Guitar Hero in school music class

[ManiacMama]

I have 2 little guys in school this year; 1st and 3rd grades. Yesterday, my 3rd grader told me that they are now using the video game Guitar Hero as a part of music class in school. The other new component is a music game played on the computer. I was shocked and more than a little upset.

Now, let me say I am not opposed to the game itself. We own it and my sons are allowed to play on a very restricted basis. I am, though, opposed to video games in school, especially as part of my children's "education". This disturbs me on many levels. First of all, the game is rated "T" for Teen and yet it is being used in all grade levels K-5. Second, what happened to the idea of music being taught by a music teacher? We homeschooled before this year and one of the reasons I put my boys in school is because I had this apparantly crazy notion it may be more effective for things like art and music to be taught to them by someone passionate and knowledgeable about those subjects. I had no idea that music education is now taught by video games and computer. I'm wondering what changes lay in store in the future, PE taught via the Wii?

So tell me, am I crazy, or would you be bothered by this if it were your child's school? The year is almost over and my boys are not returning in the fall; they'll be going to a new charter school instead. I was planning on sending my dd here just this coming year for K, since she is entering K early and can't go to the charter school yet. Now I'm not sure what to do.

[UUMom]

Before I would be disturbed, I would need to talk with the teacher about it. It may be for only a short unit, and perhaps there is a particular program they are using. I can get get riled up about anything, but I will need more info. Have they been using it all year? Is this new? What does the entire year's curric look like?

[odenata]

And what exactly is it supposed to be teaching? That game has nothing to do with how you actually play a guitar.

Yes, I agree, it is completely out of place. The songs used are not ones I would consider the best for teaching about music to children of that age range, and there are a lot of interesting games and activities using music that are more age appropriate and actually have children interact with each other instead of a video game.

FWIW, I don't have any problem with the game itself (my daughter watches her dad play sometimes), but it's not educational.

[UUMom]

I have never seen the game...have a vague idea what it is (I know some teens brought the whole deal over to my house last year), but I found this from Salon:

http://machinist.salon.com/feature/2...5/guitar_hero/

Maybe they are doing a unit about various instruments...and maybe there is a GH program for teachers to use? Again, I have *no* idea.

[Belleweather]

Yeah, I'd be pretty ticked off. And I'm even one of those mamas who allows lots of video games in the home and doesn't have an issue with it being "rated T". It's just such a waste of instructional time and money! If they need to learn rhythm (which is all Guitar Hero teaches anyway), there are a bunch of better ways to do it that don't involve an X-Box. And what ever happened to learning to, oh I don't know... play MUSIC in music class?

[mammastar2]

That's absolutely bizarre.

I don't think your expectations of music class at that age are out of whack. Dd is in grade one. Her public school music teacher teaches them simple songs, often with actions. They're the usual primary school fare, most of which sounds a lot like what kids have been singing in music class for the last fifty years. Sometimes to be extra engaging, there's a puppet involved. Never a video game. For rhythm, they clap and use simple rhythm instruments.

The most popular music dd has got in school has been her classroom teacher teaching them a Beatles song while playing his guitar, when they were learning about how songs can be like poetry. Oh, and in kindergarten, her teacher would play a song to dance to at the end of the day, and sometimes it would be something like Stevie Wonder.

[almama]

I'd be livid. I think so much of what they do in school is eye candy now anyway though.

One thing in its defense is that I heard some therapies use GH for teaching coordination . . .but as I stated above, the school would be hearing from me.

[gassadi]

We have GH 1 and 3 and the kids play it, but I wouldn't want it as part of their 'class time.' Mostly because I don't think it really teaches much musically other than basic rhythm. I guess, if the teacher knows his/her stuff, it could also lead to conversations about rock history and different movements in rock such as metal and punk, plus historical context. But, I don't think that's happening. It sounds like lazy planning on the teacher's part. Part of why we're back to homeschooling.

The other problem I would have for younger kids is how scantily clad some of the female characters are. Not totally sure any of the cartoonish images (male or female) are what I want my kids to copy. If it's part of schoolwork, it can seem valid.

[graceomalley]

Originally Posted by odenata

And what exactly is it supposed to be teaching?

Don't get me wrong - I'd be very upset if I was in the same situation. But Guitar Hero is an excellent resource when it comes to teaching rhythm and tempo.

[DahliaRW]

I asked dh what he thought and he said they should use rock band instead (he was joking).

Seriously, I'd be irritated if my child was using video games in school, period. And if it's one of the GH with the scantily clad women or a song with innapropriate lyrics, that's just not ok.

I think there are other ways to teach rythym and tempo than video games. How about real actual instruments? They could buy quite a few student guitars for the cost of an xbox and the game.

[ManiacMama]

Funny, most of you say that you'd be upset; when I tell people IRL they just shrug it off.

From what I got from my oldest ds, this is new. It seems like it may be a unit that they will do from now until the end of the year.

