Guitar teacher claims music games helping his business

by Ben Gilbert { May 11th 2009 at 11:59PM }

Anecdotally speaking, the guitar teaching business has never been better for Bo Moore, a West Pennsylvania guitar teacher. Speaking with The Tribune-Democrat, he says, "We're so busy right now, and I think these games have been a big factor behind it," referring to the likes of Guitar Hero and Rock Band inspiring young musicians to pick up the real thing after playing the plastic equivalent. Quick, somebody tell Prince to chill out!

Moore says he's seen a 35 percent uptick in guitar lessons over the past two years, an increase he attributes to the mainstream ubiquity of Activision and EA's rhythm-based music games. In fact, around 80 percent of the over 100 students currently enrolled with him have taken to the guitar. Unfortunately for those teaching other instruments, business hasn't been so hot. Moore claims, from conversations he's had with other teachers, that business is down if you're not teaching the guitar. "We need more kids learning to play woodwind instruments ... we need more piano players," he says. The piece's author opines that titles like "Xylophone Xanadu" might help to push kids into other instruments, though we all know Sitar Hero is going to be the one to do it.

[Via GamePolitics]

Tags: activision, bo-moore, business, ea, economy, guitar-hero, harmonix, mtv-games, neversoft, prince, rock-band, tribune-democrat

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

CH3BURASHKA @ May 12th 2009 12:03AM

Speaking of Prince, let's get Chappelle back.

Osman @ May 12th 2009 12:20AM

this bores me, is anyone up for a game of basketball

PR0F3TA @ May 12th 2009 12:27AM

Shoot the Jay

Shoot it

Rico @ May 12th 2009 7:24AM

You guys care for some grapes?

Bitches.

uncle jesse @ May 12th 2009 10:07AM

NO! Please, not again. We already quoted the hell out of the Charlie Murphy story in the article about Prince not long ago. Please... no more.

Anyways, this is good news! Music games are not only sparking interest in kids to learn how to play the real thing, but it's also giving them a lesson in classic rock and/or roll, too. I never realized how little most kids know about older music. I thought everyone had heard of The Who, The Clash, Queen, etc. Parents, what are your kids listening to? Alaska Nebraska?

Markez @ May 12th 2009 12:21AM

Sweet, can those people who get all indignant and patronizing with the "why don't you people just learn to play a real instrument" nonsense shut the hell up now.

Phil @ May 12th 2009 8:23AM

Agreed.

I've never played Rock Band or Guitar Hero and went

"Holy crap Mr. Man this makes me feel like I'm rocking out so hardcore to the max Sir Jax. Geeze Louise I feel like I'm just this hippest hipster there is playing my guitar here. Woo hoo Mr. Boo this is some crazy stuff up in this hizzy. I sure can play that guitar!"

Nope with me I've always been "this VIDEO GAME is fun, though not like playing a guitar, that's probably because it's a VIDEO GAME though, sure is fun though!"

They aren't the same

You never hear people going "Wow those kids that play DDR should learn how to dance for real" You know why? Because it's a VIDEO GAME. I wonder why whenever I type the words VIDEO GAME caps lock turns on? Hmm. VIDEO GAME.

Blkant @ May 12th 2009 12:23AM

Slow news day?

arrness @ May 12th 2009 12:37AM

I definitely think the love for other instruments decreasing is sad

Spike @ May 12th 2009 6:14AM

well i've taken up singing and drums because of rock band

Ravnos @ May 12th 2009 11:58AM

I doubt it's decreasing, it just hasn't increased along with interest in guitar or drums. It has been a long, long, long time since the clarinet was considered cool, if ever.

Anticrawl @ May 12th 2009 12:38AM

Great news, all the highschool dropout former stoners can now afford a decent life since "can kinda play guitar" won't get you much of a job on a resume.

Hak @ May 12th 2009 12:48AM

according to his theory, kids who have played Godfather 2 should be signing up for the mafia now....

j.howlett @ May 12th 2009 2:39AM

well i just finished a longer than planned session of wolverine so . . .

Phil Fauble @ May 12th 2009 8:36AM

I already did!

Geeze I've commented a lot today.

Anyways... that's what people are trying to say... Gun games make you kill.. music games make you music... sports games make you... er I don't like this logic doesn't seem to go in all directions

Oh and just because kids kill people in games doesn't mean they kill in real life.. that's a different discussion though (ratings are for a reason)

No Kills @ May 12th 2009 12:57AM

I'm not gonna lie hannah montanna made me wanna wear a wig.
bc we can play "dress up" in the game.

Phil Fauble @ May 12th 2009 8:34AM

Eh... you too huh?

Will @ May 12th 2009 1:07AM

As a guitar teacher I think it's great that people play those guitar games. I have one of my songs 'Metal Mayhem' being played at Jam Legend - the online video game, it has 71,803 views and hopefully some of those people will want to learn how to play my songs and the guitar in general. YOu can check it out at http://www.jamlegend.com/song/308

chimaera9 @ May 12th 2009 1:05AM

It is likely that Guitar Hero is behind the growing interest in guitar. I'm a guitar teacher at a music school, and guitar has been the fastest growing department there, over all the other instruments. I also compose guitar music, so the more interest there is in guitar, the better--it's an awesome instrument. Of course, I'm a little biased...

datniceguy @ May 12th 2009 1:26AM

I play the guitar and picked up the very first Guitar Hero a couple of weeks after it came out. Didn't know how much it would affect the scope of music in general. I, myself, have seen so many people pick up the guitar in my life since playing Guitar Hero together.

And personally, being uber competitive and curious, I myself have picked up the drums since Rock Band came out. I remember buying my practice pad and lying about buying it for a friend. lawl. Then sitting in my room and drumming on it with my Rock Band drums.