"A kid playing air guitar will play with a smile on their face. Give 'em your first lesson, and that smile goes away" - As a music teacher, that was so deep.
no kidding. made me feel like I forgot where I came from musically. I used to sound out songs on an out of tune toy guitar and I think that was the most beneficial thing early on.
Have to teach them what they want to know and tie that into stuff they NEED to know as a musician as you go on. Don't just hand them the awful, dry books and go "Here." This is why everyone quits! They're BOR-ING. And as a music major, I've had a dozen of the teachers, too...
Just imagine a baby being given the young boys and girls to learn from there,I bet the baby's vocabulary will be low compared to if he was up brought by grown ups (professionals )
I honestly dont get it. When I play air guitar its things that I cant play on a real guitar yet and at that point imagination takes over. When im practicing on my real guitar im not having the time of my life but im still enjoying it because at one point i´ll be able to play all the air guitar things on the real guitar
+ParisLondonRoma It's true a lot of the time. Art Schools can definitely help some people, but for others it can hurt more than help. I used to love drawing when I was younger and was getting better and better every year. I started by copying comic book art freehand and then eventually was able to create new characters and backgrounds on my own. I made the mistake of taking an art class in high school (yeah I know, high school art class is nothing compared to a real art school) and instead of the teacher finding out what I already knew and figuring out how to make me even better, he basically said some of my techniques were wrong and tried to teach me another way of doing it. Over the course of two years with this guy, I completely lost my passion for drawing. Thank God the music program was good so I at least had another outlet for my creativity.
I met Victor after a show once, I'd just lost the use of my hands and was having trouble regaining it, literally ten minutes of discussion with him lifted my spirits and erased any concerns I had about never being able to play again. He is an unbelievably special person, I'm glad he's on Earth the same time I am
@allegrafrost I would pray and hope so and inspiration and staying positive even during trialing times is very powerful let alone words by themselves are powerful as well 🙏 hope you are well and I would think he and or she was able to play again
Totally totally agree. I have been music for 19 years. But I am no pro in any one instrument. I only wanted to play what I wanted to. And with whatever instrument I had with me. Now I understand all instruments easily - keys,strings, percussion, they all have notes, melodies, sounds are the same. It was always about - what can this thing do ? Ultimately listening patiently and with focus, is what that makes one a good musician. And that is very different from being a good guitar player or a good drummer.
“Cool, a Ted talk about music” 2 minutes in: crying my eyes out and rethinking my entire musical journey Thank you for so much wisdom and truth, you are truly a great🙌🏻
"When we see something bad or awful or horrible in life, maybe we're just viewing it in the wrong octave" This is the best freaking analogy I've ever heard in my entire life. Period. This is pure gold.
+Jesus A. Mendoza i always thought about it the same way even with the same analogy of the Major 7 / minor second interval.... i gotta say, though, that you have to emphasize the word "maybe"... because there are horrible and awful things happening around the globe (Victor even mentioned one of'em) and not everything seemingly terrible can become beautiful just by looking at it from a different perspective. Victor`s example of war, for example, might become positive .... by changing your perspective into that of the profiteers. But it still doesn`t get any more beautiful!!
I tried taking the c up an octave, whike still playing the c# below and the notes still clash. it wasn't really buitifull. am I doing something wrong? can someone explain the analogy better?
_"A kid playing air guitar will play with a smile on their face. Give them the first lesson, the smile goes away."_ Ouch, I felt that quote so hard. Really loved this talk-very inspiring.
Imagine how much cooler the world would be if just a few people like Vic were in positions of power in large countries. Empathy, compassion, intelligence, well thought out reasoning, straightforward yet very illustrative way of explaining things. No more wars, just killer international jam sessions 24/7
Imagine if people would come together to realize that we can put these people into those positions. The problem is that so many who should be in those positions won't apply and we get the power hungry instead filling the vacuum.
+Marcos Valderrey Yeah, I've actually found that musicians do that. They have very melodic voices and speak very harmonically. My dad does this, he's a musician. :D
“People will forget what you said, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.” As a high school teacher, I try to put that into practice every day (although it’s not always easy). So many pearls of wisdom in this talk, I can’t imagine why anyone would give it a thumbs down.
For me, theres no greater joy than using 'that greatness' to break down other peoples mental barriers and watch they bask in something they once fantasized of. I once had a close friend buy an ukulele and was very timid about playing, too focused on strumming correctly or messing up. Hed always asked the strumming pattern and Id say "you know it, think about it, feel it" One day, soon after I started teaching him, I said were taking a walk down the street. Grab your uke and I grabbed an acoustic, before heading to the neighborhood pub on a busy Friday. I gave him 4 simple chords to remember during that walk and as we drew closer he began to get nervous, realizing what I had in mind. It's been 3 years since that night and he still regards then as something very special to him. You see, using those 4 simple chords to follow my lead, a crowd of about 20-30 people gathered around us in a circle and were singing along with me at top of their lungs. I remember looking at him and he was playing him heart out, worried about nothing and in a state of bliss. As of today, he plays guitar too and is singing as well. He trusts me fully and when I ask him to sing on demand (to teach others) he belts out vocals whether it sounds good or not. He sees other people who were too nervous/doubtful, as he was and tells them of the night I dragged him to the pub and how all the sudden a crowd of people were gathered around enjoying the music. As someone who's spent much time teaching for free, moments like that, the value it had on someone else and the barrier it broke down make me feel like a millionaire. I'm proud as heck for the times I've spontaneously given away a guitar, that ended up opening doors of joy for other people. I've been playing for 16 years and I'm certain that anyone can and should too
15:11 "When people put you up on a pedestal, don't come off the pedestal acting like you're humble... Stay up on that pedestal, because if they put you there, that's showing you how high they can see. Stay there and then pull them up...! And they'll grow faster than if you come down."
