Customer Reviews

Victor Wooten: Groove Workshop

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't let the Master Class classification fool you. If you're thinking of taking up any instrument and know virtually nothing about music, watch this video first! This video was a complete reawakening to me of what I'm trying to do learning music. If you're reading this you probably, as I do, consider Victor Wooten among the top five living bass players. I hoped simply to watch the self analysis of a master performer. This video is vastly more than that. Wooten starts out with defining music as a form of communication and then asks, "How did you first learn to communicate?" He looks at the remarkable success rate of humans learning to speak a first language and compares it to the frustration for most people of approaching music classes. Do we ask a baby to recite the alphabet before we teach them their first words? Wooten asks the participants what notes are in a G minor key? He proceeds to play a bass solo in G minor using only notes NOT in G minor. Then he plays one in the G minor scale. The first solo sounds better. Wooten's point is that music is not about notes. Notes may actually be the least important part of playing music. This is one of the most thought provoking music lessons I've ever taken, primarily because it asks me to STOP THINKING when I'm playing. I LOVE this video.

There are many aspects of musicianship that "go without saying". We don't talk about them, so growth occurs slowly (if at all). We can flounder for decades without ever becoming great players, never questioning why.

Victor and Anthony break these elements of music down in a very logical manner, allowing us as musicians to take a sober look at what we actually know and don't know. This can be a very shocking reality check, but it's also very inspiring.

The content is best suited for good bass players who want to grow into great bass players, but it is also applicable to beginning and intermediate bass players, and to musicians in general. Some exercises are strictly for bass players, but this video teaches music as a whole.

You won't learn how to play the VWB's funk-infused jazz from this series of lessons, but you will learn something more valuable -- how to make whatever you do more musical.

Victor's approach to learning music is unusual, but it's not radical. He does not attempt to replace the classic methods, but to supplement them. I would be skeptical if his teaching methods were radical, but they are simply based on observation of how music really works.

I purchased this DVD thinking that it would be an instructional video like Billy Shehan or Jaco Pastorius. Well, it was not what I expected, but it was much more. It seems that Victor Wooten does not put out a DVD that is just simply an instructional video. This DVD is perfect for someone who wants to look at playing bass in a whole new way. He really gets you thinking about the music itself, not just memorizing different finger patterns.

I have debated quite a bit before buying this DVD. I was expecting five hours of Oprah and Dr. Phil style self-help one-liners. Well, there are plenty of one-liners on this DVD, but the vast majority of them actually make sense for real people. In between, the program is filled with useful and eyeopening exercises that any regular bass (or music) teacher is unlikely to assign.

The setting on this DVD is a class room with six bass-geeks, holding some very expensive Fodera and other assorted boutique basses, gawking at Victor and his assistant Anthony Wellington. The first sign that this DVD may offer something for bass playing mortals like myself is the first assignment: Victor has his disciples play something on their basses. For all the thousands of dollars that is sitting in their laps, most of them acually sound like crap! Good to know Victor isn't preaching for a selected audience of professional bassists with cum laude conservatory diplomas.

Victor then has his students make a Top Ten of the most important aspects of music, like "Choice of notes", "Groove", "Articulation", etc. Interestingly, the students come up with "Listening" as the last entry, and only after some prompting by Victor. Good point made right there.

Victor elaborates on all ten aspects, throwing in several great exercises, some of which I will definitely start using. For anyone who might think they will be watching a philosophy lecture, there are several "How to" segments during Q & A time at the end of the video. Funny that in the end, the bass geeks just want to know how Victor does that double thumb thing. Fortunately for them and us, Victor, being the cool guy that he is, doesn't show any disappointment that apparently technique (again) beats philosophy and is happy to oblige.

Just by watching this DVD I feel I have begun to lose my fear of wrong notes (the segment dealing with that issue is one of the best), will be improving my sense of time, will be more aware of the other players in the band, and probably will start playing more freely. This DVD is an excellent value.

