RUFUS PHILPOT (Planet X,etc..)-Instructional DVD

rufusbass · #1 03-15-2007, 01:50 PM

Hey Guys-Not sure if everyone is aware, but I have Vol. 1 of my instructional DVD available now...and am also shortly going to be filming some new stuff too..
Vol 1 covers some cool stuff-Improvising using different modes/pentatonic superimposition, 2/3 octave scales and fingering, technique development,phrasing ideas, practise routines and more..
It's about 1 Hour in length and I have been getting really good responses from my regular students who have got it and its been selling as far afield as the U.K. , Canada, Australia, and Ireland!
You can shoot me an e mail to rufusbass@gmail.com if interested-
It costs $39.00 plus shipping..
And if you are in the LA area, i offer private tuition too..
SOME OTHER NEWS TOO-the new Planet X cd will be out too..Longtime collaborator Jimmy Johnson is on some tracks and I am on some too-including a track I wrote with Virgil and Derek Sherinian...
Plus, watch for a new projct with Will Kennedy (Yellowjackets) too, that I am producing..
Cheers
Rufus

98dvl · #2 03-15-2007, 09:37 PM

This sounds interesting... but honestly, $39 (not including the shipping) seems steep for a video. (I understand you gotta make money though, don't take it the wrong way). Are there any more topics included in the disc, or just what you mention above? Any discount for TB members/TB Supporting members?

Do you have any sample clips? Does the video include a book or something to follow along with? What sort of "pre-requisites" are there? (Do I need to know how to read music? Do I need any sort of music theory knowledge?). what experience level is this geared towards? Beginner, intermediate, experienced?

Any sort of discount with future video purchases if we purchase this disc? What do you expect to put into future videos?

rufusbass · #3 03-16-2007, 04:02 AM

hey-so...
Level wise intermediate-advanced-but not super advanced-that will come in vol 2 /3....
There is no reading requirement.
It covers technique, practise routine development, phrasing ideas-including legato, hammer on, pull off ideas, melodic soloing concepts-how to utilize pentatonic scales in new ways, and there are of course examples of me playing some solos etc using these concepts..
If u r interested, go to myspace.com/rufusbass and there is a three minute clip of me playing over a minor blues (this is at the start of the vid)
Theres also some stuff with me Virgil Donati and Mitch Forman too..
As for Cost-$39..
I appreciate that money can be tight for us musicians, and some dvds are cheaper,(although I have seen quite a few in th esame price range) but honestly, everyone who has purchased this from me has said how much it has given them....I also spent MANY hours formulating the topics and ideas in the dvd..When you consider it costs less then an average Bass lesson, I think it is not unreasonable.I genuinely wanted to make a really good dvd, that helped explain how to apply aspects of music theory and to put it into practise ....
... I am going to be doing some other video downloads too in the innstructional line..Watch this space too for that...(They will also be in cheaper segments too..) Some theory is required for this Vol1 ..., but again, not anything too heavy....If you know your modes ok, and the blues scale and major and minor penatatonics then you will have no problem!
A discount for talkbass members.....hmmm.There's an interesting idea!
Let me think about it...sounds like a possibility!
Cheers
Rufus

**WillPlay4Food** · #4 03-16-2007, 06:49 AM

$39 is not a lot of money for a quality video. Heck, the "This is the Way I Do It" 3 DVD set by John McLaughlin goes for about $175, which is a bit more than $40/DVD and you have to pay shipping for that as well.

[on topic]
When you say you need to know modes & the pentatonic scales do you mean you just need to know how to construct them? I'm still in the phase where I know how to build the scales, but I'm not whipping through them on the bass.

rufusbass · #5 03-16-2007, 03:33 PM

Hi there-thanks for the q's-
And its good to get feedback on this-
Regarding your q on modal/scalar knowledge: What I do on the dvd is show you how to APPLY for instance a dorian mode, minor pentatonic and also a blues scale over a chord in a creative AND practical fashion, paying attention to what actually sounds good, how the notes in the mode/scale REALTE to the chord you are playing on, and a couple of othwer really good tips to make your playing sound more sophisticated with just basic knowledge of these things..If you can play 'em over one octave, I gurantee u will learn from it...
Cheeeeers
R

arogerswright · #6 03-20-2007, 07:01 PM

I am going to come right out and say that my reply to people questioning Rufus' instructional video is biased. However, my bias is based on the fact that I have been studying with the man for nearly 2 years now and I feel stronger, faster, and more confident directly due to his lessons and friendship. What I like most about Rufus is that he does not have a game plan per se, that he applies to every student. How many books do we see with this guys method, or guys who claim to have THE method? Rufus is the total antithesis of this. What he does is exploit your weaknesses and then comes up with a custom game plan to make those weaknesses strengths. The DVD is worth it, but if you have the opportunity to take lessons as well...I guarantee that you WILL notice a change in your playing for the better.

Cheers,

Anthony

pafriend · #7 03-22-2007, 11:37 PM

It's interesting to see people say their opinion is biased because they happen to study with Rufus. I don't look at it that way, I mean, we don't get kickbacks for these posts. :-)

I found Rufus by luck almost two years ago. I walked in with my lefty unlined fretless and tenuous grasp of G Major in one position and he didn't even blink. Then he picked up his own fretless and we started from scratch. If his DVD or his lessons seem a bit more than you have seen elsewhere, consider the fact that this is a professional musician with 20+ years experience, that tours with other well-known musicians on a regular basis. Most of my friends are surprised I am able to study with someone at that level, especially after they listen to some of the tracks on his myspace page.

As the other poster mentioned, Rufus is able to find your weak areas and craft exercises to improve your playing. Exercises in theory are balanced with a chance to play real music, whether it's something he provides or a favorite song you bring in to analyze. He's also a really funny guy (especially when telemarketers call him during a lesson).

Lesson Friday, time to practice...