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Steve Van Zandt Inspires the Next Generation at LIPA Sixth Form College
We were incredibly honoured to have welcomed back Steve Van Zandt to LIPA Sixth Form College for an unforgettable afternoon of music, mentorship, and inspiration.
For those who may not know, Steve Van Zandt is a true legend in the world of music and entertainment. He’s best known as the guitarist in Bruce Springsteen’s iconic E Street Band, a driving force behind the rock and soul revival movement, and a passionate advocate for music education. Alongside his music career, Steve gained fame as Silvio Dante in HBO’s The Sopranos and is the founder of Teach Rock, an initiative that uses music history to inspire and engage students in schools around the world.
With his dear friend Bruce Springsteen performing in town, Steve took the time to revisit LIPA Sixth Form College and his presence left a lasting impression.
A Day of Music, Mentorship & Meaning
Steve spent the afternoon giving talks, leading workshops, and participating in a Q&A, where he generously shared insights from his decades-long career.
One of the most unforgettable moments of the day came when he visited our music students in the practice rooms, offering invaluable, hands-on feedback as they rehearsed covers of his songs, to be performed for Steve himself! His encouragement and practical advice gave our students a glimpse into the world of professional musicianship, while reinforcing the values of dedication, creativity, and craft.
We caught up with Steve to reflect on his visit and his creative journey:
What would you say to anyone in two minds about a career in the creative and performing arts?
What I tell people is anybody in the performing arts must realise it's a reward unto itself - any craft is. We only control a few things in our lives, and our craft is one of them. Once you’ve learned your craft, keep your standards high and compare yourself to the best of all time.
You're going to have to fight the modern world which is suggesting everything is instant, everything is right now; but greatness takes time. Greatness takes development. Nobody's born great so you have to put the time in and you have to be mentally prepared to put the time in, and I don't mean using AI in ChatGPT. You’ve got to do the work yourself. That stuff comes in handy for research if you're writing a script, or writing a book, or you learn something in terms of history, but you’ve got to put the work in yourself.
You’re not going to control the delivery system, we're not going to control the marketing, you're not going to control what's fashionable, and you’ve got to get all of that stuff out of your mind and just concentrate on something that you love and get good at it. It's its own reward.
How does LIPA Sixth Form College compare to music being taught in America?
My curriculum through TeachRock.org is a music history curriculum, so it's a different thing to what you’re doing here. The reason why we had to start that TeachRock.org, was because all of the music classes got cancelled in America which is just terrible. There’s virtually no music or arts education in the public education system anymore, so it's great that you have that here.
First of all, this place happens to be particularly good. Every time I’m here I just love it. This is the second time I’ve visited the college and I’ve visited LIPA three times, it’s just great every time. You can just feel the vibes here. It's all very positive and look at how great the kids did today. They were wonderful, honestly.
Most of the time you're not going to get the encouragement, you're going to find that within yourself. If you’re looking around for a pat on the back – it ain’t coming. That's why I try telling people, ‘Don't wait for the encouragement, it may not come’. This is an unusual case. So dig deep down and decide what you love and then pursue it. And you see that in this particular university and in the sixth form here, it's wonderful to see the enthusiasm of the teachers too.
On The Beatles’ Influence
They were a profound revelation for my generation. We didn't have a lot of bands that played and sang, let alone wrote. It was mostly instrumental groups before the British Invasion of 1964 led by The Beatles.
They were close enough to our own age where their youthful energy, clever, cynical wit, completely original physical appearance, and amazing sounding records gave us our own unique cultural identity apart from our parents.
Their songwriting would set new standards, growing with each succeeding album, introducing the concept of artistic evolution to the Pop Music idiom. And I could go on and on…
Mantras & Quotes That Guide Him
During the Q&A, Steve also shared some of the quotes and personal philosophies that guide him as an artist and a person:
“No artist tolerates reality.” - Nietzsche
“If you're gonna do something, do it right.” - My Father
“Work, play, speak, write, perform, live with purpose.” - Me
“All else passes; Art alone endures.” - The Athenaeum
“You're only as cool as who you steal from.” - Me
“The two most important moments in your life are the day you’re born, and the day you find out why.” - Mark Twain
“Master one craft, and the whole world opens up for you.” - Me
“The highest goal of music is to connect one’s soul to their Divine Nature, not entertainment.” - Pythagoras
Quickfire Round
Describe our Sixth Form College in three words?
“Craft, Craft, Craft!”
What does a career in music mean to you?
“The fulfilment of my first fantasy.”
Any recommended resources for aspiring musicians?
“Read my book!”
Steve Van Zandt’s visit was more than just a special guest appearance - it was a masterclass in passion, purpose, and lifelong artistry. His warmth, wit, and wisdom resonated deeply with students and staff, and his message was clear: music is both a craft…and a calling.
Thank you, Steve, for spending your time with us and for inspiring the next generation of artists. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
All photography by Brian Roberts Photography