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Did you attend the Alien Guitar Secrets Master Class in San Diego?

Please post your review in this thread.

Thanks,

Jeroen
vai.com

Wow, what a great experience. Audience members entered the room on the 2nd floor where Steve was already playing something - with chorus and clean channel in some harmonic minor + lydian switching improvisation. Of course, being at Carvin, it was through his new Legacy II stacks. Yes, the clean channel was very, very amazing. The improvising then just seeminglessly morphed into something similar to the demo video song (in E) he made promoting his Ibanez distortion pedals. So amazing.

After the intro:
"Welcome to Alien Guitar Secrets, and I'm your host, Little Stevie Vai"

I was sitting on the 3rd row, but I was merely 10 feet away from the stage. Isle in between and 5 chairs on each side per row. The environment was intimate and it was such a pleasure listening to Steve talk about his experiences. I'm going to try to skip the important details about what he talked about since it wouldn't be fair for the others who haven't attended yet.

We did receive a program outline with a list of topics. I was a little disappointed that Steve wasn't able to go into the music industry topic since we ran out of time. Personally it would have been ok with me if the jam session at the end was left out, but then again I would probably would thought otherwise if I did get to experience the jam About 5 numbers were drawn but about 7 people ended up playing.

I like how Steve talked about finding one's inner voice and listening to it. Being true to yourself, etc. A large part of the lecture was into how composed and little things that would inspire him, give him ideas, how to put it into music, how to work on the idea and execute it. I particularly enjoyed listening to him talking about composition since you should really see and feel the entire song when writing. There are instruments you may not be able to play but being able to visualize is important.

I liked the segment on technique, and he went over all the little details you need to pay attention to when you practice. We normally already do pay attention to a lot of these, but when it's formally listed and expressed in the way Steve did and gave examples, one would (or for me anyway), would actually thinking more about these elements and pay attention to perfecting them when practicing.


I got home and listened (not jamming to) the Naked Tracks 5-CD boxed set. The first CD was Passion and Warfare. Without the lead, you get to really hear the rhythm parts. Steve talked a lot about bring out the melody, but I regret that I forgot to ask him more detail on his rhythmic composition - because listening to the Passion and Warfare naked tracks is giving me another whole perspective, and you really get to see the amazing composition behind the tracks that I might have missed in certain sections of different songs!

He performed intro+ 3 songs in total I think spreaded out over 3hr+ period. Intro, Giant Balls of Gold, Building the Church and Tender Surrender. I never had a chance to see Steve live before... sure I've seen hundreds of his videos on youtube, but being just 10 feet away and watching him do all those crazy things and sounding so musical was just mind blowing.

P.S. Steve's exercise about singing a 2nd or chromatic above your note (I won't get into details) is the most craziest, weirdest thing I've heard (and seen too) . Also very difficult...

P.S.#2 - One of the jammers had his guitar misplaced by the airline when he flew in. Steve: "Oh. That's ok. Wanna play EVO?"

P.S.#3 - For those who attended - when Steve Vai takes off his glasses, he's able to see through our souls.

