How Victor Wooten Understands and Teaches Music
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 มี.ค. 2020
- Victor discusses the flaws of the way in which music is traditionally taught and tells stories of how he learned to play with his brothers.
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I love one of his quotes, he said "You don't use music theory to make music, you use it when you're stuck" He's a treasure
He had me at "I can't talk to the baby until it learns the alphabet." Genius
and "You're a beginner, I can't talk to you, I'm a professional."
Brilliant Analysis
Comparing it to babies learning to talk is brilliant 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
That is nothing new you know. Mid 20sth Century this method was developed by Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki, Today system is being taught all around the world. It is known as the "Suzuki method".
@@Qpidon My guess is he is not the first but the first to get credit for teaching it. My guess is this is the natural evolution of any creative musician left to him or herself.
I almost cried when I heard this. I have felt like such a loser for so long because at 34 I am just learning how to read sheet music despite playing different instruments my whole life. This really invigorated my spirit - thanks so much Victor.
That makes two of us xD. Started playing the bass three weeks ago. I've been playing drums by ear for 15 years. Learning how to read music has been a massive challenge. All the best in your music journey. What matters most is that we enjoy the process and have fun (in my opinion).
Did you know tablature has been around for hundreds of years? I felt inferior for not being too proficient in reading notation but tabs is easy and has actually been a thing for ages.
“You talk for years before you learn how to read and write.” This man is a treasure. Absolutely one of musics best teachers, he reduces everything down into something so simple and eloquent.
just let em play..no truer words...my 5 year old has finally decided to take an interest in my guitars..he messes with them all the time...so i picked one out and told him he could play with any time he wanted...i never showed him anything..he has seen me so many times playing..so he knew how to put it in his lap and pretty much how to hold it and instead of just jumping right in and trying to show him a bunch of things that would more than likely ended up with him loosing attention and being distracted from being in his little moment...i just let him go..and watched and smiled..i will hear him in the back bedroom..just going to town and singing along...and of course what he is playing is not perfectly structured and often makes no sense to our ears..but he is finding his own way and i have slowly but surely started to show him things here and there and he has figured out the mechanics of it and been doing the one note thing pretty dam consistently.he comes and shows me the songs he comes up with..it as at this point that i know he is comfortable with the guitar..he is finding his way on his own and is open to show me his songs and progress...now is when i start to teach him..been showing him things..but step buy step..one thing at a time..i give him a little spark and then let him go with it.it is amazing and soul lifting to watch this process and he has even moved on to his sisters keyboard and has started to explore that....world of respect for victors words of wisdom..words of truth..just let em play.thanks for sharing this..
that's wholesome
Well said, I just started the same with my 5 yo and a children‘s guitar and I know exactly what you mean
We need more fathers like you in this world. I think your way of thinking will make your children confident and strong while being sensitive to people's emotions. Carry on Sir!!!
you sir are an awesome dad! that kid will probably love playing music all his life. good job!
beautiful. musical parenting done right. hope i can do that too
This man is like a musical jedi. Having a deep fundamental understanding of the musical philosophy.
Music theory is great for understanding what you're doing once you've already done something. Sometimes a little theory can help you get started, but you usually need to get started before you understand the theory.
Exactly. Theory _always_ comes after application. There would be no theory unless someone _already_ proved the application works!
Application is WHAT works, Theory is the HOW and WHY it works.
@@MichaelPohoreski Yea i feel like people dont understand that Music Theory is just a way that we can explain what we're doing to eachother in the most literal sense. But like an alphabet, you dont just start picking letters and start creating a word. The words came first
@@lowaimnobrain r/whooosh
Just like grammar. You only learn grammar AFTER you already know the language pretty well
@@lowaimnobrain if you were a good player you wouldn’t approach it from a theoretical perspective. You’d listen to the track and from your experience of listening to and playing music you’d play something that was appropriate. The same way that if I asked you a question to start a conversation, you’d just answer me using language that you’re familiar with. You wouldn’t think “that was a particular type of question, I’d better use a particular tone of voice, control the tempo of my speech, use more adverbs and adjectives to add a bit of spice to my phrases. All of these things happen automatically. You would however be able to break down and assess the rhetorical techniques you’d just used if you had to, perhaps in order to teach somebody else how to communicate in a certain situation. Music theory is for talking about music with other musicians.
