Until I played Guitar Hero III, my family didn’t realize that the game would boo poor players off stage. Far from making me feel like a rock legend, the experience made me feel like I was playing against the game. As I’ve noted elsewhere video games can sometimes kill the joy of play by taking too much control away from the players. 

Wii Music is set to change that with a game that not only allows the players to take control, but encourages them to be creative. More a musical toy box than a competitive experience, Wii Music is an innovative experience which is the antithesis of punitive rhythm games or frustrating music lessons.

The core of Wii Music is the jam. Using the Wii remote and the nunchuck controller, players simulate the motions associated with playing various instruments. For a guitar-like instruments, you hold the nunchuck up high and strum with the remote. Playing stringed instruments like the violin involves a similar approach with the nunchuck, but uses the remote as if it were a bow. Want to play a wind instrument (say a flute or trumpet) hold the remote in front of your face, turn it around and press the buttons as if they were valves. Drums and keyboards involve pounding the nunchuck and remote. In total, you can play any of 60 different instruments using the controllers you already own. New players can pick up the mechanics of the jam in just a couple of minutes.

With the basics down, you get to go into the studio and start playing. Select a song and a style (or let the game chose for you) and you’re making music. You’re not actually controlling the notes -- Wii Music -- does that for you. You are in charge of the beat. A handy set of “be bops” in the corner of the screen will set the tempo. If you miss a beat (or add a few extra) the game keeps up, modifying the music to match your actions. With a little work, you can turn a simple tune (one of the first is “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”) into a lush, complex piece of music. Jam with friends and you can take turns cranking out impressive solo performances during your improvisational on-screen concert.

The music is complimented by clever, automatic on-screen videos. Your Mii appears holding the instrument you’re playing and reacts to the moves you’re making. Play faster and your Mii keeps up. The entire performance can be recorded in a video which you can package (on screen) as a keepsake or send to your Wii Music-owning friends using WiiConnect24.

It’s hard to overstate the fun you can have jamming with a group of friends. It’s just like being in a band, but without all of the tedium of practice. The relentless point of Wii Music is that music should be fun and the structure of the game encourages experimentation and exploration.

If you are of a more serious bent, you can use the game as a sort of multi-track recorder. Play every part yourself and create a video of your accomplishment. Share it with a friend who can then edit it and insert themselves in any or all of the parts; collaborate across the country or around the world to make music which is uniquely yours.

When you get tired of jamming, Wii Music offers some delightful mini-games.

Handbell Harmony is a more traditional (but still very forgiving) rhythm game. Equipped with two handbells, you have to play along with a tune. Colored bells on the timeline match the bells in your hand. Hit the notes at the right moment and you’ll earn points and make beautiful music. This particular mini-game was enthusiastically received by my test-panel of eight-to-fourteen-year-olds. The short segments of music mean frequent rest breaks and the engaging simplicity of the game kept them coming back for you.

Parents interested in introducing young players to the fundamentals of music theory might want to have their children try the Perfect Pitch mini game. This contest-style offering challenges players to match simple melodies, put notes in order, and distinguish between major and minor modes. There’s nothing especially innovative about this mini-game, but the use of familiar Miis makes it visually entertaining and the tasks are interesting enough to keep players coming back.

The Mii Maestro mini-game puts you at the podium in front of an electronic orchestra. Using the remote as a baton, you conduct. The orchestra follows your lead (and glares at you in frustration if you don’t move), playing faster or slower as you dictate. Do well and you’ll be rewarded with a high score. The true reward, though, isn’t the score. It’s the sense that you’re actually conducting.

The music in Wii Music is all midi-generated and lacks vocals. This might be off-putting to some players, but it’s the consequence of the game’s flexibility. Similarly, the hard-core Guitar Hero/Rock Band crowd may find the openness of Wii Music baffling. Complaining that Wii Music isn’t competitive enough misses the point. Wii Music isn’t competitive because it isn’t mean to be. Instead, it is a celebration of music and creativity and a tool that will encourage players -- particularly younger players -- to see music as something to be explored and enjoyed rather than conquered.