Wii Music and Guitar Hero: Music Lessons or Video Games?

You can learn just about anything in front of a screen these days. Whether it’s in front of a television or a computer, learning new trades has never been easier. While virtual lessons, such as traffic school or even typing, used to be novel advances in education, this day in age it is hard to beat the current trends in instructional gaming. In my very first post, I discussed groundbreaking curriculum (in that case, animation) that was sweeping through classrooms around the country. This made me wonder what other kinds of developments will pop up as we get further and further into a technological future. But what can apply as too outrageous to consider as classroom curriculum? My initial reaction to my original curiosity was the successful phenomena of Guitar Hero and subsequently Rock Band and Wii Music. As if rock-stardom wasn’t glorified enough through music videos, being a musician has never been cooler, or more fun for that matter. We all remember the hilarious episode of South Park where Stan’s father is labeled “uncool” (though, I believed the term they used was “gay”) for playing real guitar instead of Guitar Hero. The days of devoting hours to intense music theory are quickly fading at the click of a few colorful buttons. However, many people, especially those musicians who have devoted long hours to practice, are disheartened by this classification of Guitar Hero, Wii Music or Rock Band as music lessons because it lacks a majority of the technique and skill that comes with playing a real instrument. Strumming the little grey “string” switch while simultaneously striking the colored buttons cannot help you with pitch or note knowledge. The only assistance I believe it gives you is rhythm, but even then sometimes your guitar controller is slightly delayed causing you to get off beat. In a recent blog from Destructoid.com, a classically trained pianist and video game aficionado offers his opinions of the advantages and disadvantages of rhythm games. Similarly, in a recent gaming and technology blog on Gameplayer.com, Clint McCredie applauds Wii Music for its ability to help the understanding of real music.

Comment #1
"Music and Rhythm Games: A Classically-Trained Pianist's Perspective"

Thank you for your recent post about this issue of whether or not you believe these music and rhythm games are actual music lessons. I think you have a lot of well-written, well thought out points on both sides of the perspective. I thought your comparison to shooting video games was especially interesting – that while you are using a fake gun and simulation, it does not at all teach you how to properly hold a handgun – a point that I never considered. (Similarly, though on a completely different level, Dance Dance Revolution does not necessarily teach you how to dance well.) I agree with you in that it is a great way to improve finger strength and sheet music reading, as well as rhythm. However, I do not believe that these video games were created for the classroom, and that is why they do not necessarily teach you real skill. Rather, they are a way for normal, non-musical folk to rock out in a way they have never been able to, even if it’s just for a virtual audience. Nevertheless, as a musician myself and with my understanding of your music experience, I understand the frustration of people attempting to compare these games to real music lessons which require much more talent.

Comment #2
“Wii Music Review”

Hi, Clint – Thanks for your words on Nintendo’s newest Wii game, “Wii Music.” I appreciated your clarification on the differences between Guitar Hero/Rock Band and Wii Music, because I have not played the latter and was curious (and I admit, presumptuous) myself. Your post was very informative about the video game, however there were a few details I have to disagree with. Mainly, the part where you discuss the way the game can help a person understand music. I am not aware of your musical background, so I will be careful with my words, but I do believe that any musician would quickly reject the notion of these games teaching any real musical skill. Yes, it helps with rhythm and a few other basics; however, it doesn’t touch some of the hardest techniques to develop as a student of music, that many struggle to (no pun intended) fine-tune throughout their music careers. While I understand your post was more of a review of the successful product that Wii Music is rather than an opinionated blog, I think an important aspect to remember is the devotion and hard work that is required in really understanding music theory.

The Civil Rights Movement: How We Learn About The Past Through Art

Today, November 4th, 2008, is THE day - by the end of it, America should know whether John McCain or Barack Obama will be our president. On such a historical day like today, my interest is taken much by the lengths it took for our country to come this far, when in the very recent past, our country was split black and white. Classrooms, restaurants, buses, etc. were all segregated. African Americans were being killed for merely trying to vote for president. Even in the 1980's there were parts of the country that did not sell property to interracial married couples. Although today for students my age it seems unbelievable to even grasp the tragedy of this kind discrimination, this is the world our parents and grandparents lived in. It is amazing to think that by the end of the day, if all goes well, our next president will be an African American man. In light of this election, I explored the World Wide Web for blogs dealing with art from or about the Civil Rights Movement. The first one I came across was by a multilingual art historian and museum curator named Homa T. Nasab, who used her blog for advertising an art exhibit at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta that has just closed last month in early October. The second, from an art writer, critic and professor from Washington D.C. named Tyler Green from his blog Modern Art Notes, who focuses on photographs taken during the Civil Rights Movement at elections or rallies in the south.

Comment #1

"The Civil Rights Movement At The High Museum Of Art"

Thank you for advertising what seems like an interesting and significant art exhibit in Atlanta. I only wish it could be open this month for the historical and relevant election we are experiencing today. The exhibit seems interesting because of its two parts - the first, photographs from the actual movement, and the second, the artists in the years after that were inspired by the movement. By including the image from the advertisement, I think it interests the reader more by giving them something to look at. I wish that you had done a little more research about the event after it opened. Perhaps you could have included people's feedback on the exhibit, or even your own if you were able to visit it. Additionally, some photographs or pieces from the exhibit could have enhanced the blog, and also inspired people by giving them a sneak peak of what they might see visiting the museum.

Comment #2
"Election Day, 44 Years On"

Your blog this morning about the election was very insightful and inspiring, thank you for your words. I liked how you opened the blog with the background on the murders of the three men who fought for a black man to vote, and how you connected it to the amazing election that is unfolding today. Also, your personal background allows the reader to see that many people are not as familiar with the subject as they may seem. The pictures you include are extremely powerful, and really provoke meditation on this day. Although I thought your introduction to the slideshow was very poignant, I would have loved to read more about the background of these photos that you have included – perhaps a more detailed caption. Overall, I loved your post and I look forward to reading more by you.