The new Wii Music has had music teachers wondering if this could be an educational tool in the music classroom. The game play has over 60 instruments. The jam mode allows you to improvise. The minigames include drums to simulate playing the drums, Mii Maestro to allow you conduct an orchestra, Handbell Harmony to let you match notes with handbells, and Pitch Perfect. To see a more detailed description, please click here.
This has been a hot topic among music educators. You can recently read two separate posts on the MENC general music boards:
If you go to Jim Frankel’s blog, you see an excellent video of his girls playing with Wii Music.
From reading the comments on Jim’s blog and the MENC website, the consensus from many teachers is that it is a great tool for those days right before a school break. In addition, you will read how some educators have used Guitar Hero as a music fund raiser, which has got me thinking about how that could benefit many schools.
For me what it comes down to is this: Is it necessary to access Wii Music in your elementary classroom? No, it is not necessary. Could it be a useful tool to enhance your music classroom? Yes. Just for the reason that your students are most likely playing this in their own homes or playing it at their friends’ homes. Bringing it to your classroom to enhance a music class right before break is a great way for you to relate to your students and for your students to show off their “musical talents” and be the music teacher. You would be surprised how they will teach you a few things about these programs.
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