To get right to the core of it, Victor Wooten is one of those very rare artists who is both stunningly talented and able to teach his art in a clear, understandable, and non-intimidating way that nonetheless will challenge the best student in the room. The only comparison I can make is Ansel Adams in photography, who similarly created both photographic masterpieces and educational works of great clarity and insight.

The workshop is more about practical philosophy for bass than specific techniques. He won't teach you slap and pop or tapping, nor will he do much with scales or arpeggios, but he will get you thinking about translating your techniques into an expression of you as an artist. This video is about breaking through the mechanical parts of bass playing and conveying music and emotion, and as a bassist bogged down in playing mechanically, I really benefitted from this.

While mostly centered on jazz, any bass player who gets to improvise or play more complex stuff will benefit from this.

Most of the things Victor teaches I never heard before, certainly not from teachers. I am not saying that this is an alternative to lessons or a complete way all unto itself; I am saying that this is another level of thinking to add to your total approach to music, and a very good one at that.

Well done, Victor. Much, much better than the Entwistle and Jaco videos, which while fun are limited by the reality that those two greats were not teachers. Victor Wooten talks about communicating with the bass, but he also communicates with words and example really well.

Everyone knows Victor Wooten is a great bass player. And if that was ALL he was, that would be enough.

But Victor Wooten is also a great thinker about the bass guitar and how to approach it. That thinking has infused his whole approach to learning the bass himself, and now you can share in some of that thinking and apply it on your own bass playing journey.

A quick caveat though - if you're looking for a succession of 'How To' exercises to master specific aspects of bass playing or techniques you won't find them here. Victor takes the approach of making you THINK about how you are going to approach something, and do some of the work yourself. That won't appeal to the 'I Want It Now' type of person - but for those who are serious in their desire to get better there is enough material in this DVD to keep you busy for the rest of your bass playing Journey.

And you'll learn more by coming up with your own specific exercises to implement the ideas Victor Wooten talks about. And you'll have far more chance of ending up sounding like YOU, and not someone who can play a compendium of Victor Wooten's tricks and licks.

If I could give 6 Stars I would. The information in this DVD is worth wayyyyy more than the measley $40 or so that it's on sell for. If you're serious about wanting to get better this should be the first item on your list.

I've been playing bass for over 30 years, but only recently learned my theory stuff. The funny thing was that learning the theory actually degraded my playing, and I wasn't sure why. Then I got Wooten's DVD. In the process of my finally learning theory, I'd left behind the reason I played for 30 years in the first place. The magic and feeling of music. This DVD explains all the 'real' things you need to know to 'make' your playing musical and expressive. Wooten does an outstanding job of communicating what makes your playing music, and it isn't about the notes! If you are mired in knowledge but still not getting noticed as a great musician, maybe you should look into this DVD. No! No matter where you are with your music, you NEED this DVD!

Just got this DVD delivered today. This DVD is not only for bassist but for all musicians. I sat thru 5 1/2 hrs and i can truly say that Victor totally brought back the meaning of music. You won't get such teaching else where and is Victor Wooten.

This is a must for a musicians.

Cheers

It was neat to see another guy preaching the way I've been teaching for 35 years. You won't find any traditional lessons taught in this 5 Hour DVD, but you will hear a useful philosophy. He basically says what I do. It's all in the groove! Your theory and scales and modes are OK when taken in small chunks but that isn't where great a bassist comes from. It comes from inside you and what you feel in the music, not from a book on theory. He makes sense the whole way through and admits right off the bat he knows very little theory. It was nice to hear the truth spoken from one of the world's best bassist. This DVD, though enjoyable, is not instructional in the sense of technique and theory. Every bassist should own this DVD!

Wow...I was hesitant about purchasing this DVD because I figured I will never be able to play like Victor Wooten. I am sure glad I did, and what a difference it has made in my bass playing. Not only am I playing better but I think about music in an entirely different way! I love his philosophy on music and the way he approaches playing an instrument. I sincerely believe that even if you play other instruments you will walk away with a wealth of knowledge and increased creativity after checking this video out. I highly recommend this DVD to every musician, beginner or advanced.

Mike