Steve Vai at Musicians Institute

[Sennanchie]

It honestly struck a chord within me (no pun intended) when Steve said (three times) "Don't worry". It almost gave me the goosebumps, because that was always my biggest problem! I was "always" worried about making enough money and got sidetracked with other things in a very big way. So much in fact it destroyed my musical inspiration and I did end up getting sidetracked. Now, many years later I have so much regret I didn't just stay focused on the instrument and being a musician.

[P0lC0x]

Great words!

[annolenno]

I play Electric Guitar for 4 years now. 2 months ago i discovered the real deal in playing guitar: Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. I always loved the music from Hendrix and SRV. Full of emotion. But Vai's music is not only emotional. Its wonderfull. And after i saw this. Something in me burned to the ground. I always wanted to be a history teacher. But now i realised that my real pasion is playing guitar. I love it. Thanks againg Steve, for all of your words. In human and in guitar languae.

[Abitovsloth]

Steve Vai is such a huge influence on my musicianship, this advice is great and motivating \m/

[ANOTHERHOLEINYOHEAD]

Steves advice is always so crap. He is always vague and non specific.

[Angel3243]

What a classy thing to say! Steve has always been honest, without fluff or extreme make up, he's more of a musician than a rock star, biut I consider him both.

[okamasphere]

lol, he called it "GIT"

[panny14]

@okamasphere Guitar Institute of Technology

[publicservant2009]

THAT WAS SOME ADVICE STEVE.... HEY EVERYONE, SINCE U TOOK THE TIME TO HEAR THAT ADVICE, U SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO HEAR MY NEW VIDEO!!! SERIOUSLY... 

[diegomanx321]

tear just camee out my eyeee i wass lokking forrr a theory lesson wayss too makee me the best cuzz imm stresssed outt that im not good enough butt this just reminded me why im even playing guitar for.. thanks stevee :D

[bloodvaccine]

I play guitar because i suck at everything else.

[assasinator1980]

somehow it just seems like this was all scripted and that he was paid to do this video, regardless he's a great fucking guitar player!!!

[willy05031988]

he's like myles kenedy in here lol

[DownedFatty]

this just gave me inspiration when i felt nothing could be done at this point and time of my life i love steve vai

[JSandmangodofrock]

Yeah Steve!

[Hanart19]

dont worry BE HAPPY :)

[Easleytee]

I love + respect Vai.

However, the piano is the greatest instrument in music. Followed by the human voice.

[vincentmack37]

you gotta love steve, always super positive

[virtuosity7]

YES!!! UNDERSTAND AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES!!!

[Gazycyl]

He is in the movie Crossroads right?

[skeleton0578]

@Gazycyl yes

[Jez2008UK]

I'm 48 years old and I've just started learning to play Electric Guitar (I can play a few chords and strum).

I love Steve's comments and he made me feel great just saying that "anyone can learn to play the guitar".

When he said that, I wondered why I wanted to learn to play.

For me, simply because it's fun.

[MrAnthony78666]

i think all the guitarists u guys are mentioning are great. why not take what all of them do, & just enjoy & learn. there's no such thing as "best" anything, anyway. whatever road someone took to get to where they are is likely a good one, but it's all relative & very much an individual thing. some great musicians make records & are famous, & some great musicians only play at home in their living rooms. why argue? it's all good. btw, i need a bj, anyone??? lol

[tmg1968]

aurosne...so i guess Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy...all Berklee grads, aren't that good?? What a laughable statement you make...hahaha!

[FrancescoBonfanti77]

true. ;)

[BigBizzle27]

Great words from a great musician. That's what separates the amazing from the average. Approaching music with love and not seeing it as work.

[suhijo]

This guy is so kool i like him... it got charisma ...not like piece of shit yngwie malmsteen

[27AznBoy]

thats some great advice from one of the best guitarist in the world...sorry...UNIVERSE!

[MichaelSmithComposer]

@27AznBoy That's funny because Paul Gilbert graduated from this school. And if you don't think he's good than you have no right commenting. Vai also went to Berklee.

[27AznBoy]

@MichaelSmithComposer there both friggin awesome...GODLY

[aurosne]

Rule of tumb. If you gradute from these type of schools you pretty much are not that good. Sry but truth hurts..

