The Victor Wooten Interview 

“If it can go wrong, it can go right.” Gives me hope.

NOBODY BOTHER ME. The next 25:00 minutes are occupied by Rick and Victor!

The thing I really like about your interview style Rick is that you ask a question...and then you let the person actually answer the question and even give them time to expound on their answer. Great interview man 👍

I met Vic Wooten in Dallas in 2007, he was nice as could be even though I randomly approached him and 2 friends he was having lunch with at a restaurant. I went up to him and apologized to him for interrupting his lunch, but told him I wanted to let him know how much I have enjoyed his music (including seeing The Flecktones live a few times). He then invited me to sit with them and I got to hang with Vic and his friends for a few minutes before heading out. He was just the nicest guy.

Love this video. What an inspiring, humble guy. Anyone reading this, get his book, “The Music Lesson”, total life-changer!

Man, I love Victor Wooten. He is such a great person

I could listen to Victor for hours. He's is truly a fascinating guy.

Has anybody else noticed that ALL good musicians are friends with beato?😂

Awesome guys 🔥🔥

1. Playing bad competition 2. What seemed hard will seem easy soon 3. Improvise what feels the moment 4. It's more about the effort than the result

I took a lesson from Victor some 5 years ago. I didn't even touch my bass but learned a lifes worth. It wasn't just music, or theory. I learned just how kind, gracious, open minded and genuine one man can be. He is truly one of the kindest men I have ever met. What an outstanding interview. B and Victor... it cant get better than this.

The comments on improvising were a highlight for me: RB: Tell me about improvising. Why is improvising important? VW: Well, improvising is your chance to say whatever you want, or do whatever you want. And we're all good at improvising. We're improvising this interview right now-no questions were prepared. Any time we sit down at a coffee table or at lunch, we improvise with our friends. So we're already good at it. But, musically speaking, if I couldn't musically speak unless it was written for me, or I had to write it out first, that would be, for me, painful.... I know a lot of classical musicians who have trouble improvising, and it's because they have an idea of what "right" improvising is. But the way I've gotten people to do it, to improvise at their best... the way I've tricked them into doing it, is to give them permission to play their worst. I say, "Let's have a *bad* playing competition." All of sudden you see who these people really are-they free up, and they get *so* good.... But that's not your question. It's *important* so that you have freedom. To me, if you can't improvise, you don't have musical freedom. You can help someone else discover *their* freedom, by playing their parts and helping *them* be free, but you're not free if you can't improvise. But the truth is you *can*; you just *won't* yet. Take good or bad out of it. A newborn crawling over a guitar is improvising, and you're going to applaud that, not because it was good; you're going to applaud the *effort*. We applaud a child's effort, not the result. But we're looking at the result as we get older, when it's the effort that really matters. RB: Do you think that people are as interested in improvised music now as they were 30 years ago? VW: It depends on the music. If it's good, yeah; if it's not, no.... I believe if it's *good*-whatever that means-people, yes, are interested.... You can touch someone more by improvising. Absolutely. Because it's real, it's raw, and your emotion is more pure than if it's totally rehearsed. There are things that are nice, and maybe nicer, when they're totally rehearsed. But if you can improvise-and that's in life. With your spouse, if you just say "I love you" the same way every time, and it's well-rehearsed (shakes head); or if you come out with something that's real, real for the moment, it's going to mean a whole lot more. Music is the same way; if you can improvise, you can speak your mind, clearer and more honestly.

Victor is a legend. Quick personal story...I was at the Merle Watson Memorial Festival in North Carolina in the mid '90's and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (featuring Victor on bass) were one of the top acts performing that year. The festival ran from Thursday through Sunday. I can't recall exactly, but I think the Flecktones played Friday night. Well, the next day, I get to the festival area and there's a bunch of kids running around in a field playing soccer. Guess who was out there playing with them? Victor Wooten. I don't think the kids realized they were playing with one of the greatest musicians on the planet...to them, he was just a friendly guy playing soccer. He was just such an authentic, down-to-earth guy. What a gem. Thanks for doing this interview, Rick. Great stuff.

Victor is not, primarily, an incredible bass player. He is an incredible person that also happens to be an incredible bass player. I had the opportunity to meet him once, and I've never met a person that was more humble and more gracious.