I think that remark shows how genuine Victor is. It's easy to adopt an heir of false humility and then soak up all the praises of people saying you're great because you're so humble, but he acknowledges that everyone is not at the same level of proficiency, and the people who admire you for your level will benefit from you pushing (or pulling) them up. If someone compliments your skill, you could say, "Oh, I'm not that good", or you could say, "Thanks, would you like to know how to do what I do?"
@@BassByTheBay Yes, I first got the idea for this when I watched the Barnyard movie back in 2007. Then from that, I coined the quote.."A strong man stands for himself, a stronger man stands for others, but the strongest men help others stand for themselves."
He is not just talking about music. He is sharing life wisdom. There are so many gems all packed in one jam session. You are a beautiful human being, Victor Wooton.
TOTALLY AGREE..! But of the rare exceptions here, Victor is a "proven, trusted source" of high musicality. I met him once after a seminar he gave in Orange County, CA and he is down to earth, real, spiritual...the real McCoy..! he spent "over time" answering questions, making sure everyone was satisfied..! NOT looking at his watch to determine his exit....
Such a strange comment. Who’s after him? He’s a gifted musician and teacher (and seems like a wonderful human being-unfortunately, I don’t know him personally)not a civil rights martyr going into political exile. This is a strange kind of hero worshiping line that I keep hearing from spectators about celebrities or artists. “…at all costs.” What does that mean?
After reading Victor Wooten's book "The Music Lesson" one thing I learned was Victor's approach to soloing on the bass which is applicable to other instruments that when it comes to improvisation, to not be afraid of experimenting for if you hit a wrong note, either side of the wrong note is a right one:) Let your creativity flow and don't concern yourself with right or wrong notes but rather being free and experimential.
I already watch this few times, but as a music teacher myself whenever i fell down or stress, i sit down and watch this all over again and it will help me to smile and relieve my stress, Bravo Victor you literally change the standard rules to greatness.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I knew Victor as a first class bassist. Never knew he was a first class teacher too!! It's unbelievable how good he explains the simple thing in life! Thanks Victor..
*Yes, it takes effort (let's call it **_work_**, shall we?) to obtain a high skill-level, but it's music. So let's **_play._* Have fun and play. It's ART, not a contest. And _everyone_ is invited. You want to play music? You can probably already do it, and you may not even realize it. Ready? Let's go.
Thanks very much for sharing. The best I heard about music until now (and I'm 66). Shold be distributed to all music teachers. But now I stop looking google+ and videos and go to play some music for myself...
That's just how I started playing! Not just bass, I tried a lot of ways to find my 'voice' via table tapping, singing, humming, whistling, musical instruments. Find what you enjoy and enjoy it. Pass it on. Share the love!
"Who cares about the instrument you talk with? It's about what you have to say. I've always had something to say, and I've learned how to speak through my instrument." That's just, wow. An eye opener.
"If I use my greatness in the right way, it can help others rise up quickly." Thank you Victor for helping us see how teachers are able to share their true gifts with the rest of us. What an amazing TED conversation!!!
Ever since I can remember, My Father has been an amazing guitar player. I never to much interest in learning. but I love music, and my children. It amazes me everyday what my toddlers pick up on and learn, manipulate, and Jam. My father once gave me a guitar. I tried playing it once. Its time I start Jamming with it instead.
He's a rarity of talent; an amazing musician. Many of the musical geniuses (not talking about lyricists), current and past, share a common sentiment: they find it more natural to 'speak' through music rather than speech.
He's not only an extraordinary musician but first an extraordinary personality! The calmness, wisdom and influence in his words are very phenomenal. Thanks maestro
Incredible. I’ve been playing guitar for 6 years. But this speech alone made me buy a bass today. No rules. Just playing. “You are already successful, the world just doesn’t know it yet”
This talk nearly brought me to tears ! Because I forget what it meant to be a musician. I'm more conscious now of my role in the world. "Music is a lifestyle".
After watching this,I started playing the guitar infront of my 6 months old baby girl.She's smile and staring at me.❤️ Thank you for the inspirational life lesson victor❤️
As someone who teaches singing and deals with speech impediments and issues, I would say most people are robbed of their true voice. They are told to speak quieter, or not so openly, or directly. And so most people I teach, don't even know what their real voice sounds like anymore.
THIS IS BRILLIANT!!! I gave a TED Talk a couple of years ago called The Right Amount of Wrong and the Art of Innovation, I also coach TED Talkers and this is one of the BEST talks I've EVER seen. I'm also a bassist and a disciple of yours. Thank you for ALWAYS paying your LOVE forward. You continue to CHANGE THE WORLD!!! I'M PROUD to be 1 degree of separation away from you my brotha!!!
This is my favorite TEDx talk...period. All of the Wootens are such positive and encouraging people. Their Wednesday nights at Nashville's 3rd & Lindsley and now at Rudy's Jazz Club are a great way to spend an evening (not to mentioned seeing a world class show that's very entertaining on many levels).