[aapoaalto2]

@aurosne Sure, tell that to Paul Gilbert, Einstein.

[AttitudeCastle]

@aurosne Apart from the fact the piece of paper you get is more proof than you can provide without someone watching or listening to you play...

[TheSyuFan]

@aurosne oh really? elaborate more on that

[AHMADF93]

I dont think he needed an introduction

[PeGaiarsa]

"Don't worry, about a thing, 'couse every little thing, gonna be alright..."

srry i couldn´t help it

[KatsuGuitar]

@TeesByTruthSurge you don't really go there to learn to play. you go to refine your craft. I'd imagine what you get out of a school like this is all determined by you. It's quite impossible to "teach" creativity. You shouldn't approach something like this as an all access pass to stardom and the ability to shred. Only you can do that for yourself. However I bet the connections you get are valuable as hell if you are the type of player to do something with your skills!

[ObesityMyth]

This chick SUCKS.

[ObesityMyth]

This chic SUCKS.

[leopett]

i am a GIT geaduate from 1992 and i am proud of that! greatest school ever!

[stratthead]

where's his fan? I went anc checked it out for about a wekk back in the late 80's. I just snuck in the building and went in all the classes, they thought I actually attended! I didn't like it. Everyone was doing the same thing as the next..

I realized, for me the great guitarists that really have a signature sound and style did not go to any school. The schools are there for the folks that don't have "it" to copy them. Nothing wrong with that, I guess.

Beck, SRV, EVH, EJ....

[MrXorHomer]

@stratthead So Paul Gilbert, Synyster Gates and John Frusciante don't have their own sounds?

[stratthead]

@MrXorHomer Gilbert had his thing down when he went to GIT. That's when I was there. He was so good, they asked him to stay on as faculty. So that's part of my point. The really great ones, find their way and there's the followers that study them. Frusciante is good, but much of his play is standard type, if you're familar with Hendrix' style. Sinister who? I'll pass.

[dudemusicspace]

LOL some funny comments... seriously don't worry... if you can't afford it then you won't go to a music school and you'll learn regardless if you want to.

Now there was this one other really really cool and very modest and mega talented guy who was supposed to go to Berklee but decided it wasn't for him.... and he definitely did not worry... and he didn't even have Wikipedia and YouTube... now who was that?

Oh yes... it was Joe Satriani!

;O)

[Pendrakulya]

Just wish I had the money =/

[ClaudioMariola]

I don't worry Steve!

but 15 years ago I wanted to join MI very badly, but never got even close to all money I needed to join MI...

15 years later and I missed those special days you are talikng about, but I'm not worried... NOT

[2patero]

@TeesByTruthSurge Some of his playing is outside but he has some tasty bluesy riffs too! Listening to his interview he stated that his phrasing was influenced more from horn players, but also Holdsworth, obviously. I've been trying to track this song he did with Shawn Lane, it was absolutely animal but i have had no luck tracking it. Yeah the hybrid picking is otherworldly...

[2patero]

@TeesByTruthSurge Brett Garsed the man!

[paulsenification]

"...actually like the shool very much...!" ...kaching.... got you stevie!

[poralentierno]

gods dont need to introduce themselves steve!!!!

[future4you]

Here's right about the environment thing. Being in a place and a time.

Oh the memories, but still living them.

[ecurrent94]

i was pretty close to dropping my guitar on the ground and saying "FUCK IT" lol cuase i kinda suck.... but steve vai's words make me give it my best try

[kranen1]

Indeed =)

[kranen1]

@TeesByTruthSurge Holdsworth better than Shawn Lane? Seriously? Nobody could/can match Lane. Holdsworth has the worst phrasing in history.

[eightmileshigh69]

@TeesByTruthSurge just to give some weight to that, malmsteen eventually developed a 12 hour practice routine

[eightmileshigh69]

@TeesByTruthSurge If hendrix or malmsteen spent 3 hours a day doing the type of practice they did and then watched family guy for the rest of the day they never would have made it. So my advice to you either get your ass off youtube and spend every spare minute of the day the same way these guys didpracticing or go to a music school to make your practice time more efficient

[eightmileshigh69]

@TeesByTruthSurge well it wont do you any harm, you dont have to go out of your way to avoid going to music school. it can only help, if you think about it.

plus i should point out these people were around really before the age of internet, decent satellite television, x boxes, ps3's. and therefore had plenty of time to do music practice that though may have been inefficient accumulated to a monstrous number of hours and thus enabled them to develop the talent they eventually achieved.