Victor's book "The Music Lesson" forever changed the way I play and look at music! Great to see two of the most inspiring musical thought leaders of today together in this video!!!

Victor's contribution to music goes way beyond his playing... his legacy after he leaves us (hopefully in many decades down the road) will also be on how music should be learned, understood and felt! What a touched soul this man has!

And I had lunch with Victor a number of years ago. And didn’t really even know who he was. And after lunch he got up and was the keynote speaker of the event. He blew my mind during the presentation. Especially because during lunch he was just like another cat, completely without ego. I thought he I was just another attendee of the event rather than the main event. He truly is a wonderful guy.

Imagine if everyone had the kind of supportive and encouraging home life Victor had when they were growing up. How awesome would we earthlings be. :-)

Mr. Victor Wooten, I am grateful for your uplifting attitude! You exude a positivetity I've not yet seen...I had an injury that haunts me...but I persevere...in hopes of bringing a smile to anyone's face and thank you Mr. Beato....I love your channel sir!!!

"Let's have a bad playing competition." That is an amazing idea. Thanks Victor!

The more I see and learn about Rick Beato, the more I think it would be easier to ask: "Who DOESN'T Rick know in the music industry...?" Beato is the perfect interviewer for this industry - not only is he known and clearly respected in the field, he also knows when to shut up and let his subjects speak their minds. What a gem of an interview with Victor.

Good guys and good musicians. The world needs more like them

Amazing! Every time I see this guy interviewed, I think it's not possible for me to like him even more than I already do, and then I hear him going on about how his was raised, giving total credit to his brother and family, and then there was this... "...my wife did not have to work outside the house. She's doing the real work, raising the kids, feeding the dog, paying bills..." ...and then he topped that off with that part about improvising with his spouse to keep their love for each other fresh... ......and now I am completely blown away by his level of appreciation for exactly what he has And he doesn't appear to have the tiniest least bit of ego or pretentiousness, which is astounding considering the Mt Olympus God-like quality of his bass playing. He could not be more "down to Earth. So, he's not only one of the best musicians ever, he's one of the best people in general. Thanks so much for this Rick, and I'm not letting you out of this long comment without adding to your praises too. You are one of the best interviewers ever. You ask a great question, let him go on it, expand on it, until he's said everything he could say of value about it, AND ONLY THEN do you ask another great question. So not only do you do the best music appreciation classes on the web, but you could teach journalists a thing or two as well. Fantastic.Incredible. I'm out of positive adjectives, but you get the idea. I became one lucky guy when I found your channel.

Mr Wooten is one of the most lovely beings in the universe. His book "The Music Lesson" changed my life and my whole conception of music and existence. Such a sweet and generous man and thank you Rick for a phenomenal interview.

"If it can go wrong, it can go right." I love you Victor.

That whole discussion about improvisation is life-changing. I’m an acting teacher (and actor) as well as a musician. Because I’ve spent my life being a jack-of-all-trades I haven’t really given myself the opportunity to be a master-of-any. I learned guitar and piano so I could accompany myself (and others) singing, not to be a guitarist or pianist. And I never took music lessons other than half a year of high school music in 7th and 8th grade, so I’ve always just played by ear. So I suppose that I need to give myself permission to be bad (I’ll start with practicing bad!) and have some fun expressing myself in other ways than with my voice. And I need to bring that lesson into my acting and teaching of acting too. We rehearse plays so that the performances are precise for technical reasons (you have to be in the light, you need to make sure the audience can hear you and see you, you need to be at the door when someone else says a line about you being at the door, etc.), but I have to remind myself and my students that the magic happens when we are free WITHIN those technical commitments on stage. When we allow the character to live the truth of that moment honestly and immediately, and our connection with the other characters and the audience is unhindered by imposed “rightness.” When my friend introduced me to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones years ago, I was floored. And Victor hasn’t stopped wowing me since. GREAT interview Rick!

"I already knew it was cureable, if it can go wrong it can go right." That's such a positive mindset

Not only is Victor Wooten an amazing musician, he seem like he's a phenomenal dude also. I love watching him play, and I love watching him hang out.

Another Victor Wooten fan here. Showed up on my radar when I started listening to Bela Fleck decades ago. Interesting therapy he has explored of holding the bass in the classical guitar position.

