When learning music "the important thing is allowing kids to express what’s inside them", musician JP Cooper has said.
The British singer-songwriter says he started learning music by just trying different things out for himself, "I can remember once doing a performance, just hitting bins with sticks, you know making these drum beats," he said.
"Anything like that was so fascinating.
"My attention span was quite short as a kid, it was something I had to really develop."
JP Cooper:
Hey guys, I'm JP Cooper. Remember to bring the noise.
NARRATOR:
[SINGING] Bring the noise.
Interviewer:
So, JP Cooper, welcome to Bring the Noise radio.
JP Cooper:
Thanks for having me. It's good to be here.
Interviewer:
Did you pick up any musical instruments, uh, when you were young? Like, you know, whether it was, uh, having a go at a harmonica, or tambourine, or anything like that?
JP Cooper:
I think I tried a few things. My, my attention span was quite short as a kid. It was something that I had to really develop. I can remember once doing a performance, just hitting bins with sticks. You know, making these drum beats. And, anything like that, it was just so fascinating. I'm a nightmare. [LAUGHS]
Interviewer:
Now, what would you say to teachers about good ways to inspire kids, particularly when they're at that really young age?
JP Cooper:
I think the important thing is, is allowing kids to express what's inside them. These young kids who have never picked up a guitar, or had a music lesson in their life, are picking up an iPad. And, just allowing their brains to just pour out into this thing. And, they're making incredible music that is changing the course of popular music.
Interviewer:
And, what would you say to a young kid about who, if they decided they wanted to write their first rap, or rhyme, or song? What would you say?
JP Cooper:
So, I think it's just a case of get it all out and refine it afterwards. Just don't worry. There might be a load of stuff in there that is absolute trash, but it's fine. I think a lot of the time is we, we're our own worst critics and, and, you know, we really worry about what this first song's going to-- It really doesn't matter, you know. My early stuff was, you know, I'm glad that it wasn'trecorded. [LAUGHS]
Interviewer:
What's your favourite nursery rhyme? Or, what was your favourite song as a kid?
JP Cooper:
I think, do you know what, my favourite nursery rhyme, and not only for, like, the tune of it or whatever, but it's just the idea, was "Row your boat gently down the stream". Like, you know, don't try and swim up the stream. Just go with it. Like, that's, there's something really powerful in that. And then, as a kid it was just, "Row, row, row your boat, gently, da-da-da." And, you don'tthink about it, whatever, as a tune. And then, you get older and you're like that's so important, to just gently row your boat down the stream and life is but a dream. You know, it's, that's amazing.
Interviewer:
[INAUDIBLE] JP. [LAUGHS]. Thank you.
NARRATOR:
[SINGING] Bring the noise.
"Young kids who have never picked up a guitar or had a music lesson in their life are picking up an iPad and just allowing their brains to just pour out in to this thing," Cooper said.
"They are making incredible music that is changing the course of popular music."
John Paul Cooper was born in Manchester where he spent most of his childhood with his four older sisters. He was a keen sportsman but it was in his teens when his love of grunge began and he taught himself to play the guitar.
He later went on to form a rock band while he was still at school.
For aspiring musicians today Cooper advises to experiment and not worry about how your first work sounds "It's just a case of get it all out and refine it afterwards.
"A lot of the time we are our own worst critics."
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