[liadon666]

@TeesByTruthSurge

damn...that's true...but I would also add : you didn't write any guitarist's name there....

SHAWN LANE was THE Guitarist...the others are mere emulators...( and speculators...)

[panny14]

@TeesByTruthSurge I think Frank Gambale does have something to do with GIT.

[ghfan37]

@TeesByTruthSurge John Frusciante

[tall32guy]

Take off that damn necklace! It's bumping the lapel microphone! Or making noise for whatever mic there is. LOL

[MrBill876543]

MI and Berklee are great schools, I'm trying to get in to Berklee since its in Boston, and just a mind blowing music school

[BiffisN]

just graduated RIT! MI all the way!

[HanshiMusic]

Yay!! I'm heading to MI next year. :D Can't wait!

[thricegod1288]

steve vai shreds, but he an arrogant fuck.

[JackIntheBK]

@thricegod1288

At least has some reason to be.

[Basti618]

@parasthakur , Hey dude?Do you know if Berklee is cheaper? Is MI really worth it?

Thanks for the reply.

[Basti618]

Is it really hard to get it in? and how much is it per year?

[parasthakur]

@Basti618 Its $45000 for Associates degree and $89000 for Bachelor's degree.

[reverendjetstream]

I dont like his music, I dont like him talking

[CeLt74]

@reverendjetstream I don't like you.

[bretfrett]

I briefly went there in 90,,,enjoyed and played alot with many other people,,great stage and ,,,thxz to the girl instructor who let me use her gtr  and rig onstage! i forgot her name.

[PorcupineFloyd68]

Sorry Vai, you're great and all, but I much more enjoy the sound of the Cor Anglais and the French Horn. :P

[soloistchris666]

I love how he says "The guitar is the greatest instrument in the world" BECAUSE IT IS!!!!!!

[espectaculardavidrcq]

Steve Vai ya esta mayorcito! Que edad tendra ya?

[JohnJamesMaloney]

The guitar the greatest instrument in the world? I understand Steve's life long passion for the six (& seven) string, but the guitar as cool and as awesome as it is, is not all things that musical brilliance represents - though it certainly has made a major mark on popular music history.

I do appreciate that Steve is one of they most creative and talented musicans of the last 30 years - I look forward to Steve Vai's next musical mile-stone....big respect to him!!!!!

[redhavok666]

@JohnJamesMaloney thats just his opinion man. there is no greatest instrument.. except the electric triangle....with a digitech whammy

[sgtsnakepit]

this is a bit off subject, but has steve had Botox?

[therox68]

@sgtsnakepit It does seem so.

[sgtsnakepit]

@therox68, i just watched it agen, he either has, or the footage has been seriously hair brushed lol

[persini]

Steve = Genius :-)

[letsplaywiththunder]

Steve, this vid gave me tears, i dunn'o why! Ur just so great! ...

[fuchalo]

"the guitar is the greatest instrument in the world"

so true.

[jrcsgtpeppers]

continued comment lol

when i hear a guitarist do some amazing 9 finger tapping solo, or flawless sweep tapping, i think oh my god that was sick, but when i hear something as simple as nocturn in e flat, i dont think how hard that is to play those fancy left handed chords i think... wow thats beautiful....

[metallic4ya]

I graduated from Git in 03...he's right, looking back on it...I wish I would've lived in the moment more while being there...I was a dumb 18 year old...but it did teach me everything I hoped it would!

[jrcsgtpeppers]

eh i think pianos the greatest instrument in the world....

take hungarian rhapsody and compare it to... steves for the love of god

i love steve.. but chopin....idk incomparable

[fadethetrade]

@jrcsgtpeppers I agree,the piano rules.It's the complete instrument.All the great composers wrote their music off of the piano,beethoven,stravinsky,zap­pa,etc.

[raccoonlord]

@jrcsgtpeppers agreed.

