Guitar teacher claims music games helping his business
by Ben Gilbert 
{ May 11th 2009 at 11:59PM }
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]
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.
kentuckyfried @ May 12th 2009 1:49AM
It's time to bring on Piano Hero...
NemesisCW @ May 12th 2009 4:10AM
Might I interest you in Keyboard Mania?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_mania
NemesisCW @ May 12th 2009 4:14AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWZqGJOk39A
Rodrigo @ May 12th 2009 9:39PM
TAke a look at the korean game O2JAM, this game rocks
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ May 12th 2009 2:11AM
EWwwww.. those batty boys are gonna do "swords".
j.howlett @ May 12th 2009 2:43AM
years ago one of my roommates started teaching me about cord progression and finger placement but i wasn't all that into it. i don't always have the ear for music when playing instruments.
Dale Thornton @ May 12th 2009 4:16AM
i love how some music magazine said games are for losers, while sex drugs and rock and roll are cool.
i now cant wait for the first successful band whose lead guitarist played guitar hero before he picked up a real guitar
Phil @ May 12th 2009 8:31AM
What's funny, is there are probably a lot more people then.. we'd think... that started playing guitar because of games like Guitar Hero.
VIDEO GAME ;D
Boff @ May 12th 2009 5:19AM
Not enough woodwind eh?
May I suggest Oboe Hero, Basoon Band or maybe even Piccolo: World Tour.
You won't be laughing when Activision announce them at E3
Freddy @ May 12th 2009 6:33AM
Two friends sof mine started playing guitar because of Guitar Hero. Thats about 1½ years ago and they still suck at playing real guitar. When you can play GH, I think it's harder to learn how to play real guitar...
JoeTheBlow @ May 12th 2009 6:49AM
My hand just involuntarily cramped up at the sight of those horrible v.1 guitars.
I had to put up with those for 3 years till i finally broke down and upgraded.
Arthritis fo' life!
Phil @ May 12th 2009 8:31AM
I still have one of those...
Phil Fauble @ May 12th 2009 8:32AM
Oh and yeah I definitely understand the hand crampage!
Phil Fauble @ May 12th 2009 8:12AM
That's a pretty neat fact really, never really thought people would do that.
Dale Thornton @ May 12th 2009 8:46AM
actually i did. got guitar hero & then rock band, enjoyed playing my favourite songs so much i got a real guitar and have been learning since January.
but i have no illusions of ever being in a band
unclejames9 @ May 12th 2009 10:16AM
This is amazing creativity, this will prompt the business and people will Download Free Music as well.
joeymoto- OMFGWTFBBQ?!?!?!?! @ May 12th 2009 12:18PM
Guitar Hero and Rock Band definitely can broaden people's tastes in music.
I, for one, wouldn't have found Between the Buried And Me if it weren't for Rock Band, and they're now one of my favourite bands ever.
Conor @ May 12th 2009 2:48PM
Everyone I know who got really into either Rock Band or Guitar Hero took up real guitar for a bit.
All the people I know who are good at the game though already played an instrument and were good at them.
ranky.seo @ May 13th 2009 2:06PM
free gamesPlay more than 1,300 free games, including typing games, strategy games, tower defense games, Fishdom, Tetris and much more. We add new games all the time.