Wow.... this applies not only to music but to art education in general!
I would go one step further and say all education
Your words in Gods ear, brother.
Exactly, education period!
@@wah3094 I can agree for some, but things that aren't very subjective like maths just don't work like that sadly. If your equation comes to different solution it's just wrong.
@@Goriaas Well... the analogy is about "how" to help someone go about learning. How to talk with them and interest them in a social dialogue about the subject they are studying... rather than simply telling them to go do "whatever they want". So in maths, no one would be telling them: "oh, you think 2+2=3... that's great. You do you!" They'd be teaching by letting students know that maths isn't just about right and wrong figures on a page... That they can appreciate mathematical patterns everywhere they look around them. And that what we normally call "beauty" (in any artistic field)... has a very complex social relation to those mathematical patterns/structures... and the expectations/recognitions they provoke in us the audience. 👍
Victor is extraordinary, not just as a bass player but as a teacher and a person hes like a guru
Victor Wooten is a genius , the way he plays ,the way he speaks . The way he takes life
I've heard him also talk about how adults change their language to match the baby. He says when a baby or toddler calls a blanket a "binkie," we don't say, "You're wrong! It's a blanket!" Instead, we start calling it a binkie as well.
Ignoring educators advice to speak normal language to children.
@Oh Wait ""The best way to speak to your little one may be what comes most naturally: that sing-songy way many of us speak to infants -- "How are youuu?!" "You want the baaaall?" It's baby talk, and it can fuel your child's language development.
Infants tend to pay more attention and respond more eagerly to baby talk than to normal adult conversation. The playfully exaggerated and high-pitched tone your voice takes lights up your little one's mind. Throw in some grown-up speak, too. Your baby needs to hear how words sound in everyday conversation. www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/baby-talk-language#1
I think that is a good statement of best practice.
@Oh Wait That report was about the singsong quality so the child picks up on the rhythms of the language not the vocab. And don’t embarrass your daughter when she’s a teenager telling her friends all the baby words she used to use!
@Oh Wait I think focusing on the vocabulary is wrong because if you follow the developmental literature it’s the syntax of the mother tongue which gets absorbed through hearing language used. Chomsky goes as far as to say this is built-in but it doesn’t necessarily have to be.
I love this concept. I played by ear for many years, before I started figuring out the written stuff. I slipped through the cracks a bit, and some people putties me for it, but my ears and musical sense developed much faster, because I was just immersed in trying to figure out how to make my sound and notes fit into what I heard. I also spend hours and hours, just trying to pick out melodies and harmonies by ear. The reading came later, and was a little slow, but I got there, and can’t imagine doing it another way. Getting to really understand how you and your instrument sound before you’re married to the written note, is a freeing experience, and it allows you to play more fearlessly. If you ask some people just to play you something, they freeze. “No music? I don’t really know any songs....” That’s not the case when you really develop the connection to your instrument. Even without a tune, I can just come up with something I’m me head, and play pretty much exactly what I envisioned. It’s something that I wish more young musicians could spend time doing. Just sit down and try to figure out how to play your favorite video game or cartoon theme songs, or play along with the radio. Maybe try to pick out the melody, or just come up with some fun complementary backgrounds. That’s when you start to really feel the magic that music can provide.
Well said and I can attest to this.
I always felt stuck because I didn't know something or thought it was wrong. Not only in music, but in life. Even in stuff where people use creativity, I always tried to follow the rules. Skateboard, football, music, programming, drawing. I could have done so much if I only did the "wrong" stuff. Thanks for the lesson, LEGEND!
Great bassist, musician most of all a very good person...
Victor is a wise man who has seen the mountain top
I don't know why but I'm in tears. What a wonderful man.
after 50+ years of chasing the dream, ...education, covers, tributes, contests,...i just want to find musos who just want to jam whatever happens in their heads at that moment in time
Man...this speaks so true! My daughters will be making sounds or something and I’ll come start making sounds with them and they light up!! Smiles and hearts swelling all around. What a wonderful blessing is music!
"You talk for years before you learn how to read and write."
damn.
extremely educational
these 5 minutes can change your musical life.
Most punk guy in funk and jazz. The way I learned to play was in punk bands with no one with any formal training, but having fun and playing is how we all play jazz now!!!
pure wisdom from one of thE best music teachers ever! it doesn't matter what instrument you play because when he speaks it's always a masterclass that any level of musician can benefit from.
