Music as a Language: Victor Wooten at TEDxGabriolaIsland

Victor Wooten is an innovator, composer, arranger, producer, vocalist, and multiinstrumentalist. He has been called the greatest bass player in the world. He is a skilled naturalist and teacher, a published author, a magician, husband and father of four, and a five-time Grammy award winner.

In Music as a Language Wooten makes the case for learning music in the same way as we learned our first language, calling for a more natural, less academic approach. He makes the point that, as babies, we weren't taught our first language or corrected when we made a mistake. We didn't even know we were beginners and got to 'jam' with people much better than us. Wooten draws on his own musical education as an example of how taking this approach can deliver great results.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[bobshepherd]

"But with language, even as a baby, you're jamming with professionals." What a powerful statement!

[AndreGSilva]

"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.

[DanielVargaTrombone]

"Who cares about the instrument you talk with? It's about what you have to say." This man is a real legend!

[scanteianu]

His usage of rests during this talk is amazing!

[rchw]

Not only is he a genius musician, but an articulate and concise speaker.

[ParisLondonRoma]

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."

[oasiscrushinglife]

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

[janisaizpurietis]

"To be a good musician, you have to be a good listener."

[MidlifeSynthesist]

“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🙌🏻

[JesusAMendoza]

"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.

[xXWinterXx]

_"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.

[yotheguy]

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

[TheMrFuzio]

well, he already changed me as a musician, now he changed me as a human.

[Satrianionfire]

Even when he speaks he's musical...

[PanhandlePrepping]

“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.

[JSiahStudiosLLC]

I ALMOST CRIED WATCHING THIS... GOING TO PLAY MY BASS... LOVE THIS GUY... I WILL JOIN YOU ON THE BATTLE FIELD 

[minorcek]

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

[ZakBaiShaolin]

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."

[Schlusenbach]

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.

[blakhokisbak]

This man is an embodiment of the perfect musician. I idolize him and look up to him.