A Legend in the Living Room
My husband Mark, my son Josh, and I make up a very musical family. We're a pretty capable brass trio, with me on trumpet, Josh on baritone, and Mark on bass trombone. We've played together in brass and polka bands, but we've made a big shift in the last few months. Instead of classical, it's classic rock. Instead of low brass, we're working on heavy metal.
We were surprised at first, but now we play together, fingers flying over the guitar fretboard and pounding out rhythms on a drum set. If we're really feeling adventurous, one of us does a little karaoke with a microphone that can detect pitch, rhythms and syllables as we sing along. We're doing all this with the video games Guitar Hero and Rock Band. With combined North American sales of more than 15 million as of February, these games are changing how beginning musicians approach making music. Though the instrument-shaped controllers produce no notes, the act of following the on-screen action, whether as a soloist or in cooperative play, builds skills that apply to real instruments.
Before Guitar Hero appeared under our Christmas tree in 2007, I had seen younger people playing it at an electronics fair. I wanted to try it out, but didn't want to look silly. That morning as we opened the game, loaded it onto our game system, and began our first "guitar lesson," I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
To our surprise, we had a great time! Mark and I have shared the same musical life for nearly 20 years, but this new, fresh adventure together has given our relationship a booster shot. Our playing controls outlandish characters -- our Guitar Hero aliases are Judy Nails and Lars Umlaut -- and we've had the best time choosing the right rock-star accessories for each. But beyond the visual elements and amped-up soundtrack, the games involve rhythm, coordination, and developing a "feel" for the music; this is where these games become another musical extension of an already musically involved family.
In February we unwrapped Rock Band, which expands on the basic formula of Guitar Hero by adding a drum controller and, for the very brave, a microphone controller. I can see why both games have a natural attraction to musicians. Hitting the buttons on the guitar controller in time with flashing icons requires a sense of internal rhythm and finger flexibility, and musicians have this inherently. Whether it comes from playing trumpet, clarinet, or piano, a musical sensibility helps players keep up on the highest difficulty settings.
The games have even introduced me to new music; though I'd never listened to any of the tunes that are featured in Guitar Hero, I've developed an appreciation for lead guitar solos, and my iPod is filled with new favorite songs. I have had fun sharing "sessions" with friends and family and have even competed in Guitar Hero contests. I think I enjoy the games because there's something about being a rock star that is glamorous -- even a little sexy. This game lets me live the rock star fantasy, one game at a time.
Not long ago, our friend Danny, an oboe player, was over to our house for dinner, and we learned that he had discovered Rock Band, too. We teamed up, with me on guitar, Danny on bass guitar, Josh on drums, and Mark handling the vocals. We tackled a tune we'd never heard before, and halfway through the song it devolved into a mess of clattering and tuneless noise. Our on-screen characters might have been booed by the virtual crowd, but the laughter from our living room drowned it right out.
By Jodi Malone, Making Music Magazine
Jodi Malone lives in Valencia, California. She plays trumpet in various groups, teaches private music lessons, and unwinds with Guitar Hero or Rock band on any given evening.