Wii Music: Play me, it's part of the curriculum

by Randy Nelson { Jan 13th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Nintendo has suggested that Wii Music could somehow be used to teach kids to play real music. So, after not getting off to such a great start at retail -- and struggling there ever since -- the "game" is being handed over to music teachers with the hope that they'll encourage their students to somehow learn with it.

In a press release issued this morning, Nintendo says that Wiis and copies of Wii Music are being deployed to schools nationwide. Some teachers are already jumping on the bandwagon, such as Helen A. Krofchick, a music instructor in Lugoff, SC, who is quoted in the release. "I love how many music standards can be covered in such a short time," she said. "Students also have to use language skills, spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination." Note the use of the word "music." It keeps the quote from pertaining to Wii Sports ... or video games in general.

Kids Fun Fact: If you pick up a real trumpet and act like you're playing it, music will come out.

Tags: nintendo, wii, wii-music

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 13th 2009 5:34PM

No one is that happy unless they've snorted crushed and crystalized yoshi eggs.

Kye says: I like turtles @ Jan 13th 2009 5:43PM

Now that I really look at that photo it makes me think that the Wii can unite people of different races and ages.

But knowing Nintendo those people probably don't know who each other are, will never see each other again and can't even speak to one another.
*coughthevastmajorityofwiionlinegamescough*

Kye says: I like turtles @ Jan 13th 2009 5:36PM

One thinks Nintendo really are getting ahead of themselves now.

Real instruments can also be used to teach kids to play "real music".

Kye says: I like turtles @ Jan 13th 2009 5:40PM

Ahhh who can blame them, blind-sided by the blizzard of all that cash. Bless their short-sighted hearts, they mean well.

Marmot @ Jan 13th 2009 7:04PM

Did you just back yourself up?

(01) @ Jan 13th 2009 10:32PM

Yeah, this seems like a terrible idea. The last people I want taking care of me when I'm old is a generation that grew up thinking waving your arms was making music and jogging in place was real exercise...

Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Jan 13th 2009 5:40PM

A four year old, a pot and a spoon produce similar results.

Proven with science.

Also, that teacher should be replaced with the Wii console.

Doug @ Jan 13th 2009 5:58PM

Lolz. Then Nintendo would slowly start taking over our school syst- Oh, wait. That's already happened.
Buy a Wii... or THREE!

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Jan 13th 2009 8:00PM

As a 4 year old that is rather proficient with a pot and spoon, I feel it's my duty to point out that the wiimote & nunchuk combo do not do 1:1 justice through WiiMusic. It's bland mimicry at its best and not comparable, this game is just a toy.

*goes back to playing pot & spoon

Shmil @ Jan 13th 2009 5:41PM

Wow, I didn't think they could find a more worthless musical experience than playing the recorder, but they did.

Courtney @ Jan 13th 2009 5:53PM

Hey now! Some of us like the recorder.

Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 6:01PM

From my perspective i'd find it at least a better way to kill the time. You can't fail Wii Music, but you can sure as hell fail at playing the recorder, and Wii Music could add more spice to the whole elementary music scene.

I managed to get out of that whole recorder-thing, though. In 3rd grade i was at a school that did recorders in 4th grade, by 4th grade i had moved to a school that did recorders in 3rd grade

Shadsy @ Jan 13th 2009 6:05PM

Our school never actually had recorders. Instead we got these giant plastic tubes that we had to slam on the ground to make notes. And we never ended up getting to use those either.

el serpiente @ Jan 13th 2009 6:15PM

"From my perspective i'd find it at least a better way to kill the time."

So that's what music education in school is? To kill time?

Not a knock on nintendo (really) but this is kind of depressing. Yeah, learning an instrument is challenging. But there are rewards to the challenge– you can actually make your own music, play in a band, orchestra, etc., and learn to appreciate music in a way that you cannot if you don't play an instrument or learn anything about music theory. Do we really want to remove all the "difficulties" from the lives of our kids especially those that make their lives more interesting?

Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 6:29PM

I'm not knocking music education, it's a great opportunity to have, just like the others of the arts. However, can anyone claim to have benefited from those recorders? I certainly don't remember it as anything but glorified busy work, and i bet that many who later on embraced things like band or music theory would agree

At that stage of music education (which is compulsory), it is just killing time

Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 6:34PM

wow, el serpiente DIDN'T troll? Somebody bookmark this thread, we just witnessed history :D

as for music classes in school, they have easily been the worst classes I've had. Throughout Elementary School and Middle school it was basically "Heres 2 sticks, bang them together to loosely resemble a beat". The worse part though was being in the band (The same band that GOT A I IN CLASS A at districts last year) and STILL having to take music the next year in a cold as fuck Choir room with old metal chairs.

As for Wii Music, think about how much 1 instrument costs, now think about how much Wii Music+ Wii+ 3 remotes/nunchucks. While its not the same as playing the instruments, it might get children interested who otherwise wouldn't have been.

el serpiente @ Jan 13th 2009 7:05PM

Moptimus, you've been doing a ton of trolling these days. I would not be talking like that if I were you.

Now, please go practice your flesh flute.

Saria the Cat @ Jan 13th 2009 7:06PM

This infuriates me even more than people replacing real language courses with Spanish Coach DS. Seriously, now? I'd be one pissed parent if I found out my child wasn't actually enriching themselves by learning how to play a musical instrument and is instead waggling a faux one for hours. Yeah, music classes and equipment are expensive, but that's no excuse to replace a real experience with waggle time.

Ivory Tower of HighHorseness @ Jan 13th 2009 9:19PM

Saria and El Serpiente, I'm gonna go ahead and copypasta my other response since it fits so well here.