That mindset.... Is pure genius
This NEEDS TO SPREAD... Across the world.... Thank you Mr Wooten.
VW is such a wise man who brings out the joy in learning music.
Victor is real about this concept because in the 90's I was in his presence along with my cousin hanging out after his gig. We was sitting around in a friend's studio with our Bass jamming I asked Victor a question. I said Victor how do you walk bass lines and he said ( I will never forget ) what do you do if your baby is learning to walk and fall down fuss at them or pick up them and say keep going lol.
Man I wish every musician could hear this in the early days of learning, I wish I did. It's so easy for beginners to get discouraged and quit, but getting all emotional about making mistakes is the killer. We need to understand that making mistakes is all part of the learning process WITH EVERYTHING! Thanks for the story!
@@xmotomitchx4213 I started playing because I was that kid dreaming of getting my hands on my own guitar to have fun. Become a kid at heart it's that first love that keep you growing and truly enjoying the process of playing.
Yes! The experience is more important, especially in the beginning, than being 'right' or 'good'. There's a magic that happens when jamming with people, and it's important for people to experience this early on. This man gets it, he's brilliant.
WOOTEN is on a different level than everyone else. He’s a genius!
This is insane. This dude is discussing teaching the way I teach. Wild. I grew up with music philosophies that were so restrictive and I wanted to change the way music is taught. I'm so happy I found this video. Thank you Victor Wooten.
This is very quiet, very effective, leadership. Doesn’t matter if your teaching a music student, or a leader in your chosen field, when you mentor an apprentice, team leader, manager on training hold reins loosely, give them their head to move, but gently, keep them on track with respect.
Well said
@FattyMagoo76 big difference between training a skill and training safety so you don’t die. I as a card carrying journeyman die maker I have mentored many apprentice’s big difference between guiding a mindset and keeping one from getting hurt during task.
I´m gonna translate and put subtitles on this interview, because is AMAZING, and all the spanish speakers have to listen This AWESOME Preacher!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH Victor
I so like this approach to teaching but I think there is an element of age at play as well. When a 30yr old wants to learn a new language they don’t just listen to the language(maybe they should) but they go right into the grammar and a lot of them learns faster that way, simply because their mind is not that of a small kid, but they’re adults.
I’ve found that a lot of students with specific personalities really wants to know what is considered “right” or else they don’t feel confident playing.
Agreed.... and many of those deliberately block others paths from learning by insisting that others adhere to "the rules" as they understand them.
Rumor has it, Bach could jam, in his own style, naturally... Mozart too... people just got pointy about stuff, and then they lost the natural inquisitive intuitive capability to make rude primitive reductionist caricatures of the world, which is how humans learn things: gross nets refining themselves. We start with crude caricatures that roughly capture the essence of something, as in a "sketch" vs a dutch masters oil painting in full detail.
Reductionist models: measurable data, attempting to model systems, scientific method...
Yeah, as someone slightly schooled in music theory, it's kinda silly, TBH.,.. diatonic systems and diatonic interval notation. C,D,E,F,G,A,B and the fact that not all diatonic steps are equal chromatic steps, neapolitan chords (tell me any metal musicians needed a justification for moving chromatically)... I can link some youtube folks who discuss such topics if interested.
End of the day: yes, grasp the strategy, but internalize it (muscle memory) and then don't let that muscle memory dictate, move it around into unknown territory on purpose... hmm not sure what to recommend for such folks beyond drum circle primal scream therapy etc...
Maybe the being "right" thing is a separate personality trait unrelated to music, maybe they are just *that way*
That’s why adults have such a difficult time learning new languages and usually fail until they are emerged in the culture
You are right, but often it's not age that's the issue...as Victor says in the video, sometimes it's not the student prefers structure, rather has expectations for how the lessons should go, and so first they need to be deprogrammed. Also, he's not saying there should never be structure and rule-learning....but a beginner needs immediate successful interaction with the material....in language learning this can be done, but it's difficult. A lot of people believe total language immersion from the beginning is the quickest way, and I feel it probably is, even for adults, but it takes being unafraid of making mistakes....and that's probably the #1 reason for Victor Wooten's teaching ideas.
what is right?
language? adults?
look at american english. it is evolving
you think using "ain't" can be understood by students 20yrs ago?
how about the usage of "then" and "than" right now?
and even the double negatives like "i didn't do nothing"?
if you can time travel 20yrs ago, you'll be labeled as stupid.
but because of the context, the "right" and "wrong" of today may change.
