Is Rockband healthy for music education or a hindrance?

Image by Mira (on the wall) via Flickr

Rockband has been a long time popular video game for the past three years. Get a group of friends, kids, relatives together and you can jam out for hours! It doesn’t matter how old or young, musically talented or gifted you are, but figuring out those instruments is the key to success in learning this fun filled game.

Not only do you get to enjoy the most popular music of today but also the classic hits that have rocked generations of people.  I have spent numerous hours playing this popular craze with friends and family, but now I’m going to play the devil’s advocate with one of my favorite all time games.

That’s the problem, it’s a game. Where is the technique, skill, or theory that is so crucial in learning the basics of music?  We have seen interactive/virtual video games that immerse the game player into the world of the game. You can be an army soldier, a community member such as a “Sim,” or even Luke Skywalker battling the Jedi for victory. But are these character roles in the virtual world realistic for today’s society?

One worry I have is the popularity of this new evolved way of learning music might take over the classic, traditional way of learning music. How easy would it be for a music teacher to correct technical mistakes or struggle with teaching how to read music properly if the student cannot reform their thoughts of relearning how to play an instrument?

I have a ten year old nephew that just doesn’t play the game, but is “technically,” an expert at it. He makes the game look easy, just as Mozart made trilling look like a piece of cake. I have discussed with him how he has mastered this game and if he would ever be interested in music lessons. I have not got a real answer out of him yet but I would love to teach this kid! But how challenging would it be not just for me, but for him? Would he continue to love learning music the way he is or would it become a burden as it is for many children dipping their feet in music lessons for the first time?

This is a hard subject to write about, don’t get me wrong, but how much of this kind of media do we take seriously? How has this affected the music community as a whole if it even has? These are topics that need to be taken into consideration for teacher, parents, and students.