Victor, I don't know if you remember me from Stanford, but I remember you. So good to hear what you had to say here. I grew up in a musical family, too, but we were all taught to read and play classical music. I loved the cello, but I grew to hate it because it would take 6 months of practicing for hours every day to get the perfect tone and sound I wanted. I finally let it go. I was studying the Bach Cello Suites at the time. I love them. YoYo Ma does a marvelous job on them. I've seen him play them. I still dream about playing the cello. I had a beautiful instrument, and I lent it to a friend who played jazz on an electrified cello. Not too long later, my cello was stolen, and I just knew it was God telling me if you're not going to use the talent I gave you as a gift, I'm going to take it away. Today, I still love classical, but I love jazz more. And I write about music. Words are the music I play now. It's not possible to reach the same levels of heaven with words, as it is with music, but I try.
Well done, Victor. I'm grateful for your contribution, and tickled to death by what you've become. I was blessed to interact with you, Kat Dyson, Gordon Banks, and Reggie, all at the same time! God is good, and we are all blessed to be musicians.. Creative frequency is the language of the universe! Play on, baby!
This speaks to me so much. When I started playing percussion two years ago, I knew nothing. Didn't even know what sheet music was, but I had a couple older friends in the drumline and they taught me to read notes and rhythms, and beyond that I'm self taught. This year (I'm 16) I was accepted into the OMEA District II Honors Band as the 6th of 8 percussionists taken from a 7 county area, and I'm just baffled and humbled that I made it. First percussionist from my school in 6 years to make it, the last being Matthiesen Nisch-Quan a rising professional drummer.Music just make sense to me, it is in the air that I breathe and the blood in my veins
Resonance is when a guitar across the room wants to play along. The girl at Stanford with the bass resonates with the band and the band echoes that back. That make his point how music isn't taught but is a natural part of you.
He's so beautiful. So Kind, such a nice man ,! What the world needs now is like mind people just like him. Admire this man ! Lov you Mr Woot Woot Wooten!
When he said that the Major 7th is almost too beautiful that hit me. I use the chord soooo frequently and want to incorporate more jazzy dominant and diminished chords. There's a difference between playing beautiful phrases and magical phrases. Sometimes those magical phrases can seem alittle off color. Just gotta change the octave like he said I guess. Fascinating stuff.
"Is anyone working on a bomb that makes people love you? Maybe a 'cupid bomb.' I believe we already have it. It's called music. And every country has their own version of it. And it works. It brings people together; you don't have to know a thing about it to get it. It's a language, it's a lifestyle, and it can save the world. My name is Victor Wooten and I hope you will join me on the battlefield." Trust the bassist to keep it deep
There are among us natural teachers. Victor Wooten is one of these wonderful people. I cannot recommend his audiobook, "The Music Lesson" highly enough. It is a true audiobook, as it is his delivery and bass interludes bring it to life. I hold it as my most inspirational book in my library in any area of discovery. You will learn why you play music, and why you stop with simply "playing" music, instead of living and breathing it as so many of the masters demonstrate.
His voice is soothing, but not condescending. His speech is clear, but not dull. He displays his emotions but does not overwhelm with them neither himself nor others. Great talk to me
*@ YahyaE 78* Perhaps you should ask your father to buy you a concrete mixer or some other, more practical piece of equipment, instead of wasting money on your musical education... Obviously, you're living your life "in the wrong octave", as far as I can tell (Lol...)
I already loved Victor Wooten. I love his music, I love his personality, I love his style, I love his attitude. But I had no idea how much I really loved what he's all about until I watched this.
I am a 52 year old man, why am I crying? That wasn't Victor Wooten, that was God himself speaking to a select group of his people and using Victor as his mouthpiece! Thank you for being humble enough to be chosen Mr. Wooten! May God continue to bless and use you!
great speech. it reminds me of something the great john peel said once about hearing music. and this was a guy who listened to literally hundreds of records a week for decades. he said that no one would ever send him a tape or record submission if they thought it was bad. he said he felt it wasn't bad, it was only himself that didn't "get it". i thought that was an incredibly humble thing to say considering his position as a giant in the industry. victor here reflects that viewpoint as well. join him on the battlefield.
Every time I hear Victor speak, I want to unlearn everything I thought I knew about music. For all I have ever seen of him, he is a gifted man, not only in music.
This is what we have been doing as a band learning to speak together in music for the past 5 years and now we are recording our first album ❤. So glad to see our way of doing thinks is so powerful and pure
I just discovered Victor Wooten and I shed tears every time I hear him speak. Everything he says about music I realise I knew already, only I never thought to put it in words. It's just so great to hear it in words though. Thank you, Victor
I saw him 20 years ago at a guitar center in Chicago. I was not a bass player at that time , I think I brought my first base shortly after that, and been playing every sense thank you Victor.
When I saw Mr Wooten play live I thought it was two bass players playing at once. Truly a great man who knows the truth of music and its power. Sinister Minister!!
I've always felt this way. Music is something done with other people. Musicians of all skill levels should play with each other. That's one way to get better for one thing. You pick up tricks from others. I've had such a hard time getting people to play music. It doesn't matter how good you are. You gotta play.
Bravo and I totally agree (but never heard it put this way before) and thank you, Victor Wooten. Anybody can benefit from these insights. This vid deserves much more attention.
I was searching for "music as language" after watching videos about Bruno Mars and cultural appropriation so I could use it to defend him... But after watching this, I changed my mind. I'll just sing with my son when I get home. It always make the world a better place. Thank you for the inspiration.