- Lucas

i thought the class was fantastic with all the personal stories and expeirences. i think there needs to be different levels taught so all things can be covered for the players level to match the curriculm. i was there mainly for the midway creatures (final section). unfortunaltly time ran out and this subject was skipped . being an artist that is trying to emerge from my basment seculutions and break out into the real world performing and such, i have many questions, but as always i froze up when i got the chance to speak with steve at the end when he signed guitars and things. i have idolized steve vai and his guitars since i heard him back in 1990 when passion and warfare was played for me in music class in school. i went and bought the album that very day. since then i've looked to vai as inspiration to do what i do. in 1994 i was fortunate to attend a concert he put on with the eastman school of music orchestra in rochester NY(my hometown). this performance changed my life, i sat 4 rows away from him center stage...amazing thats all i can say,at the end he did some solo playing with a looper of some sort that molded what i do to this very day. along the way i had no idea of the music and sounds i would be creating with my electric guitars all i knew is that it had to be different and my own. it came to me one summers night in 1999. like a flash of light i saw it all in an instant, and then it happened; electric noodle was born. i've been working on this ever since and will not stop until its complete. in the year 2000 i got my ibanez DNA guitar and went to see steve perform up in toronto at massey hall. he signed my guitar that show, a bit later i passed his guitar player dave weiner a demo cd of what i was doing with electric noodle. i said dave please give this a listen, if you think it is worthy of mr. vais ears pass it on to him please. well a bit down the road i recieved an email from steve himself. saying that he liked my sense of expierimentation and to keep up the mischief. that was amazing! like a message from GOD saying good work and to keep it up...just more inspiration to fuel the fire...i just want to say again THANK YOU STEVE! you have been great inspiration over the past 19 years. i gained alot of insight from the class, especially on health and drugs and all that stuff. i am ready to give it all up for the things i love even more than dope. now i am no hardcore drug user just a pot-head and the occational acid trip or mushroom adventure. i look to clean up my life stlye and give this 110%, if you can do it so can i. its been since sunday since i've toked on the pot and i look forward to this extended moment of clarity to get on track and move forward on these musical adventures i call The Electric Noodle. . .

peace&nOOdles,
~nOOdle

no pics frome this event?

Hello all -

First off, thank you Steve and Mikey and all involved for the Master Classes!
I had the opportunity of attending 2 of the classes, Fullerton and San Diego.
The San Diego class was just awesome to say the least.
I thought the class would sell out and be packed to capacity, but to my shock, it was not.
After the class was over, I noticed Steve looked a little surprised himself that hardly anyone
showed up not only for the class, but for autographs afterwards.
I understand that 300+ bucks is a lot of cash for some people, but at the same time, people don't
realize what a privilege this is. I would have paid more if it was more!
It's worth every penny to sit in front of a Master like him and learn so much.
Things like that don't happen everyday, so It's definitely something to take advantage of.
Especially if you are a musician yourself, whether a beginner or not.
Those classes are something I will remember for the rest of my life, and something I can tell my
grand kids about someday.
Everything he shared really made me examine myself and where I stand as a musician.
When you sit so close to someone like that, you feel really really small and put yourself in check.
You leave the class with questions about YOU and whether or not you are willing to work your ass off
to achieve that kind of a level as a guitar player.
That's what it's all about my friends - confidence, practice, dedication, and determination.
Those are the biggest things I learned from Steve in those classes.
It's amazing how lazy people have become. Guys like Steve worked their asses off to be where they are.
That seems to be a big difference between musicians from the 70's, 80's, and musicians from today.
But still, the same words still echo - Practice Makes Perfect!
Anyway, no matter what level your on as a guitarist, he taught us, be the best at what you do and
do it well!

Thanks Steve for a wonderful time and for giving some of your time to us!
From the bottom of my heart, you are indeed a Master!
The Ibanez JEM is still #1!

-Rafael Nunez

$300 is a lot of money for most people- especially today- you know how many shares of GM you can buy with $300?- A LOT

$300 is a lot of money for almost anyone.

I'm not saying its overpriced- i'm not saying its not totally worth it

its a lot of money

This is a thread for reviews only. Let's keep it that way. If you want to discuss the economics of the master class, there are other threads for it.

Mikey
vai.com

Man that whole story was really cool! Steve is the Man, bet that guy loved playing EVO. I bet if somebody was missing a jacket or something Steve would have stepped up and offered his to make them feel more at home. Good move Steve! much Respect Peace

Hi Steve!!!! and Mikey!!!

Wow!! we have been wanting to write our review since we got back to New York so much, but it has been so crazy lately getting back into work (we also took those days off last minute to fly out, but would never hesitate doing so:)!!

What an incredible experience it was to see Steve Vai again for both of us!!!! These experiences are some of the best we will ever have..We went to both the classes Steve has held in the US - out at Fullerton, and this one at San Diego, and both were so inspiring, and so amazing to have been in such a close and intimate environment. It felt like a great location, out at the Carvin headquarters, and feeling kinda connected to a company he is closely associated with..

