Wii Music 101
The cynical among us might find Nintendo's motives a little suspect with their announcement that they're bringing last year's Wii Music into school classrooms. Dodgy attempt to boost the game's flagging sales with a promotional push? Albeit with an educational spin? Eh, what does it matter? If a game can inspire kids to learn about music and pursue their creative side, I say go ahead. I mean, nobody faults Rock Band and Guitar Hero when they inspire people to pick up real instruments. (Well, unless they're no good with the real instruments, in which case people probably complain a little...)
Nintendo is collaborating with MENC: The National Association for Music Education, which will help teachers in 51 cities across America integrate Wii Music into their curricula. The game is already in some schools, and go figure, it seems to be doing the trick.
"Wii Music has brought a renewed excitement to music class for students from first grade to fifth, myself and even some of the classroom teachers," said Helen A. Krofchick, a music teacher at Doby's Mill Elementary School in Lugoff, S.C. "I love how many music standards can be covered in such a short time. Students also have to use language skills, spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination. We have a school very supportive of the arts and Wii Music has empowered our program even more. Any system that is educational and can add a love of music to children's lives should be in every classroom."
Of course, it's not as though you're learning how to play an actual musical instrument. Anyone who's tried Wii Music knows that you just waggle the Wiimote and Nunchuck while pushing buttons to create the tune you've pre-selected. On the other hand, rhythm is very important in the game, and even I had to admit that it's kind of fun to play the 60-plus instruments, some of which you'd never be able to play for real in any school.
"The joy of playing music is something that should be experienced by everyone, regardless of age, talent-level or experience," said Joe Lamond, President & CEO of NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants. "Research shows that more than 82 percent of people who don't currently play a musical instrument wish they did. Wii Music can help address this by providing a positive introduction for millions of people who might not otherwise be inclined to try."
And anyone who read my review might remember that one of the things I found interesting about Wii Music is that it was actually kind of educational. From the facts provided about the instruments to the lessons on rhythm and tempo, I actually felt like I was learning some of the time. (The rest of the time I was jamming out to the Super Mario Bros. Theme on the steel drums!) Who knows? It's a crazy idea that just might work. I know I would've loved playing videogames when I was in school... if they had videogames back in the stone age...