I love that the people in the audience begin standing up. Just as a solidification of helping the people rise with you and rise together. Once they listened to the talk, they rose in understanding.
Indeed! You can feel the respect the audience has for Victor after hearing his words. He has the gift of captivating you for 18 minutes straight, making you understand his message. He has certainly earned this respect.
those of you that appreciate this may want to read victors book the Music Lesson - its a brilliant evocation of his musical gospel.. a true visionary :)
Victor, great talk! I have been a musician for 45 yrs although i haven't performed for 20yrs due to health concerns. Even though i'm not playing - my love for music and desire to pick up my instrument to hear it never goes away! One gaffe he walked into was not inculdin the singer into the group of musicians.
Just saw Victor Wooten and got to meet him last November but first watched this TED Talk today. He impressed me as a very genuine individual. What a great humanitarian.
Met Victor in the NAMM music show in LA, clearly didn't want to be bombarded by people (many fanboys in the bass area of the convention show) but made time to chat to me; a guy he didn't know, performing a few booths down. A true gent, something that should be valued equally if not more with his musical skill.
Victor Wooten spoke the truth we always turned a deaf ear too. He didn't say something new. He didn't say something we've never heard of. But what he did was he changed our octave! He made us see music in a different 'octave'.
This is true of all the arts, visual, dance, or performance. Yes yes yes! We are artists, dancers, and musicians first. Expression is freedom. Thank you for this.
I went to Denbigh High School with his 4 older brothers and "the Wooten's" played at our Ring Dance and young Victor came out and did some magic tricks too. That was in the mid 1970's! Keep it up Victor!
"Don't come off the pedestal acting like your humble. Stay up on that pedestal because if they put you there that's showing you how high they can see. Stay there and then pull them up. And they'll grow faster than if you come down". Boi!!!! Wow
He makes a good brother too!
I saw you at the iridium club in new york you killed it on the keys.
Glad to see you on here!
Hope everything is going well
😄Thank you sir for being great for him
I'm not worthy....
@@teresathomley3703 Yes, you are !!!
"But with language, even as a baby, you're jamming with professionals." What a powerful statement!
GREATEST quote ever
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This doesn’t happen with music though
@@WePlayTheBeatles yes, so much snobbery in the culture unfortunately
"A kid playing air guitar will play with a smile on their face. Give 'em your first lesson, and that smile goes away" - As a music teacher, that was so deep.
no kidding. made me feel like I forgot where I came from musically. I used to sound out songs on an out of tune toy guitar and I think that was the most beneficial thing early on.
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Have to teach them what they want to know and tie that into stuff they NEED to know as a musician as you go on.
Don't just hand them the awful, dry books and go "Here." This is why everyone quits! They're BOR-ING.
And as a music major, I've had a dozen of the teachers, too...
Just imagine a baby being given the young boys and girls to learn from there,I bet the baby's vocabulary will be low compared to if he was up brought by grown ups (professionals )
I honestly dont get it. When I play air guitar its things that I cant play on a real guitar yet and at that point imagination takes over.
When im practicing on my real guitar im not having the time of my life but im still enjoying it because at one point i´ll be able to play all the air guitar things on the real guitar
"Who cares about the instrument you talk with? It's about what you have to say." This man is a real legend!
His usage of rests during this talk is amazing!
The music isn't in the notes, but the space between the notes that lets them sink in.
Cause he is a legendary bass player. Its a professional bass players attitude to know when to play and when to be silent
I noticed that too, he gives the listener space for each idea to sink in before he continues.
I wish more people did this!
@Peter Brown lmao
and with a triplet feel at that...
Not only is he a genius musician, but an articulate and concise speaker.
Well I guess then music and spoken language really are into something very related hehe
You can hear his musical abilities reflected on his speech's rhythm control. It's beautiful.
That reminded me of a Tim Burton interview I saw once. He said "All young children know how to make art - then school teaches them that they can't."
+ParisLondonRoma I love this
+ParisLondonRoma It's true a lot of the time. Art Schools can definitely help some people, but for others it can hurt more than help. I used to love drawing when I was younger and was getting better and better every year. I started by copying comic book art freehand and then eventually was able to create new characters and backgrounds on my own. I made the mistake of taking an art class in high school (yeah I know, high school art class is nothing compared to a real art school) and instead of the teacher finding out what I already knew and figuring out how to make me even better, he basically said some of my techniques were wrong and tried to teach me another way of doing it. Over the course of two years with this guy, I completely lost my passion for drawing. Thank God the music program was good so I at least had another outlet for my creativity.
I believe Picasso also once said that "All children are artists until we educate them out of it."
*this is too accurate, some of my classmates are now becoming bland.*
School is indoctrination into the Prussian state, which doesn't even exist anymore.
I met Victor after a show once, I'd just lost the use of my hands and was having trouble regaining it, literally ten minutes of discussion with him lifted my spirits and erased any concerns I had about never being able to play again. He is an unbelievably special person, I'm glad he's on Earth the same time I am
Are you able to play again?
🙏
@allegrafrost I would pray and hope so and inspiration and staying positive even during trialing times is very powerful let alone words by themselves are powerful as well 🙏 hope you are well and I would think he and or she was able to play again
"To be a good musician, you have to be a good listener."
FOR REAL
In other words « Learn music is learn to listen »
90% is listening
The worst people to jam with are those that barely listen to music and lack inspiration.
