Lecture Series

"Victor Wooten, simply put, is a god. Of the bass guitar, I mean."

I’ve been to my share of rock concerts.  I’ve pushed my way through crowds of hardcore fans, screamed song lyrics among thousands in huge arenas, and have probably damaged my eardrums beyond repair—but I’ve left those places relatively unscathed.

On November 3^rd, I sat quietly in a concert hall for two hours and listened to two people talk.  I’m still recovering.

Thanks to the 92^nd Street Y and High 5, I got to witness the verbal and musical genius of bassist Victor Wooten and his “interviewer,” psychologist/musician/writer/producer Daniel J. Levitin, in the first event of a three-part lecture series called “Music and the Brain.”  The topic of discussion was “Music, Inspiration and Creativity: Does Practice Make Perfect?”  In an informal interview setting, punctuated by impromptu solos and duets, these two pioneers of the musical world spoke about what music really is, and how aging affects our relationship with music.  Though Levitin had questions ready for Wooten, the conversation was completely candid—yet somehow, they said it all.

It took me long enough to get past the fact that I was in a room with Levitin, author of the groundbreaking bestseller This is Your Brain on Music and The World in Six Songs; and Wooten, who, simply put, is a god.  Of the bass guitar, I mean.  I felt enlightened just by breathing in their air.

The things they said, though, were what really blew my mind.  [click to continue…]

Tagged as: 92nd Street Y, Daniel Levitin, Music and the Brain, Victor Wooten

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