And Eddie got to play!!! with Steve Vai !!! - Steve, you really made his dream come true, I was on the edge of my seat watching him up there (wanted to cry actually I was so happy)...but, I was in awe, he was so incredibly nervous and thrilled at the same time..being up there with Steve Vai is an insane shock to anyone , he is as Eddie says - his Guitar Hero after all [we are soooo waiting for the pix to be posted, do you know when they'll be up ?...Eddie of course, and I are dying to have those...]

There's something about the way Steve plays, and connects with people that I find so amazing and drawn to, and that makes us want to keep coming back for more!! Just to hear some more of his personal stories, and listen to his jokes and to have the opportunity to interact with him [I love our pic together!!] by asking questions, have him be so kind back and just being able to talk to him like a normal guy, "Little Stevie Vai" was (is) great!!!!

We try to make the best of every opportunity and go after what we know is well worth every minute of our time, and whatever we have earned - and these Classes are absolutely worth every dollar - whoever is out there reading this that is an old school or new fan should definitely go, it's one of those things that will stay with you forever Eddie & I are soo waiting for the possibility of Steve making it out here to New York!!! We will be there no doubt..

Thanks Steve for sharing all this with us, you really do make a difference to people and make their dreams come true..

ps - Mikey!! - It was great hanging out with you for a little while out there!!! Dude, you reminded me of "home", great chatting with you and thanks for the pic We can't wait to see you again soon as well

ps1 - Steve!!! - you're my favorite

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Cool Pics

Hey guys . . . . let's do this again in CA . . . after the Europe thing . . . I had to move my kids over the San Diego weekend . . !!!!!!!!!!!!

The next time . . . let's talk shop on the business end of a touring band . . . and recording . . .and promotion ??? Please & thank you.

Again I must say . . . Steve . . . write a book with all of this . . . I'd gladly buy the book at the master class.

Great class . . .

JB

It's been 3 months since I attended the San Diego Master class and I wanted to wait a while before posting my thoughts. Why? Well Steve talked about a lot of different things and some of it was more esoteric than "do this, don't do that". But first, let's get the awkward after-the-class photo out of the way:

http://christoph.hermiteer.com/christoph/About_files/me_and_steve.jpg

Sorry about that Steve, I think we both felt pretty weird right at that moment. Anyhoo, the real take-away from the class was the validation on what I've been doing for the last few years. He emphasized taking care of your health by explaining his past and the changes he chose to make. He stressed practice, playing it perfectly and repeating. As mentioned in an earlier review, he also talked about singing what you play and working with your voice and guitar in tandem.

He had a surprise visitor: Frank Zane the bodybuilding legend (you can see a couple brief glimpses of him in the movie Pumping Iron). Steve told a story of being in the gym with Mr. Zane, seeing the poster of a bodybuilder on the wall, and asking if he thought someone 50 years old could look like that. Frank replied with "well Steve why don't you find out?" Steve started to say something like "be reasonable in your expectations", but then quickly changed it to "no, you know what, if you are dreaming it, make it happen".

Watching him play I realized that there is an opportunity for showmanship that I hadn't attempted. Hammer on-off runs ending with a gesture of the pick hand emphasizing the last note, kind of like "nailing it".

I didn't get the chance to play on stage, but I rather enjoyed watching others get the chance. Especially Christopher who's guitar was misplaced by the airline. My hands started to sweat just watching, hopefully those on stage weren't too nervous.

That day was the final boost I needed to finish my latest project (you can see it through my profile URL). And it inspired me to start writing something new, based on falling in love with the guitar a long time ago.

Steve, thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. Thanks for sharing your music over the years, it has influenced and inspired me and many people in many ways.

I recommend the class for anyone needs the confirmation and re-assurance and guidance that what you're dreaming while you play is possible.

Cheers,

Christoph

PS. On a side note, I didn't do a good job talking to people in the class, I see that someone else was from SF too.