Totally totally agree. I have been music for 19 years. But I am no pro in any one instrument. I only wanted to play what I wanted to. And with whatever instrument I had with me. Now I understand all instruments easily - keys,strings, percussion, they all have notes, melodies, sounds are the same. It was always about - what can this thing do ? Ultimately listening patiently and with focus, is what that makes one a good musician. And that is very different from being a good guitar player or a good drummer.
“Cool, a Ted talk about music”
2 minutes in: crying my eyes out and rethinking my entire musical journey
Thank you for so much wisdom and truth, you are truly a great🙌🏻
"When we see something bad or awful or horrible in life, maybe we're just viewing it in the wrong octave"
This is the best freaking analogy I've ever heard in my entire life. Period.
This is pure gold.
+Jesus A. Mendoza Agree!
+Pável “Pavelfunky” Vanegas
Had the curiosity to check out your channel. You're excellent at bass man! keep it up!
+Jesus A. Mendoza Thanks for taking a look, dude! Hope you liked it :)
+Jesus A. Mendoza i always thought about it the same way even with the same analogy of the Major 7 / minor second interval.... i gotta say, though, that you have to emphasize the word "maybe"... because there are horrible and awful things happening around the globe (Victor even mentioned one of'em) and not everything seemingly terrible can become beautiful just by looking at it from a different perspective. Victor`s example of war, for example, might become positive .... by changing your perspective into that of the profiteers. But it still doesn`t get any more beautiful!!
I tried taking the c up an octave, whike still playing the c# below and the notes still clash. it wasn't really buitifull. am I doing something wrong? can someone explain the analogy better?
_"A kid playing air guitar will play with a smile on their face. Give them the first lesson, the smile goes away."_
Ouch, I felt that quote so hard. Really loved this talk-very inspiring.
Imagine how much cooler the world would be if just a few people like Vic were in positions of power in large countries. Empathy, compassion, intelligence, well thought out reasoning, straightforward yet very illustrative way of explaining things. No more wars, just killer international jam sessions 24/7
They wouldn't be up there if they had those virtues. Being so high requires climbing other people's backs.
Are you kidding? I'd be thrilled if they were all just music teachers!
Imagine if people would come together to realize that we can put these people into those positions. The problem is that so many who should be in those positions won't apply and we get the power hungry instead filling the vacuum.
Yah. But kind people aren't allowed to do those jobs..
And we allow the wrong ones to take power. We literally allow them.
Unfortunatlu most people that get to his level, dont help others. Its juts the matter of doing good thing or not.
well, he already changed me as a musician, now he changed me as a human.
Well said.
Even when he speaks he's musical...
+Marcos Valderrey Yeah, I've actually found that musicians do that. They have very melodic voices and speak very harmonically. My dad does this, he's a musician. :D
+Arthur Newport Looks like someone is limiting their thought process to only one octave :p
+Arthur Newport look up overtone singing and vocal harmonics
+Arthur Newport Arthur is right
+Arthur Newport Monks from Tibet can. Plus harmonic ideas can be used in linear melodies
“People will forget what you said, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.”
As a high school teacher, I try to put that into practice every day (although it’s not always easy).
So many pearls of wisdom in this talk, I can’t imagine why anyone would give it a thumbs down.
too much wisdom in this talk. our perspective makes the biggest difference
I ALMOST CRIED WATCHING THIS... GOING TO PLAY MY BASS... LOVE THIS GUY... I WILL JOIN YOU ON THE BATTLE FIELD
how is it going now ?
Yeah, let's hear your story 6 years later.
I Shall Join the Battle with you Corporal
Dang bro I'm with you I cried as well 😭😭
@@veshaw. Makes the three of us.
For me, theres no greater joy than using 'that greatness' to break down other peoples mental barriers and watch they bask in something they once fantasized of.
I once had a close friend buy an ukulele and was very timid about playing, too focused on strumming correctly or messing up. Hed always asked the strumming pattern and Id say "you know it, think about it, feel it"
One day, soon after I started teaching him, I said were taking a walk down the street. Grab your uke and I grabbed an acoustic, before heading to the neighborhood pub on a busy Friday. I gave him 4 simple chords to remember during that walk and as we drew closer he began to get nervous, realizing what I had in mind.
It's been 3 years since that night and he still regards then as something very special to him. You see, using those 4 simple chords to follow my lead, a crowd of about 20-30 people gathered around us in a circle and were singing along with me at top of their lungs. I remember looking at him and he was playing him heart out, worried about nothing and in a state of bliss.
As of today, he plays guitar too and is singing as well. He trusts me fully and when I ask him to sing on demand (to teach others) he belts out vocals whether it sounds good or not. He sees other people who were too nervous/doubtful, as he was and tells them of the night I dragged him to the pub and how all the sudden a crowd of people were gathered around enjoying the music.
As someone who's spent much time teaching for free, moments like that, the value it had on someone else and the barrier it broke down make me feel like a millionaire. I'm proud as heck for the times I've spontaneously given away a guitar, that ended up opening doors of joy for other people.
I've been playing for 16 years and I'm certain that anyone can and should too
15:11 "When people put you up on a pedestal, don't come off the pedestal acting like you're humble... Stay up on that pedestal, because if they put you there, that's showing you how high they can see. Stay there and then pull them up...! And they'll grow faster than if you come down."
