ever since I saw you on the Guitar Center drum off. I think you are hugely inspiring and would love to get to know a little more about you personally and I think I can speak on behalf of your fans.

We chatted a little back in the day on Twitter but that was about it. That was right about the time you were starting your first drum camp. So anyways, below are some questions that myself and some fans would love to hear answered.

So lets get on with the interview…

DA — How did your passion for drums start? Did drums find you, or did you search for an instrument you found you had a natural talent for?

JP — I’m not sure if it was as poetic or noble as either of these options. I used to bang pots and pans with wooden spoons. At some point, I broke a tupperware. At this point, Mom decided drum lessons were a good idea. She is a bass player, piano player, singer, and general great musician, so she understands the value of kids exploring music for fun. I was 9 years old when I began taking lessons.

DA — Did you dream about being in a famous touring band or was drumming something you wanted more to teach and share with others?

JP — My dreams have morphed over the years. When I first started drumming, after seeing a “drummer and bassist wanted” flyer at the place I took lessons from, I auditioned for an 11 year old guitar player who would later become my closest and dearest friend. Years later, we would room at Berklee, form three other bands, and I would be the best man at his wedding, but for the time being, we just wanted to rock, make awesome music, and obviously be rockstars.

For a while, I really wanted to be the on call guy for gigs around town, big band, jazz, and fusion stuff. Then I left for college, wanting to be a player, and then wanting to be a “session cat,” and then wanting to be a guy in bands, and now… I’m all those things! I play in three amazing bands with my closest friends, do occasional tours when asked, teach and give clinics, run my online educational website (JPBouvetMusic.com), and occasionally do sessions. It’s ok to want many different things, and it’s ok not to know what you want. The more important thing is that you are working. Try your best to define the goal, and then put your head down and start working. There is no right path and there is no right destination, so if you are working hard and keeping in mind the person you want to be, you will end up somewhere that makes you happy.

DA — How often did you practice when you knew drumming was what you wanted to do with your life. (Days per week and hours per day).

JP — I have never really been into tracking hours, but I think a solid 4 hours a day is a good amount to make progress at a good rate. But, the hours alone don’t mean anything unless you are actually pushing yourself, mentally and physically. Every time you play the drums, you should have a purpose, an intent, and you should know what you are working on.

DA — When you stared seriously practicing drums, were you focused on one particular genre or did you want to be more well rounded in all areas?

JP — I went through pretty radical phases as I grew. I still do. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were (and still are) my favorite band, so I played a lot of their stuff, as well as Green Day and Blink 182 when I began drumming. In high school, I discovered Dave Weckl and went through a hard fusion phase, obsessing over Dave Weckl Band, Chick Corea, and Vinnie Colaiuta. Then I got really into big band music, and started playing in three or four big bands around Minneapolis. Some of them were volunteer, and the ones that weren’t, I was a sub that they’d call for the crap gigs (haha). The gigs the real drummer didn’t want do… really long… bad pay… I scrapped up those and loved them! I learned to read well during those years. Since then, I’ve been through metal phases, a Dream Theater phase (don’t we all), another fusion phase, a hip hop phase, a chops phase, an odd times phase, a clave and latin phase, and who knows what phases I’m forgetting. All together, they equal whatever I’ve become today. I’ll continue to go through phases of influence and will continue to evolve.

DA — Do you have an ultimate dream with your drumming career? Like do you want to be the next Dave Weckl in terms of talent and demand or do you want to be up there with Mike Johnston in terms of the ultimate teacher.

JP — It’s hard to define an ultimate goal. The closest thing I have to an “ultimate goal” wouldn’t really have much to do with drumming. As a drummer, I want to stay true to myself and be considered an “explorer.” I don’t need to be the fastest or loudest, but I’d like to continue being as creative as I can. Aside from drumming, I am searching for something bigger to offer the world. I believe our impact in the world is the impact we have on the people we come in contact with. I’m more interested in someone saying, “JP inspired me to create this amazing thing,” instead of “JP showed me this cool thing.” Drums is singles and doubles. I want people to explore in new directions. And I want to be a good role model. Sounds cheesy, but I really respect people with sound values and an honest and loving heart.