Victor Wooten is such a mensch - a world class musician with a totally grounded, positive and generous attitude. Like some dream come true seeing him interviewed by Rick. Great.

I've met the man. Such a nice, humble dude, never realizing that he's about the best there is on the planet.

What is more breathtaking in this interview than the music aspect is the aura of love that is pouring out of Victor for his family and for Rick and others he has met along the way...

Absolutely great interview - two music legends!

Victor Wooten; I never clicked so fast!

While I am completely influenced by Bassists like Geddy Lee and Chris Squire, Wooten is easily one of the most legendary and innovative Bassists from the 80s to Modern Era. Incorporated so many techniques while having prolific tone and rhythm! Awesome of ye to sit down with him!

Dystonia and improvisation, wow! I have neuropathy in both right and left fingers. Structured finger style has become very difficult so now I'm getting better at improvising. My affliction is making me reinvent my own way of playing through improvising and it's working. Until I started doing more improvisation, I though my 40 plus years of guitar playing days were over. Now, they are just beginning again. All the best to you Victor.

Victor and his brother, Roy aka Futureman. Two of the most original and innovative cats in the game. I love The Flecktones!

Sounds like Victor has an amazing family.

There are a lot of great Bass players ............. and then there's Victor Wooten. LOVE all of your interviews Rick. Thank you for the content you provide !

I can listen to Victor talk all day. So positive.

Huge respect for Mr Wooten!!! He came and played our small town last year, it was an outstanding show, but towards the end, he had a couple of local musicians come up on stage and they played with him. He was so nice to them, and he complimented them on their talents, a supremely talented and humble man, to share the stage with small hick town musicians... A scholar and a gentleman to be sure!!!

I watched Mr. Wooten live with the Flecktones maybe 30 years ago, and he inspired me to work harder with my classical guitar. Watching this interview today, he inspired me to try to be a more positive and better person.

Victor Wooten sounds like the most genuine person I’ve ever heard talk.

Wow! Victor Wooten! He's one of my 3 favorite bass legends along with Abraham Laboriel, and Robert Trujillo. Vic's brother is pretty talented too. Not gonna say 1st!

The Wootens sound like great people, wonderful friends and the perfect neighbours

Glad to see someone that legendary that humble, truely awesome

I bet he's an amazing father. I hope his dream of retirement comes true in 10 years. He deserves it.

This is the kind of story people need to hear

I first heard Victor on Bela Fleck's albums and he's been on my list of favorite musicians! One of the most intelligent and innovative guys out there!

I learn so much here. I’m not sure what caused me to “cross paths” with V. Wooten in a manner of speaking but I think that I am going to be forever grateful.

I am so impressed with how much Victor and Rick enjoy each other. Here are Two great musicians who are more importantly, kind, respectful and compassionate people. There is hope for humanity.

These are two nice people. Ego in check and focusing on the work. 👍🏻

Victor Wooten, Thank you for your music, humaneness and spirituality. You are a gentleman.

"If it can go wrong, it can go right" probably the deepest most important thing i‘ve heard this month! Man the entire Interview is deep and important but that sentence struck a chord with me! Thank you both so much!

Victor Wooten is basically the best friend that anybody could ever have.

“I remember when I was 5 or 6 and playing a gig” ... I am inspired at 60 to get after it 🥴.

This guy is a legend. I loved watching him playing live with Bela Fleck. He’s inspired generations of bass players.

Victor is such a creative, humble and genuine person. I was fortunate to meet him about 15 years ago after a gig…he was as insightful then as he is now. He has taught me so much through his playing over the years and I am a drummer. Thank you Victor for your continued contributions to music and being such a kind person. Thank you Rick for choosing to interview Victor, this choice speaks highly of who you are as well sir. Take care and all the best on your musical journeys!

I am a bass player just diagnosed with Parkinson's. Thanks for the uplifting discussion Victor and Rick.

His Ted talk really changed my life. Awesome guy!

This vídeo makes me wanna hug Victor! Such a human being, and man, come on, imagine how cute was kid Victor! Hahaha

Awesome musician & man, he is blessed with a great family. Great to hear his story, thanks Rick & Victor.

Wooten is such an inspiration .....he knows why encouraging others is the most important thing someone can do

I don't remember them telling me to practice. I don't remember that they ever had to. That.👍👍👍👍👍

Dude is a visionary - in music, and in life. He may not wear fine threads, but he is a true gentleman.

