Victor Wooten's "The Music Lesson"

[R Baer]

I had the opportunity to finally listen to my "The Music Lesson" audio CDs on a recent drive to the bay area from Los Angeles this week. All I can say is that book should be a must read for any musician. This book will make you look at music and life in a whole new way. Throughout the book, Victor's message is both clear and inspirational and offers great insight into exactly why this man plays the bass like no other. I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not walking away with something that will help you to become both a better musician and a better person. The audio CDs are cool, as Victor does the narration himself. Highly recommended!

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by R Baer

I had the opportunity to finally listen to my "The Music Lesson" audio CDs on a recent drive to the bay area from Los Angeles this week. All I can say is that book should be a must read for any musician. This book will make you look at music and life in a whole new way. Throughout the book, Victor's message is both clear and inspirational and offers great insight into exactly why this man plays the bass like no other. I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not walking away with something that will help you to become both a better musician and a better person. The audio CDs are cool, as Victor does the narration himself. Highly recommended!

I read it. An old friend that plays in a two-gigs-a-year band with me (he lives in Denver and I live in Austin) and who is the best guitarist I have ever worked with showed up at a rehearsal with copies for everyone.

I agree that there is a ton of wisdom in the book. It reads a whole lot like a Carlos Casteneda book (for you old farts out there who remember those), and the stories in it are not to be taken literally (IMO), but the insights that the fables convey are spot on.

I worked the stage for a Bela Fleck show back in the early '90s before I knew who Wooten is. I stood by the monitor board agape at his bass playing.

[pfschim]

Mr Baer, this sounds good. I'll have to check Victors book out. I know he is a pretty spiritual cat when it comes to music (and life). It certainly can't hurt to get a new perspective on just about anything, let alone something as important as music/bass playing.

ggunn I am one of those old farts that remembers the Castenada books ... all that stuff about spirit guides and coyote the trickster. I mostly remember (such as those memories remain) that those books encouraged me to check out peyote, which was, in retrospect, not a bad thing at all

[stratovani]

I've read The Music Lesson twice already, and I plan on a third reading soon. Agreed, it's a "must read" for any musician.

I remember reading the Castaneda books back in the 70s, but I'll be darned if I can remember what's in them. I think I was doing too much drugs while reading them!

[BigOldHarry]

I liked it - but it isn't for everybody... Just a bit New Agey for me, but thought provoking to be sure.

[fmoore60]

I read it; It blew me away, so many similarities in my music and life. just a blessing. From the fear of wrong notes, I tried the wrong note theory at a blues jam, result I got approached to lay it down for a track of a well known local talent whom was stuck on a tune.
I had just felt the feeling and desire to move Amazing Grace to a new feel, worked on it all day, then read the chapter that night, not knowing what was coming up. Every time I play I try to add another of the techniques learned. Powerful book in Music, Life and My God. Don't know if it will hit you the same, but some part will be a piece that helps. Just Smile! I would pray for the chance to meet Mr. Wooten and thank him, and Micheal.

[Modulus1906]

Sorry, I ordered it and couldn't get into the writing style. I found it distracting actually. I didn't like the fact that it read like a novel. Too many back and forth conversations with this "mystery figure"... seemed like wasted writing space IMO.

[kesslari]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I liked it - but it isn't for everybody... Just a bit New Agey for me, but thought provoking to be sure.

I live in California but I had to get past parts - writing style and some content. OTOH, the really good concepts are absolutely game-changing, and I'd sit through a lot more newage than was there to get to them.

So much good stuff there. And the more I play, and the better the folks I play with, the more I see those concepts in action.

[Ekim]

So for you folks that bought the CDs (which aren't that spendy for 7 of them) is there anything on them besides the text of the books read aloud?

[kb9wyz]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I liked it - but it isn't for everybody... Just a bit New Agey for me, but thought provoking to be sure.

Yes. "New Agey" indeed. But I got through that.

And written at a junior high reading level. Which insulted my intelligence until I had no problem remembering nearly every detail of the book months later.

Well executed in the end, I'd say.

[ian_s]

Originally Posted by Ekim

So for you folks that bought the CDs (which aren't that spendy for 7 of them) is there anything on them besides the text of the books read aloud?

Victor reading, and playing the music. Got mine at a Vic and JD show so I got mine signed by the whole family.

[Marial]

It was 'nice', and it was inspiring to a degree, but it was definitely in the self-help genre as far as I'm concerned. It's not a book I'm likely to reread. Seemed like the basic message was, 'don't be a d**che, keep an open mind, practice.' Things which seem like common sense to me.

[Zipper871]

For people that don't dig the narrative part of the book, Victor Wooten's Groove Workshop dvd demonstrates most of the concepts of the book, as well as having a few new exercises as well.