3. The Joy of Playing Music

If somebody asked you ‘What is Wii Music?’ today, how would you answer them?

Hmm... It’s something we made with the idea of turning the joy of music into a game. It isn’t a musical instrument, but it isn’t a video game, either. It’s something like no other.

I see.

That’s why I want everyone to try it out. It conveys the true joy of music.

It sounds like you’re pleased that it turned out this way.

I am. When I saw the final product, I thought it was most unusual. One attractive aspect is that while it’s not a musical instrument, it provides the same joy as playing a musical instrument. Someone who can’t play an instrument can experience playing in an ensemble.

I can’t think of much else that can do that.

Yeah, if it’s just simple instruments, there are older instruments that are easy to play, like the Taisho harp or autoharp.

Or something unconventional, like the Jaminator.

Yeah. Those are about the only easy instruments there are. A lot of people haven’t mastered an instrument and have never experienced playing in an ensemble.

Yeah. (laughs)

Considering that, I think we’ve made an extremely enjoyable tool to introduce people to music. That’s why, to exaggerate somewhat, you could say that Wii Music is a new instrument that sweeps aside the whole idea of musical instruments heretofore. Within 15 minutes, you’ll be playing all kinds of instruments.

In other words, it allows players to experience a wide variety of emotions infinitely close to the joy known to people all over the world who play musical instruments, but at the expense of much less effort.

I think so. This may not be an apt comparison, but karaoke allows people without musical skill to experience something approaching the pure joy at the heart of music. That’s why it has become so popular all over the world.Wii Music may have something in common with karaoke. Like the thrill of stepping outside yourself or the ease of getting into it from the style. It may feel a little embarrassing at first, but pretty soon you’ll be having a ball.

I agree. You may not have much musical skill or creativity, but as long as you have the motivation to try playing an instrument, you will enjoy this game to the fullest.

That’s right. That motivation and the thrill of throwing yourself into something are also helpful when playing a real musical instrument. Whatever instrument you decide to play, you have to begin with the fundamentals, and that causes a lot of people to stumble.

I want those people who have stumbled to give Wii Music a try. Just like with Wii Sports and Wii Fit, the best way to understand it is to actually try it out.

When we talk about how easy it is, some will say that it may lack depth for people who can play an instrument. (laughs)

If it becomes music no matter how someone plays, they wonder where the challenge is.

There’s no need to worry about that when playing alone. For one thing, even though anyone can learn to play right away and no matter how the player plays it will still sound like music, that doesn’t mean every performance is exactly the same.

It might be hard for someone who hasn’t experienced it to understand what it means to ‘twist’ the song.

Yes, I imagine so. In Wii Music, the melodies and rhythms of the songs aren’t fixed. There’s a basic and simple rhythm and a melody composed of simple chord progressions. Within that broad framework, you can do whatever you want. If you play a six-part ensemble to your liking, it’s like you’re arranging the song yourself. You might see someone else elaborating on the same song and wonder how they did it.

It’s like how surprising it can be when on the Mii Contest Channel you see a Mii that’s been made in a way you never imagined.

Exactly! Anyone can easily make a Mii, but you can also achieve some pretty fancy results. Wii Music is like that, but for music. There are 50 songs and 60 instruments to choose from. You can play six parts yourself, record your performances, play them back and save them. So when it comes to long-time enjoyment for solo players, I don’t think there’s any need to worry.

I agree.