REAL TALK
When he said that I just went woooow I got shivers because of it
Jay (Zak) Poggenpohl greatest line ever
I think that remark shows how genuine Victor is. It's easy to adopt an heir of false humility and then soak up all the praises of people saying you're great because you're so humble, but he acknowledges that everyone is not at the same level of proficiency, and the people who admire you for your level will benefit from you pushing (or pulling) them up. If someone compliments your skill, you could say, "Oh, I'm not that good", or you could say, "Thanks, would you like to know how to do what I do?"
@@BassByTheBay Yes, I first got the idea for this when I watched the Barnyard movie back in 2007. Then from that, I coined the quote.."A strong man stands for himself, a stronger man stands for others, but the strongest men help others stand for themselves."
This speech is one of the single most beautiful things I have ever heard in my life.
Thanks TEDx for uploading and thanks Victor for sharing it.
This man is an embodiment of the perfect musician. I idolize him and look up to him.
He is not just talking about music. He is sharing life wisdom. There are so many gems all packed in one jam session.
You are a beautiful human being, Victor Wooton.
TED talks have good intentions but 1 out of 50 videos is worth it, this one was definitely the exception!
TOTALLY AGREE..! But of the rare exceptions here, Victor is a "proven, trusted source" of high musicality. I met him once after a seminar he gave in Orange County, CA and he is down to earth, real, spiritual...the real McCoy..! he spent "over time" answering questions, making sure everyone was satisfied..! NOT looking at his watch to determine his exit....
This man must be protected at all costs.
indeed!
Look at those arms lmao he protected😂
@@mikescottbeatsong bruhh i ainr never realized that he was that fookin buff
Who's trying to harm him?
Such a strange comment. Who’s after him? He’s a gifted musician and teacher (and seems like a wonderful human being-unfortunately, I don’t know him personally)not a civil rights martyr going into political exile. This is a strange kind of hero worshiping line that I keep hearing from spectators about celebrities or artists. “…at all costs.” What does that mean?
If you are really into this, check his book: The Music Lesson, it goes into further detail.
JoseitoEdlVodao author?
Nick Boutet Viktor wooten
After reading Victor Wooten's book "The Music Lesson"
one thing I learned was Victor's approach to soloing on the
bass which is applicable to other instruments that when it comes
to improvisation, to not be afraid of experimenting for if you hit
a wrong note, either side of the wrong note is a right one:) Let your
creativity flow and don't concern yourself with right or wrong notes
but rather being free and experimential.
Yes, one of the best lessons I’ve experienced, and I spent my life in music playing and teaching! A must read!
I think Google is spying on me. I JUST got this book from out-of-state request from the library 3 hours ago...
I already watch this few times, but as a music teacher myself whenever i fell down or stress, i sit down and watch this all over again and it will help me to smile and relieve my stress, Bravo Victor you literally change the standard rules to greatness.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Some of the greatest musicians, are philosophers as well.
Quantametric Coluccio Most of the greatest people are philosophers as well
A thinking man ,and he learned as well as practices what he was taught.
Like most artist.
Chuck Schuldiner
Because music is life and life deserves questioning
I think about this video all the time.
“Even as a baby you are jamming with professionals.”
I knew Victor as a first class bassist. Never knew he was a first class teacher too!! It's unbelievable how good he explains the simple thing in life! Thanks Victor..
Probably the best description of music I’ve heard in my life. Traditional music education kills creativity
*Yes, it takes effort (let's call it **_work_**, shall we?) to obtain a high skill-level, but it's music. So let's **_play._*
Have fun and play. It's ART, not a contest. And _everyone_ is invited.
You want to play music? You can probably already do it, and you may not even realize it. Ready? Let's go.
Wow! That was very inspiring. Thanks Rob Michael .
Thanks very much for sharing. The best I heard about music until now (and I'm 66). Shold be distributed to all music teachers.
But now I stop looking google+ and videos and go to play some music for myself...
That's just how I started playing! Not just bass, I tried a lot of ways to find my 'voice' via table tapping, singing, humming, whistling, musical instruments. Find what you enjoy and enjoy it. Pass it on. Share the love!
I like the tag you placed on it...... " It's not a competition. " I wish Christian musicians would understand this great point.
"Who cares about the instrument you talk with? It's about what you have to say. I've always had something to say, and I've learned how to speak through my instrument." That's just, wow. An eye opener.
"If I use my greatness in the right way, it can help others rise up quickly." Thank you Victor for helping us see how teachers are able to share their true gifts with the rest of us. What an amazing TED conversation!!!
Ever since I can remember, My Father has been an amazing guitar player. I never to much interest in learning. but I love music, and my children. It amazes me everyday what my toddlers pick up on and learn, manipulate, and Jam. My father once gave me a guitar. I tried playing it once. Its time I start Jamming with it instead.
He's a rarity of talent; an amazing musician.
Many of the musical geniuses (not talking about lyricists), current and past, share a common sentiment: they find it more natural to 'speak' through music rather than speech.
Wieners are pretty cool.
John Shepard That's pretty much what was stated in the comment, as I interpreted it.
He's not only an extraordinary musician but first an extraordinary personality! The calmness, wisdom and influence in his words are very phenomenal. Thanks maestro
That was a fantastic talk. His last few statements reduced me to tears. Thank you.
+drduncanjmacmillan i thought i was the only one
+drduncanjmacmillan I think we all do
+drduncanjmacmillan Yes those last few words certainly struck a chord, to pardon the pun.
Elevated to tears =D
You're not the only one :)
Incredible. I’ve been playing guitar for 6 years. But this speech alone made me buy a bass today. No rules. Just playing.
