On Drumming: The Psychology and Philosophy of Improvisation

by J.P. Bouvet

"On Drumming" describes principles for a theory of teaching and learning improvisation playing on a drum set. It explains the psychology that underlies mastering the complex skill of improvising while playing. It provides concrete methods for channeling and magnifying the mind's natural tendencies, allowing the drummer to develop reliable creative freedom.

Genres: Music, Psychology, Philosophy

177 pages, Paperback

Published December 8, 2024

Reviews

[Bradley Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

JP explains how our brains can conceptualize what we play on the drums as vocabulary. Like a creative author, we can learn to command our language in the moment to match the moment. The final chapter synthesizes why this is important and how it enriches the drummer’s life. This book is a good mix of theory and practical application, concisely conveyed and easily understood.

[Jared Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been drumming, on and off, for 35 years, and I never considered this area of study for improvisation. It's a remarkable book. My skills have improved since day one of picking this up. How does one follow cord changes and melodic shifts on drums? Read the book to find out.

[Karoline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way the author explains how we can successfully memorize and improvise is also understandable for ESL speakers. The abstract and subconscious processes are described incredibly well. Thanks to his thorough explanations of the mechanisms and the greater scope, he motivates us to trust the process while maintaining patience. This is refreshing in a world in which we often rush from task to task and nothing we do seems ever to be good enough. I can apply certain strategies from the book to render all my learning processes more efficient and better organized-whether it is about drumming, languages, or ceramics.

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

JP Bouvet has a good grasp of the academic writing genre which unfortunately means that the book is fairly longwinded and dry. The actual meat and potatoes of the book is pretty solid, though.

[Jasper Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

JP Explained in a very good way how our brains are connected to our playing

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10. Incredible book. So practical!

[Mapa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book on drumming, and what makes drumming drumming. It contains some concepts that can be generalized to building mastery on almost anything.

It can contain some life tips too if you zoom out enought.