This is an interesting video. It’s great to hear a fantastic drummer telling it, from his perspective, like it is.
It reminds me of a video in which George Harrison says he could be quite a good guitarist if he could be bothered to practice!
Although I am a drum teacher, more broadly speaking – as a musician/artist – I wouldn’t necessarily advice that anyone to do as I do, or, for that matter, as Ian Paice does.
Unlike Paice, I haven’t had a stellar career recording and performing with one of the worlds’ most successful rock bands.
What I do have in common with him, however, is noticing that when I have periods of frequent live musical activity – rehearsals, recordings, and especially gigs – my playing develops quite naturally/organically.
But then again, unlike Paice, I’m someone who does actually positively revel in practice. Indeed, over time I’ve evolved away from the ‘just jamming’ model (what I call ‘free play’ in my teaching), as favoured by Ian, towards focussed technique-based work.
I think ideally one ought to have a see-sawing motion of balance between such free play and technical development. Both ought to inform and improve each other.
Interestingly, one of Paicey’s favourite hobbyhorse points concerns the single-stroke roll. And that in turn reminds me of a video in which Grayson Nekrutman seeks to emulate Buddy Rich’s lightning speed singles (amongst other things!)
Ian Paice believes, and I can totally see and understand why, that everything else in drumming flows from this single simple yet limitlessly challenging technique or rudiment.
Anyway, let’s treasure, celebrate and learn from Ian whilst we still have him around. What a legend!