Research about language acquisition says the opposite
Victor is the man! He taught me how to bend harmonics in about 30 seconds!
Music is fun. It's amazing how many classically trained musicians don't seem to comprehend this. Some people are so top down in their approach to music that it makes me wonder why they ever had a desire to learn in the first place.
Music Theory is like paying someone for a root canal without modern narcotics. Lol
I like to teach music like I teach art. Let them play music. Children will naturally start leaning more once they fall in love with making beautiful sounds. Thank you Victor. This is great.
He has such an incredible way of teaching and using wisdom.
I got to listen to Victor at a workshop held at Wooten Woods. Smiled when they talk about it!!! Such a fine guy, so smart, so kind. It is so fun to watch this.
Very good observation.. I tried playing bass with an instructor. After 8 months of going through notes at $70 an hour I did not see the progress I thought I would see.. I stopped and a few weeks later I bought a keyboard. I started to remember some of the notes on the base and came up with piano chords.. I started combining chords and using piano chart and now I was playing and singing to songs..I finally heard something positive to my ears. Sure I didn’t read music but I knew all the major and minor chords and others that allowed me to play music.. Now I picked up the bass again with a better understanding of music. I often have my daughter age 14 play the same chords I know on the piano that I taught her and I accompanied her with the bass. We added guitars both acoustic and electric as we also use them and learn. This is what Victor explained, we found a comfort zone by starting out playing and now we’re adding the theory on how it’s played and expanding our knowledge.. It’s more fun than the old way of learning one note at a time which was long and boring.. Let me assure you that starting to play bass at the age of 60 is not an easy task considering all the other commitments one has! I rather see students be first introduced on piano or guitar to the basic chords first and bring them on board my having them play something they can hear and have their parents and friends hear something and afterwards go through every chord identifying the notes! Let me assure you they will know the notes of the chords and now is to put them on music sheets if they wish to learn sheet music.
This is a great way to explain music as a language. Thank you Victor, this is great!!!!!
I plan on becoming a music teacher and this was eye opening
Me also ,I don't know much music theorie, but I just like to play the Bassguitar..
But none the less, I have to work on, knowing the Notes on the Fredboard, Scales ,Chords, and all that stuff, by learning and practicing, we will come, to some understanding on our own level..
Breathe taking this is the second time I’ve heard him explain that and it’s even more profound than the first. This man is a pinnacle. Not only to music but yes to teaching too. That’s a dream! A generation of teaching modelled after “music is a language”. Feel that? Did it just get brighter?
He knows what it takes to understand music theory.
My favorite musician ever.....
Just recently watched some of his educational videos, just wish every teacher will be able to teach like him, make everything so simple, encouraging, building self confidence, make all so fun, looks easy, but extremely rare to have a teacher like him👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Victor is the MAN.
This is the best thing ever! The baby analogy is the best ever!
Besides friends teaching each other, I taught myself. Started at 12. Chords and tabs. I got hooked on music/guitar. Played for hours every day. Over the years I tried to get into music theory but I found the amount of knowledge it holds, and to behold it, to be too daunting. I'm 35 now, still jam everyday, play music, write music. And then just last year I had a tiny breakthrough in understanding scales and their relationships, chord relationships, etc. I've always done what feels right and sounds right, but now with the crack in the door of music theory becoming ajar I'm starting to see things in new ways. Starting to understand them in new ways. It has been exciting, reinvigorating. And God damned funny at the same time, because others took to theory like a fish to water. I still have my armbands on. I reckon that no matter your approach, practice, improvisation, jamming, should always be fun and exciting. I mean, what kind of person picks up an instrument because they have to? I get that if it's your job, you have to, but if you're consistently not having fun something needs to change.
did anybody ask
Check out the role of the tritone in dissonance
Music theory isn't "fun." Lol trust me on that one.
Mannn I got to shake his hand once... I was just shook man, first time I ever been star struck
Is so wish I'd had a music teacher who thought like Mr. W.