“You are already successful, the world just doesn’t know it yet”
This talk nearly brought me to tears ! Because I forget what it meant to be a musician. I'm more conscious now of my role in the world. "Music is a lifestyle".
Probably the BEST musical TED Talk I've ever seen. Wow. This was deeply enlightening.
After watching this,I started playing the guitar infront of my 6 months old baby girl.She's smile and staring at me.❤️ Thank you for the inspirational life lesson victor❤️
As someone who teaches singing and deals with speech impediments and issues, I would say most people are robbed of their true voice. They are told to speak quieter, or not so openly, or directly. And so most people I teach, don't even know what their real voice sounds like anymore.
True
THIS IS BRILLIANT!!! I gave a TED Talk a couple of years ago called The Right Amount of Wrong and the Art of Innovation, I also coach TED Talkers and this is one of the BEST talks I've EVER seen. I'm also a bassist and a disciple of yours. Thank you for ALWAYS paying your LOVE forward. You continue to CHANGE THE WORLD!!! I'M PROUD to be 1 degree of separation away from you my brotha!!!
This is my favorite TEDx talk...period. All of the Wootens are such positive and encouraging people. Their Wednesday nights at Nashville's 3rd & Lindsley and now at Rudy's Jazz Club are a great way to spend an evening (not to mentioned seeing a world class show that's very entertaining on many levels).
Victor, I don't know if you remember me from Stanford, but I remember you. So good to hear what you had to say here. I grew up in a musical family, too, but we were all taught to read and play classical music. I loved the cello, but I grew to hate it because it would take 6 months of practicing for hours every day to get the perfect tone and sound I wanted. I finally let it go. I was studying the Bach Cello Suites at the time. I love them. YoYo Ma does a marvelous job on them. I've seen him play them.
I still dream about playing the cello. I had a beautiful instrument, and I lent it to a friend who played jazz on an electrified cello. Not too long later, my cello was stolen, and I just knew it was God telling me if you're not going to use the talent I gave you as a gift, I'm going to take it away.
Today, I still love classical, but I love jazz more. And I write about music. Words are the music I play now. It's not possible to reach the same levels of heaven with words, as it is with music, but I try.
Well done, Victor. I'm grateful for your contribution, and tickled to death by what you've become. I was blessed to interact with you, Kat Dyson, Gordon Banks, and Reggie, all at the same time! God is good, and we are all blessed to be musicians.. Creative frequency is the language of the universe! Play on, baby!
This speaks to me so much. When I started playing percussion two years ago, I knew nothing. Didn't even know what sheet music was, but I had a couple older friends in the drumline and they taught me to read notes and rhythms, and beyond that I'm self taught. This year (I'm 16) I was accepted into the OMEA District II Honors Band as the 6th of 8 percussionists taken from a 7 county area, and I'm just baffled and humbled that I made it. First percussionist from my school in 6 years to make it, the last being Matthiesen Nisch-Quan a rising professional drummer.Music just make sense to me, it is in the air that I breathe and the blood in my veins
Yeah it's the wiggly air you breathe
@Jacob Koch thats very impressive. youre obviously on the right path.
Resonance is when a guitar across the room wants to play along. The girl at Stanford with the bass resonates with the band and the band echoes that back. That make his point how music isn't taught but is a natural part of you.
I've heard many explanations of music and singing and how some just adapt to it naturally. This is about the best I've heard.
He's so beautiful. So Kind, such a nice man ,! What the world needs now is like mind people just like him. Admire this man ! Lov you Mr Woot Woot Wooten!
I've loved Victor for many years but have never heard him speak like this. I suddenly love him more.
When he said that the Major 7th is almost too beautiful that hit me. I use the chord soooo frequently and want to incorporate more jazzy dominant and diminished chords. There's a difference between playing beautiful phrases and magical phrases. Sometimes those magical phrases can seem alittle off color. Just gotta change the octave like he said I guess. Fascinating stuff.
"Is anyone working on a bomb that makes people love you? Maybe a 'cupid bomb.' I believe we already have it. It's called music. And every country has their own version of it. And it works. It brings people together; you don't have to know a thing about it to get it. It's a language, it's a lifestyle, and it can save the world. My name is Victor Wooten and I hope you will join me on the battlefield."
Trust the bassist to keep it deep
There are among us natural teachers. Victor Wooten is one of these wonderful people. I cannot recommend his audiobook, "The Music Lesson" highly enough. It is a true audiobook, as it is his delivery and bass interludes bring it to life. I hold it as my most inspirational book in my library in any area of discovery. You will learn why you play music, and why you stop with simply "playing" music, instead of living and breathing it as so many of the masters demonstrate.
Wow...Victor is not only an amazing musician but this guy is brilliant too. What a great message. Every kid should watch this.
His voice is soothing, but not condescending. His speech is clear, but not dull. He displays his emotions but does not overwhelm with them neither himself nor others. Great talk to me
that was just so great. I've Never seen music tought that way though. It would be so cool to be born in such a family I guess.
Da
*@ YahyaE 78*
Perhaps you should ask your father to buy you a concrete mixer or some other, more practical piece of equipment, instead of wasting money on your musical education...
Obviously, you're living your life "in the wrong octave", as far as I can tell (Lol...)
i agree
I already loved Victor Wooten. I love his music, I love his personality, I love his style, I love his attitude. But I had no idea how much I really loved what he's all about until I watched this.
He has a wonderful smile.
Thank You Victor!!!!! You are more inspiring than I can ever express.
