The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

This buy was a shot in the dark. Never heard of Victor or this book. My expectations were very low. But I needed to motivate myself as I could not bring myself to practising my guitar. So I gave this one a try and Lord ... whata a find. I love how the words are backed by music in the background (although I find Mike's performance irritatingly overacted) and I can't get enough of the content. Music as mystery and invisible mighty force. No phony stuff and cheap superficial spiritualism (at least to my mind). That's what you will find there.

Truthfully, it's right on time. I think the book should have been called 'The Lesson'. Although Wooten presents this is a dialogue primarily about music between teacher and student, the concepts are equally transferable to any subject. Reminiscent of 'Zen and the Art of Archery'.

This is similar to the books 'Zen Guitar' and 'Effortless Mastery', except it focuses on a bass player instead of a guitar player. Another differentiator is that this audio book is punctuated with great music. (Except for the musical subvocalizations when 'Music' is speaking, which are really distracting). The stories are fantastical on purpose - he is trying to illustrate and emphasize his points about music (and life). The strictly literal minded will probably not like this book. Ditto for people who think "notes" are the end-all and be-all of music. Ditto for the people who only like one style of music and hold all other forms of musical expression in disdain. I think this book should be nearly required listening for all musicians. I've listened to it 3 times now. It is great.

I would recommend it to friends that are open to ZEN, Learning, or Music. This type of fiction adventure to share mystical concepts, which can be helpful or even important life lessons, can be very powerful for those who are ready for them and can be a serious turn off for those not ready. It isn't something I could recommend without knowing the other person well.

Way of the Peace Warrior by Millman. The Music Lesson is much more light hearted and uses the learning of Music as its focus. But both books use adventures with a mystical "teacher" to lead the "student" on a journey of learning.

Listening to this story with friends that don't quite get it but are open can lead to interesting discussions. Just remember to be kind and loving with your friends. Let them pick up what they can use and don't push anything they can't handle.

Havent read the print version but hearing Victor Wooten read is great.

Hearing Victors songs in the background and during chapter transitions

Listening to the lady with her crystal ball talk about the number 0

When he talks about Music as an entity not just something produced by humans

A must read for aspiring musicians

I read the book and enjoyed it immensely. The thing that I liked about it is that it brought the dialogue to life. Having an ensemble cast really added to the content.

The first time that I heard him play and demonstrate the concept that the book was talking about. Great stuff.

Michael

No

It was definitely entertaining. I'll listen to it again and again!

This audiobook is pure joy to listen to, and the production is totally amazing. It is addressed to musicians in particular, and it is of great inspiration and depth.
A full five stars.

A entertaining book that weaves perspective and philosophy into an engaging story.
The Music Lesson offer unique insights from one of the world's most talented musicians.

Fantastic, Deep, and Empowering. I loved every part of this book from one of the greatest bass musicians of our time.

A very good book, at the start, but quickly became too cheeky and new age-y for my taste. Not in the sense that music is esoteric, but in that Wooten's ideas begin to spread into non-music. The adventure into mystical oneness gets tiring and made the book run on. Overall, though, a lot of good info on thinking about music differently than our instructors would teach. Although, his belief that we don't think about language when we speak and so we needn't think about music to play, seems a little false, since Victor is speaking beyond the element of a newbie to the instrument.