I found so much in common with Victor's analogy of language and learning music. I've been playing guitar for over 50 years, but for the most part by myself. Over the years there have been several attempts at learning to read music so that I could play with others, but notated music just doesn't work in my head, it takes far too long to process and the musical moment is gone. I ended up teaching myself by ear and it gave me a more internal sense of the music but also kept me from accessing other players, at least in my head. I always assumed, and wrongly, that if you couldn't read the music you couldn't really be a player. I really wish there was someone teaching his philosophy when I was starting out, it makes much more sense to me and I may have not held myself back for so long.
Nobody in any rock band is going to ask you to read music. They're all going to hand you a list of songs and go here, see ya in a week...
Try a jam nite. You have nothing to lose. And it's often the same damn songs over and over.
Victor is on a level beyond 99% of us!!!
Truth, I taught myself and learned alot by ear, than I took a year of theory and struggled so hard. I had to unlearn/relearn alot. I love the part about context which I felt was the issue for me...
phenomenal perspective!
This guy is so awesome on so many dimensions.
These are such great insights!
so awesome !!!!! thank you so much for sharing this interview ;)
I appreciate this man so so much!
That is a kind of musician that we need to listen to i love his work he is the man...🙏🙏🙏
This is so brilliant and makes so much sense.
Words of light!
This is such a very good idea. Thank you for this. 😊 👍
Wow, what wisdom!
Thank you for this- big wisdom here.
That shirt is KILLER
I will say that I've learned so much more in depth while under the guidance of my mentors at shows than I ever could have while at school. Real world application is key
Hes so right. I was lucky i was good friends with a pro musician. He would 'Lower' his technique so i could jam with him. He would throw in some cool chords, which he encouraged me to learn the names of. I focused on rhythm and tempo and my friend would play the wildest lead guitar too it. It is a fun method.
Playing with better people than yourself is it!
Mind blowing. Seriously.
Very interesting perspective. There are teachers who definitely focus more on the wrong than the good.
Every single thing he said about language learning in the context of music is on point. Literally and figuratively. Thank you. May all teachers, instructors and would be artists gather and cultivate knowledge and wisdom from this foundation. Wonderful. 😊
Such an amazing person and musician.
Thank you Victor.
Victor is such a Godsend.
Never thought of learning this way , keep it simple . Respect.
So modest but so one of the best!
Everything he's talking about here is researched and effective by Dr. Gordon and his work on Music Learning Theory. There's a whole new wave of teachers who are using this theory to teach kids across the country and it's really great. I have students who can perform with ease in triple, duple, mixed meters... kids who can improvise and sing in dorian and mixolydian along with major and minor, and eventually read music with all of that understanding put together. Victor nails it here.
He's a very wise man! Thank you for sharing this, I really enjoyed it.
Victor is so cool. Great person.
Such a great approach to learning music.
Thank you Victor🙏🏽
Thanks Vic...this conversation is liberating! The constraints do limit, but listening is critical not just theorizing. Wow.
Wow. Just amazing. My favourite bass player. Love victor wooton.
This is so applicable to so many things. Think about this when it comes to parenting
Victor is super brilliant.
Fascinating insights to learning
Excellent piece
What an intelligent cool guy
Such a wise man, I'd love to meet him. He's got some great ideas that make perfect sense.
bro the best thing I have heard!!!
Wow. He is so right on on many things, but particularly near the end where he mentions playing first and THEN gradually learning more when you are up for it.
Brilliant man 👍
That's right brother 💪 say it like it is baby!!!
Victor Wooten, Just Brilliant
Such an excellent way to look at learning music...or anything else for that matter!! This reminds me of my martial arts training!! So many similar concepts!! Well done!!
Interesting philosophy as I might try this tomorrow while teaching...
Freaking love this man.
Brilliant!!!
Wow.....what a great approach....and so true... this opens minds and possibilities...as well as encouragement....I'm 56 and I'm ready to start this way of thinking....Thank you for posting this video.
People clown on Dave Matthews but there is one Dave Matthews I'm a sucker for and it is when Victor Wooten joins him on stage to play #41
A brilliant guy.
2:44 an im in tears
So good!
Grande craque neto!
Everything about success is simple, rules were made to keep certain parts of society at Bay. Freedom is the lifting of restraints thus the blooming stage begins as far and long as we keep that frame of thinking... thanks Vic!