God Bless You....... You Spoke my heart out without your Bass Guitar
THE MAJOR 7 WOW THAT JUST BLEW MY MIND
I am a 52 year old man, why am I crying? That wasn't Victor Wooten, that was God himself speaking to a select group of his people and using Victor as his mouthpiece! Thank you for being humble enough to be chosen Mr. Wooten! May God continue to bless and use you!
great speech. it reminds me of something the great john peel said once about hearing music. and this was a guy who listened to literally hundreds of records a week for decades. he said that no one would ever send him a tape or record submission if they thought it was bad. he said he felt it wasn't bad, it was only himself that didn't "get it". i thought that was an incredibly humble thing to say considering his position as a giant in the industry. victor here reflects that viewpoint as well. join him on the battlefield.
Victor Wooten is one of de biggest musicians in all of time 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇧🇷
Thanks Victor. I'll never look at music the same again. What profound insight you've given us. When we hear the truth it rings like a bell.
Every time I hear Victor speak, I want to unlearn everything I thought I knew about music. For all I have ever seen of him, he is a gifted man, not only in music.
Amazing....bravo Victor.. Powerful
This is what we have been doing as a band learning to speak together in music for the past 5 years and now we are recording our first album ❤. So glad to see our way of doing thinks is so powerful and pure
His book, The Music Lesson, is the most inspiring book available for a music lover.
I just discovered Victor Wooten and I shed tears every time I hear him speak. Everything he says about music I realise I knew already, only I never thought to put it in words. It's just so great to hear it in words though. Thank you, Victor
I wish more musicians thought like this. I've always contended that musicians are WAY too much into instruments, rather than music.
I saw him 20 years ago at a guitar center in Chicago. I was not a bass player at that time , I think I brought my first base shortly after that, and been playing every sense thank you Victor.
What an exceptional, organic presentation! Lots of correlation to the Montessori approach to educating the child. Thank you Victor.
As both a musician and a linguist, this is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.
When I saw Mr Wooten play live I thought it was two bass players playing at once. Truly a great man who knows the truth of music and its power. Sinister Minister!!
I've always felt this way. Music is something done with other people. Musicians of all skill levels should play with each other. That's one way to get better for one thing. You pick up tricks from others. I've had such a hard time getting people to play music. It doesn't matter how good you are. You gotta play.
Bravo and I totally agree (but never heard it put this way before) and thank you, Victor Wooten. Anybody can benefit from these insights. This vid deserves much more attention.
Leah NYC please read the music lesson by victor if u haven't already it helped understand so much
I was searching for "music as language" after watching videos about Bruno Mars and cultural appropriation so I could use it to defend him... But after watching this, I changed my mind. I'll just sing with my son when I get home. It always make the world a better place.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Vic's book changed my Life. Gratitude.
I was searching videos on theroy talk and came across this. I know I'm 7 years late here but so glad I came across this. Amazing speech.
This man is a Music Ninja.
(That C C# analysis was a life changer for me.)
I love that the people in the audience begin standing up. Just as a solidification of helping the people rise with you and rise together. Once they listened to the talk, they rose in understanding.
Indeed! You can feel the respect the audience has for Victor after hearing his words. He has the gift of captivating you for 18 minutes straight, making you understand his message. He has certainly earned this respect.
those of you that appreciate this may want to read victors book the Music Lesson - its a brilliant evocation of his musical gospel.. a true visionary :)
Victor, great talk! I have been a musician for 45 yrs although i haven't performed for 20yrs due to health concerns. Even though i'm not playing - my love for music and desire to pick up my instrument to hear it never goes away! One gaffe he walked into was not inculdin the singer into the group of musicians.
What a talk, Victor. Surely we can make the world a better place to live, through music
Just saw Victor Wooten and got to meet him last November but first watched this TED Talk today. He impressed me as a very genuine individual. What a great humanitarian.
I started clapping when he finished his speech
Met Victor in the NAMM music show in LA, clearly didn't want to be bombarded by people (many fanboys in the bass area of the convention show) but made time to chat to me; a guy he didn't know, performing a few booths down.
A true gent, something that should be valued equally if not more with his musical skill.
I always knew vic was a sick bassist but never knew how deep and philosophical he was.
We do need people like him. And the stage shouldn't be limited to TED - Talks. Hope our institutions teach us like the way he does.
His Book "The Music Lesson" is fantastic. Highly recommended.
link pls
Victor Wooten spoke the truth we always turned a deaf ear too. He didn't say something new. He didn't say something we've never heard of. But what he did was he changed our octave! He made us see music in a different 'octave'.
This brought tears to my eyes and really encouraged me. Thank you so much for this great post. :)
This is true of all the arts, visual, dance, or performance. Yes yes yes! We are artists, dancers, and musicians first. Expression is freedom. Thank you for this.
zen master of life through music, so impressive a human being.
I went to Denbigh High School with his 4 older brothers and "the Wooten's" played at our Ring Dance and young Victor came out and did some magic tricks too. That was in the mid 1970's! Keep it up Victor!
This man clearly dropped an inspiration bomb on the the audience with this one! Then they uploaded this to UA-cam and once I clicked it... BOOM!!!
"Don't come off the pedestal acting like your humble. Stay up on that pedestal because if they put you there that's showing you how high they can see. Stay there and then pull them up. And they'll grow faster than if you come down". Boi!!!! Wow
Damn he is such an eloquent speaker.
I love this guy , he spreads light to the world he knows the true meaning of life