Yo, I know many of you haven't actually played the game and therefore don't know what the heck you're talking about ("Must be a mindless waggle fest, fuck that!"), but to those of us who've actually tried this, this makes sense.

This isn't something I'd sit down for a while to play, but it embraces basic musical concepts - arpeggio, chords, timing, etc. - and would be useful in a classroom situation.

You may not be learning how to play a real instrument, but elements of music theory are not only there, but stressed. Of course, why would I expect you to know that, Serpiente? Trollan is your thing; experience or even basic knowledge of the game you're trollan not required, rite?

el serpiente @ Jan 13th 2009 11:30PM

I've played Wii Music fatass. Not for long, but long enough to understand it is more complex than "waggle to make funny noise". Do you actually learn how to read music? No. Do you learn what chords are? No. Would you be able to perform for people with what you've learned? No. Are you learning a real skill? No. I'm not saying it's devoid of value, but it is a sad day when this is considered an equivalent of a musical education.

But keep calling me a troll. It seems to be all you have left.

Saria the Cat @ Jan 14th 2009 12:22PM

@Ivory: I'm not dissing the game, I am dissing the idea to replace actual learning with video gameplay. Few mainstream games out there can be truly educational in ANY classroom setting, and I would definitely not consider Wii Music one of those games.

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jan 13th 2009 5:42PM

Then again, this does increase the chances of me doing gaming on PE...

Danny F. @ Jan 13th 2009 5:47PM

Well they had to do something with all those un-bought copies sitting in their warehouses... I wonder why that is.. o_O

Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 6:04PM

Also False. The game went platinum a while ago

Danny F. @ Jan 13th 2009 6:12PM

Thats just sad then.... I feel sorry for the ppl who paid for this piece of poop.

Danny F. @ Jan 13th 2009 6:16PM

Oh and I have yet heard any such announcement of it going platinum.. it just came out. and if anything I hear sales are sluggish for the title.

Little Big PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Jan 13th 2009 8:22PM

Making stuff up Mr.Khan?

Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 5:49PM

Why not?

I've always thought games could actually be useful to schools. And not just "Casual" games either, the Civilization series always seemed perfect for teaching world history. Spore could've been used in science classes if it didn't present the stupidest fucking idea of evolution ever.

KeenCommander @ Jan 13th 2009 5:53PM

Yeah, but then if they do that - the military might start...oh wait.

dabamf @ Jan 13th 2009 5:49PM

Nintendo, disappointed with the lack of play its system is getting, has resorted to "play-by-force" tactics wherein children must play Nintendo in order to make it through school. That's either the definition of pure evil or marketing genius...or both.

knighty (GT: ZeraKnight) @ Jan 13th 2009 5:53PM

Marketing genious and pure evil are generally synonyms.

Mr Khan @ Jan 13th 2009 6:02PM

False.

Statistical evidence points to many hours of playtime

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 13th 2009 6:08PM

...

Malfunctioning pentathol?

dabamf @ Jan 13th 2009 6:11PM

@Esat

Lol! Yeah probably.

xtremeholymuffin @ Jan 14th 2009 12:03AM

nobody plays the Wii

Shadsy @ Jan 13th 2009 5:57PM

At least they'll learn how to play the dog.

Doug @ Jan 13th 2009 6:00PM

How do you play the dog? Ask Michael Vick, he knows.

TwEE @ Jan 13th 2009 6:39PM

Red Rocket?

Mike @ Jan 13th 2009 6:08PM

Learn how to be douche bags

Nofriendo @ Jan 13th 2009 6:22PM

the guy on the far right is like "you want me to do what?"

el serpiente @ Jan 13th 2009 6:59PM

No, he's saying, "Woman, you better give up that pussy tonight, after you make me play this silly shit with your parents for 4 hours."

Durinthal @ Jan 13th 2009 6:33PM

As a musician with a band director in the family, that just makes me want to cry.

Nofriendo @ Jan 13th 2009 6:46PM

whoa, sorry mozart von eddie veddar, and what should they learn from your curriculum.

thats right, I saw you buying the nickleback box set at the local walmart.

Durinthal @ Jan 13th 2009 7:45PM

Who?

Also, I had a bit of a knee-jerk reaction when I initially read that. I suppose that under the right circumstances (i.e. not in place of them actually singing or playing an instrument) it might be useful.

Longhorn4Life @ Jan 13th 2009 6:37PM

Thats it I dont consider the Wii a gaming console, taking it to schools has gone to far. The Wii is much as a console as those Vtech toys, you hear that Joystig I better start seeing some Vtech charts and VtechFanboy.com, since they both cater to the same kind of people

Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 6:42PM

at first I just thought you were trolling, then I read your name and realized you were just par for the course

TwEE @ Jan 13th 2009 6:43PM

Sorry Nintendo, Longhorn4Life has spoken. Time to just pack it in. You had a good run though.

Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, A Wurr? My Burr) @ Jan 13th 2009 6:44PM

to make an actual point, I had a school that used a PS2 for DDR, does that mean the PS2 is any less of a system? Or are you resorting to double standards?

Nofriendo @ Jan 13th 2009 7:05PM

look guys, foghorn4life has a point. Nintendo cant be a real gaming system. I mean, show me one game on nintendo where there hero is a certified meathead. And I haven't once seen mario go out V.I.P. style. Not once? How is he gonna cruise for bitches? wheres the flavor savor?

come on nintendo, dont you know the people's preferred persona, it looks like samus hasn't busted her quads for month! and why is she a girl? what the fuck is that all about.