The past week or so has been an incredibly busy one for me. Penn State's first video game based conference, Barack Obama in Happy Vally, and of course Lawrence Lessig and an exceptional 2008 TLT Symposium all rocked my normally quiet world in the space of 7 days. Any of those events is more than deserving of its own post, and hopefully I'll have a chance to reflect on each one soon.
But tonight, I won't talk about any of them. Instead, I feel compelled to blog about how I bit the bullet, and bought a guitar. Yes, a real (not fisher price) electric guitar.
So what, right? People buy things all the time and rarely is it worth discussing or announcing in a public forum. Indeed, the purchase itself is not the relevant point. What is relevant is why I bought the guitar. And the reason I bought the guitar is because of video games.
It is probably pretty important to explain that I did not decide to go out and buy a guitar because I can rip up Free Bird on expert mode in Guitar Hero. The difference between a real guitar and the plastic mockups that come with todays popular games is astronomical, and I am under no illusions that a skill in one translates to a skill in another (at least not not completely).
But what Guitar Hero and Rock Band did do is to spur an interest in music that I've never really had before. Other than the ability to spontaneously bang on any surface, I'm not particularly musically inclined and it was an interest I had never seen fit to explore. I took guitar lessons as a little kid. I stole my roomate's guitar for a few months in College. And up until a few months ago, I had assumed that those experiences were likely to be the end of my musical career. Then came the games, and with them an understanding of the peace and relaxation that can come from sitting down and just playing music - even if it was dumbed down to 5 "frets" and 1 "string". And a nagging feeling that "hey, maybe this is something worth taking the time to try". Now there is a Fender sitting in my living room that I have no business playing, but am thrilled [to try and] play it anyway.
I don't expect that most of you who read this blog will ever be as obsessive about games as I am. But if you've ever wondered why I harp on them so much, here is part of your answer.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have continue trying to figure out why I chose to start my shreducation with Metallica's "One" =)
But tonight, I won't talk about any of them. Instead, I feel compelled to blog about how I bit the bullet, and bought a guitar. Yes, a real (not fisher price) electric guitar.
So what, right? People buy things all the time and rarely is it worth discussing or announcing in a public forum. Indeed, the purchase itself is not the relevant point. What is relevant is why I bought the guitar. And the reason I bought the guitar is because of video games.
It is probably pretty important to explain that I did not decide to go out and buy a guitar because I can rip up Free Bird on expert mode in Guitar Hero. The difference between a real guitar and the plastic mockups that come with todays popular games is astronomical, and I am under no illusions that a skill in one translates to a skill in another (at least not not completely).
But what Guitar Hero and Rock Band did do is to spur an interest in music that I've never really had before. Other than the ability to spontaneously bang on any surface, I'm not particularly musically inclined and it was an interest I had never seen fit to explore. I took guitar lessons as a little kid. I stole my roomate's guitar for a few months in College. And up until a few months ago, I had assumed that those experiences were likely to be the end of my musical career. Then came the games, and with them an understanding of the peace and relaxation that can come from sitting down and just playing music - even if it was dumbed down to 5 "frets" and 1 "string". And a nagging feeling that "hey, maybe this is something worth taking the time to try". Now there is a Fender sitting in my living room that I have no business playing, but am thrilled [to try and] play it anyway.
I don't expect that most of you who read this blog will ever be as obsessive about games as I am. But if you've ever wondered why I harp on them so much, here is part of your answer.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have continue trying to figure out why I chose to start my shreducation with Metallica's "One" =)
I couldn't have said it any better myself
...and you can also serenade your fiance now :) except maybe use a different song than "One".
I played guitar in high school. Was never that good, but could muddle through some of the hits of the day. I found guitar and hero and rock band gave me that same strange hit-the-groove feeling as playing a real instrument.
I wish you much luck as you move down your new six string path.
Awesome story! Just please don't buy a battle axe next and start tramping through the forest with it.
Seriously though, it makes me wonder if K12 teachers can't take advantage of what you're talking about to get younger kids interested in music - at least plant the seed in their minds. Could be a nice way to reinvigorate deteriorating music programs.
I wonder what bulk discounts of Sousaphone Hero would cost. http://www.theonion.com/content/news/activision_reports_sluggish_sales