DA — Does being on the road a lot to do clinics and filling in for bands take away from your personal/family life? If so how do you find a good natural balance?

JP — Not really. I mean, obviously when I’m out of town, I’m not around my friends, but we have a very special group of friends. We’ve been through a lot. We are all in the same boat and support each other ruthlessly. I really enjoy my alone time. I enjoy exploring new places, and I think it’s important to be ok with being alone. My greatest ideas and greatest moments of clarity have come from time spent alone, wandering, both mentally and physically. For the most part, I’m in charge of booking my own stuff, so I guess that makes it much easier to create a balance. If you choose to be your own booking agent, you can have a pretty easy time creating a balance.

DA — When you practice, do you have a very regimented routine or do you kind of just play something that has been in your head and you work it out until its perfect?

JP — My routine is constantly evolving but there is always a bigger focus that stays constant. I have been realizing more and more that setting goals for longer periods of time is really helpful. I’m talking 6 months or a year and saying, “by this time next year, I want to be really comfortable with this new concept, or this ostinato, or this new time signature.” Whatever it may be, it will be really difficult to make real progress in less than a few months, and it will be even more difficult for you to see the progress, but when you make it a long term goal, then after a year you can look back and think, ok, I’m definitely way better at this than I was a year ago.

I also find it helps to break your practice session into smaller chunks, so if you’re practicing topics A, B and C. Instead of doing 40 minutes of each and calling it a day, do 20 minutes of each and loop the cycle twice, so you end up doing A, B, C, A, B, C. Giving your subconscious a break from a concept allows it to piece together some missing bits and when you revisit it a second time, things will start to click into place more quickly.

DA — Are or were drum books a big part of your practice regimen.

JP — Nope. I’ve never been much of a book learner. I’ve been through phases with a couple books, but I think it’s very important to learn to be your own teacher and continually identify what the next step is. I have always valued improvisation in all aspects of life, and one area seldom given attention is the art of improvised teaching, including teaching yourself. Try to be creative and analytical as you try to think of new ways to make yourself better at the drums.

DA — Was it a dream of yours to be a well known drummer?

JP — The only reason today that I want to keep becoming more “well known” is because I want to reach more people, not necessarily with new drum ideas, but with the messages that are embedded in my teaching about life, creating a life you like, learning to think better, being more self-aware, asking why,and so forth. I find these things much more important and much more difficult to find than good drum education.

DA — Who was one of your biggest influences?

JP — Jim Carrey is one I think of often. I’ve never met him, which means my idea of who he is is primarily created in my mind, but that’s ok. From what I’ve read and watched, there is a lot to look up to in that man. He is full of love. He is full of intent. He makes decisions based on what is right. He has worked very hard since he was very young. He came from a struggling family with strong values and love for one another and he exudes a bright light into the universe that gives people hope and, as he says is his gift, “frees people from concern.”

DA — Did you have a mentor in any point in your drum career and if so who?

JP — I’ve been surrounded by wonderful people of all types, but no one comes to mind as a “mentor.”

DA — Can you give us a typical day in the life of JP Bouvet?

JP — I’m not sure there is such a thing. Since I’m quite young, and very constantly evolving and trying new things, week to week and month to month brings immense change. I just returned from a two-month, self-booked clinic/lesson/drum camp tour in Europe, where I visited many wonderful cities, countries, and people, so every day was entirely different during those months, including the money, language, and task at hand. When I am in New York, I am always trying to progress as a drummer, book the next tour, book the drum camps, teach some private lessons, or spend time with my friends exploring New York City. Next year I will be out of town for the first ever tour with the band Drew Ofthe Drew, as well as the first European tour with Dave Mackay Group, as well as a South American clinic tour that I’m currently booking myself, along with who knows what!… hopefully the next leg of the Common Thread Clinic tour! I am planning a big charity festival for next year called The Great Event, so I’m always thinking of that and trying to make progress from where ever I am.