No doubt about it. Pianos can accomplish so much more than any other instrument solo. Cept... erm... well... That may be a bit of an overstatement, but definitely more than the guitar. This comes from someone fairly apt at both.

[jrcsgtpeppers]

@raccoonlord

im not saying the guitar is easy or anything, i love steve and, il take buckethead for an example

i think he has fully mastered the guitar, nothin ghe cant do

but compare him to chopin, my favourite pianist, the sound of the piano and being able to do lead and rhythm just draws me in fully.

[ZenGuy12]

@jrcsgtpeppers its just an opinion of instrument. the individual sounds you can get from each and the ways you can put those sounds together. i prefer guitar myself but i do love a good piano player

[jrcsgtpeppers]

@ZenGuy12 of course it is

i love the guitar

i play it for hours every day

i just think the piano is just better

liszt's piano sonata in b minor is unbelievable

iv never heard a single guitar sound as amazing

guitar has to be played along with others, most the time

classical guitar and latin are cool, but not as cool as piano in my opinion

[ZenGuy12]

@jrcsgtpeppers like i said, its just opinion. and like i said, i prefer guitar. i think guitar alone can sound good if played well but thats my opinion. im not trying to argue with you and i dont want to

[25jonathan]

Steve Vai: Guitar Virtuoso.

anyone got someting to add?

[kibijit]

@25jonathan PhD in vainity?

[fadethetrade]

@25jonathan Yeah ,he's even better then his teacher,satch.what the hell,it runs in music history,even salieri had his beethoven!!!

[WhatSayestThou]

The reason for music schools like this is to learn how to express yourself better. Ok so some people like Holdsworth don't know diddly about theory and probably don't have too but there are some of us that want to get better at their craft so they can write songs and even if you don't get that record deal, you can always put them on here.

[algor123]

is mi or berklee worth the money and are they good schools

[Mynamesketan]

Simple, Meaningful advice! And for everyone out here.. MI and Berklee are both great places to go, but MI has much less fees than Berklee and Berklee has more f classical/blues/jazz while MI is contemporary.. I'm gonna work hard to get here, like 2-3 months ago I was all into Berklee but the Admission Success rate now is 30% so it's REALLY tough to get in, where as MI has 80% + Success rate and there are about 1500 students, so its defi an amazing place!

[slash378]

i'll go soon

[Edoardo88Eddie]

What a great man...Thanks Steve ..

[vaivaughn]

does anybody knows if berklee is trully a very good school or not?

[xXRammiumptum]

@vaivaughn Berklee is an amazing school

[JSGayMusic]

if you want to learn everything you can possibly learn about Jazz and other similar styles of music, Berklee is a fantastic school.

I personally tried both, and I think that Musician's Institute is a bit better for being a more rounded musician as far as learning other styles. Jazz is awesome, I love playing Jazz guitar styles and stuff, but I also enjoy several other styles that don't get touched on as much as the Jazz focus is at Berklee..

For me, MI is a better decision..

[joeylodes]

@vaivaughn I did Berklee back in 88 ... an incredible experience ... I always wanted to find the time to take a year off of life to attend GIT. Either one is probably great if you put in the work, cause lets be honest .... they're not going to show different chords or different scales ... its how much time and creativity you put into them.

[rAdLeONi]

i cried!!!

[JSSV]

when i hear steve talk like this straight from the heart its almost like he's talking about my failed relationship lol in an environment (relationship) learning language (of love) sharing a very special time in your life with other people who's this particular time is very special also, when you look back, most valuable experience, passionate, dreams & hopes. theres alot of advice he can give but dont worry, just dont worry. the reason your attracted to the instrument (my ex) is bcos u love it

[JSSV]

hope i don't sound like a tool! lol

it's just the guy talks with so much passion and love for what he does. it's inspiring and thought provoking.

[AnimosityGMC]

The Berklee graduate plugging Musician's Institute?

Interesting.

[Drucef]

Vai didn't graduate from Berklee. He dropped out to join Zappa's band.

[AnimosityGMC]

He graduated from Berklee in 1979.

Says so in his bio on his website.

[Drucef]

Oh...so it does.

[playfastandjam]

@Drucef he also received an honorary doctorate in music from Berklee

[HiImJerry8]

@Drucef really? i thought that right after he graduated he went on the road with frank :/

[liamzuid]

@Drucef He did graduate.