These two guys are such blessings. Absolutely wonderful. Thank you, Rick.

Victor Wooten is one of the most giving human beings! I can't imagine him losing his ability to share the beauty of music in his special and unparalleled way. What a sweet guy, and such a talented musician. I have enjoyed him live many times and hope the best for him in his quest to beat the problem he's facing. Seeing him with Bela and the band was life-changing in my music appreciation. Not only Bela's banjo being otherworldly, but the whole band being so on-point, and Victor's crazy, ethereal bass. So much love for Victor and what he's given us, and so much hope for his beating this.

"I know it's hard now but you're gonna look back at it and you're laugh at how hard you thought it was" - Reggie Wooten. That is an excellent teacher motivating a wonderful person!

I would "like" this five hundred times, if it were possible. Excellent interview!

He is the sweetest person! So genuine, so humble.

Victor, you sir are very fortunate to have had a supporting family to nurture your musical journey. I would have given anything to have been in your position as a child...

Oh WOW I had no idea of his condition of focal dystonia! that is fascinating, wow!

Find a Osteopath, I work construction and had huge problems they’re mostly gone now. I’m listening to you for 25 years God bless you

As a bass player and as a human - Victor Wooten is often bringing tears to my eyes!

I have so much respect for Victor.... and after seeing this, even more. Love that honesty.

The positivity of you two is so good. Im just sitting here smiling... :)

Vic is such a damn paragon. Truly a legend and a model human.

Thumbs up before seeing the interview. One of the best among the bests! Great Victa!

Rick is such an amazing interviewer. As knowledgeable as he is, everytime he has a guest on his channel, he let's them talk, and he doesn't interrupt them. AND he asks great questions.

I really enjoyed your interview with Victor Wooten. What a great bassist and a fantastic human being. I was very inspired by listening to him. What a great life lesson. Thanks, Victor and thank you Rick for your channel.

I love the fact Victor is so humble and acknowledges to be good is to be an eternal student. Everyone at every level is still trying to master something. Be it musical or in life.

I had the privilege to attend two (or three) of his live concerts. It was amazing to experience and feel how much fun the band had in playing, improvising and communicating with each other and the audience. Especially the "battles" (with Reggie) were awesome. I think he's a great, sincere person and a fantastic musician. "Music is a language" he once said and I'm grateful these words made me having friends and colleagues all around the globe. Thanks guys for this interview!

I swear this may be the best interview you've done, Rick, and they are all great. I love this man. Beautiful person, and stunning musician.

Great interview Rick, and fantastic guest, of course, in the wonderful Victor Wooten. Love the idea of "bad music competition" to break students out of their boxes!

Wow, this was rich. That was something hearing his view on country music! What a gracious individual.

holy crap rick. Victor is an absolutely amazing musician and human being. wonderful stuff.

It just keeps getting better and better , Rick! Thanks so much.

Awesome, Family makes all the difference. Total confidence and respect for others. Victor is amazing

This may be the best interview I’ve ever seen! Why? Real life for such an incredible musician to tell the tale. Thank you Rick. So much to learn here.

I have never heard a more honest and humble artist. I was floored and mesmerized by this short interview. Thank yo.

It is such a great opportunity to be a fly on the wall when two such amazing musicians are talking. Great job.

"Bad playing competition"....great idea!

I am starting to play the bass and have to say that one can learn a lot about music listening to this video...thank you Rick for that interview and congrats to mr. Wooten for his love to music!!.

I am from Hampton Virginia and attended school with Victor... such a unique Human being... my brother in spirit... wish I could attend his camp someday... keep up the great work Victor "and the meek shall inherit the earth" with his Needles in the Groove - Wooten

Great interview Rick! I like his perspective and his ability to articulate it. A vid I saw months ago with Victor helped me improve with a simple tip he gave a youngster. When practicing, imagine the drummer is right there with you. Such a simple thing makes a world of difference. Thanks for the upload guys!

Great interview Rick. Victor Wooten, what a nice guy! And what a player, too! More inspiration from the Beato channel!

amazing musician and an amazing human being - honest, warm, open

Damn, Victor is so inspiring it's outrageous. Fantastic person and player, hope to see him live one day.

Great interview Rick.Victor has always been an inspiration to me and my friends.