I just feel like in this day of budget cuts and tax hikes (we just had another property tax hike to help out the underfunded schools this fall), they could use their funds more wisely. Why pay for a music teacher AND video games AND computer games? Plus, I feel most kids already get too much video game time at home. I felt the same irritation when I found out my oldest was watching movies every day in K in the same school; I didn't send him to school to watch TV. He could do that at home.

I'm going to see what I can find out when I'm in the school volunteering next week. Sigh, just one and a half more months...

[TayNKegsmama]

Eye hand coordination is what I would think that it could be teaching. In fact video games do have a huge impact on eye hand coordination. Do I think their is another way to accomplish that ? Probably. I hate to be the devils advocate here, but have you ever played guitar hero, it does require some serious skill. We jsut bought Rockband (I know, I just wanted the microphone, dont be to jealous that I am on a world in the privacy of my living room- rocking the lead vocals and bringing the house down. Its better than karaokee with no drunks) You have to learn how to count out a beat and actually have some rythym (why does that look wrong? Maybe I should put my mic down and pick a dictionary up)

IMO, its probably not as bad as you would think at first.

[snowbunny81]

The only thing I might be concerned with is if the songs are appropriate. Other than that, I think it sounds like a great way to teach kids hand-eye coordination and rhythm while keeping them interested. I wouldn't be opposed to DDR in a PE class, either.

[Momily]

I don't know Guitar Hero particularly well, but I don't allow my child to play T games so I'm pretty sure that would bother me.

However, I can definitely see a place for computer games in music class. During my son's short lived piano student tenure his teacher lent us a game where the kids played games that taught them musical concepts like matching keys on the keyboard to notes on the staff, as well as half notes, quarter notes etc . . .

As a teacher I can tell you that my most effective teaching is in small groups, so setting up centers where some kids play a curriculum related computer game, while other listen to a piece of recorded music with headphones, and other still others practice playing by themselves and I teach a 1/4 of the class a new skill (making these centers up 'cause I don't teach music) is a great way to structure class.

I'm just not sure why a game that involves scantily clad ladies would be one of those centers.

[CarrieMF]

what happened to the idea of music being taught by a music teacher?

Many districts no longer have funding to pay for music teachers.

Why pay for a music teacher AND video games AND computer games?

Chances are they did not pay for the video games, but the teacher brought their own machine in.

At the end of the year this wouldn't bother me unless the songs were really inappropriate. Alot of teachers bring in more "fun" things for the kids to do now to try & keep their focus when they're rather be outside playing.

I don't see anything wrong with the computer games either. Computers are brought into alot of different classes now.

[elizaveta]

Originally Posted by TayNKegsmama

Eye hand coordination is what I would think that it could be teaching. In fact video games do have a huge impact on eye hand coordination. Do I think their is another way to accomplish that ? Probably. I hate to be the devils advocate here, but have you ever played guitar hero, it does require some serious skill. We jsut bought Rockband (I know, I just wanted the microphone, dont be to jealous that I am on a world in the privacy of my living room- rocking the lead vocals and bringing the house down. Its better than karaokee with no drunks) You have to learn how to count out a beat and actually have some rythym (why does that look wrong? Maybe I should put my mic down and pick a dictionary up)

IMO, its probably not as bad as you would think at first.

I agree.

[gassadi]

Originally Posted by ManiacMama

I felt the same irritation when I found out my oldest was watching movies every day in K in the same school; I didn't send him to school to watch TV. He could do that at home.

We had the same thing here for DS1's kindergarten year. His teacher told me half way through the school year that if I had any other option at all, I should remove him from school immediately so he could keep learning. THAT was an eye-opener.

[Sunflowermommie]

I think i would show up for music class and see how it was being used.

[A&A]

Originally Posted by CarrieMF

Many districts no longer have funding to pay for music teachers.



Chances are they did not pay for the video games, but the teacher brought their own machine in.

At the end of the year this wouldn't bother me unless the songs were really inappropriate. Alot of teachers bring in more "fun" things for the kids to do now to try & keep their focus when they're rather be outside playing.

I don't see anything wrong with the computer games either. Computers are brought into alot of different classes now.

:

[mommy68]

Before I would be disturbed, I would need to talk with the teacher about it. It may be for only a short unit, and perhaps there is a particular program they are using.

I agree. They may be using it for a very brief time. I'd contact the teacher just to find out for sure. You have a right to know what they are being taught.

And what exactly is it supposed to be teaching? That game has nothing to do with how you actually play a guitar.

I agree.

My child is 13 and has played "real" guitar since the age of 5. When he "was" in school outside the home he thought it was funny when guitar hero got popular. He had been playing real guitar for so long and he thinks that game is just that, a game. The kind of kids that play it aren't ever going to be real guitar players most likely, maybe some will, but most do it for fun and to act cool, not learn it. We don't have video games like that in our house but he wouln't want that one since it really doesn't teach anything.