I saw his diploma hanging on the wall in the movie where he is jamming to the moon and I.

[Drucef]

@liamzuid: He got an honorary doctorate later on. That's probably what you saw.

[liamzuid]

@Drucef Ok.

Unlogical lol.

[Drucef]

@liamzuid: Lol...unlogical is not a word. You mean illogical. Why?

[15yngwie15]

@Drucef really?

[Kinglevel]

i agree.. ive just finnished a music school.. and the athmosphere etc etc is awesome.. so i really recommend it

[Redbloodedsky]

Thanks a lot for the advice! ;)

[cilcannonvryce]

Some of the best advice I have ever heard.

[MrStrumfu]

awesome

[froggydaddy1]

Thanks for the good advice. Your great !

[MrStrumfu]

the best of the best

[metal126279]

So Great!

[pistache7]

I'm not worried,steve,.......just poor.I mean, i won't be able to get there and afford the admission price.Thanks anyway ! You're the best !

[OpethAndy]

I have the same problems :(

Money.....

[edgarrg94]

Yeah me to, but fuck money, i love the music :D

[sIash90]

@pistache7 same here...

[gangstersolo69]

what i like about steve vai is that out of every 1 in the world he is 1 of the few that can call them self a true vurtuoso ...and yet he doesnt (go figure)

[gamergeek3000]

it's just a title, he knows the music is what really matters, and that's what he pours his heart and mind into, because that gives him more pleasure than a title.

[Roseinheart]

Amen:)

[walteralvarezz]

papa!!!!

[jazzman]

words of wisdom from the wizard...."DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING" if you love the instrument and the music it brings, the rest will follow

[PJITA]

Parole sante, maestro. Grazie per la tua ispirazione.

[gorethem]

I'm not worried !!

[Fancypantsalldaii]

"and dont worry" .... ok =)

[mattstiehl]

A teacher can see where you're at with the instrument, that is vital, knowing where you're at

[MistahhB]

Well, if you have the dicipline of a god, it's possible to do it that way :) A lot of people work better if they live in an environment that breaths music, such as MI. It also gives you room for personal improvement on things you might not have thought of. I will attend MI in 2-3 years. Looking forword to it!

Sorry if my English is horrible, I'm from Sweden ;)

[tgnz24]

Does anybody know what it costs to go to git?

[prashanthosur]

I believe its about 20K-25K per year...but check out their website...

[EADPE]

...and don´t worry...wise words ftw

[Unspoker21]

hey guys I am attending to GIT next week.If anyone has financial problems please keep in mind that you can take many kinds of student loans.I took plus loan and it covers my whole tutition.The payment starts after graduation..Now I dont have to worry about money till graduation.

[sunkcontrol]

is steve an old git.

[garagebandjunkie]

vai went to berklee music school...git might not have been established yet when vai went to school. plus, he is an east coast guy.

[JLeeHaven]

It was worth every penny to attend GIT.  You'll only benefit if you put everything you have into it. AS Steve said, put your best foot forward, you will reap the rewards.

[xjackinthebox]

Guys, just apply for a student loan if you really want to go to GIT.

[RedGuitarDragon]

i applied got accepted but i couldnt afford it :(

[666Yamauti]

In MI, are there only graduation courses? Are there tests to enter?

[Biake22]

I have been researching this school, but I have heard SOO MANY good and bad things about it. anyone want to talk to me about it?

[AWilhelmJens]

Awesome!

[Joebuddha]

I went to GIT.

It was the best thing I've ever done. What I learned there has helped me be a professional guitarist for the last 15 years.

it's a great school, but like all schools it's what you make out of it.

[Goth3m3]

you say its worth it? I'm thinking of taking a combined AA course of GIT and Guitar craft to be a guitar tech.

[Joebuddha]

It was worth it for me. I got a lot out of it .

[samy6]

Thanks Steve.

[guzanillo]

i wish i could afford to go to this school

[guitarwizard69]

likewise.

[guitarwizard69]

I really wish I could go to this school!

[whammybarfreak]

vai is da bomb!

[GuitarIsMyCocaine69]

Vai is the champion!