KEY INFORMATION
Create a musical masterpiece with up to four players. Anyone can play the huge selection of instruments in Wii Music with simple motions-like strumming and drumming.
It's easy to play improv jams. Musicians in your band jam by simply
playing their instruments to the beat of a song or by improvising to
their heart's content. Play faster. Play slower. Skip a beat, or throw
in 10 more. No matter what you do, Wii Music automatically transforms your improv stylings into great music. There are no mistakes-just playing for the pure joy of playing.
Wii controls immerse you in the music. You can play most of the 60-plus instruments in Wii Music
using simple motions with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. Strum
to play guitar, banjo and sitar. Drum to play jazz drums, congas and
marching drums. Hammer away to play piano, vibraphone and marimba.
Unlike most music games, Wii Music doesn't make you use complex buttons. You only need to imitate playing the instrument.
Wii Music offers virtually endless ways to make
music. You choose the song and instruments and decide whether to blaze
through a rock take on classical songs, put a jazzy spin on folk tunes
or transform Nintendo classics like the Super Mario Bros.® theme into Latin-flavored numbers. The song list is only a takeoff point-it's how you improvise with the songs that matters.
Send your band-jam recordings to Wii Friends who have Wii Music.
They'll see your Mii™ band members, your players' improv styles and
your instrument selections. They can watch your recordings, or play
over parts of your song, then send their modified recording back to
you. Improv jams can be sent back and forth over WiiConnect24 and
changed again and again.
Instruments: Most of the instruments in Wii Music
are played primarily using simple motion controls. A handful of
instruments, such as the saxophone, are played primarily by pressing
buttons. Some examples:
Jazz Drum Set: Imagine the drum set in front of you, then use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers as drumsticks.
Piano: Imagine the piano in front of you, then use
the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to hammer on the keys, or tickle
the ivories delicately, if you want.
Acoustic Guitar: Hold the Nunchuk controller high like a guitar neck, then strum with the Wii Remote controller.
Saxophone: Hold the Wii Remote to your mouth to
really get into the act of playing, then tilt the Wii Remote upward to
belt out loud music or downward to play quietly. You press buttons to
play sounds.
Violin: Imagine a violin tucked under your chin as
you hold the Nunchuk like its neck, then draw the Wii Remote back and
forth across its violin strings, while pressing buttons to play notes.
Additional Button Control: All instruments offer
additional button control for more musical variety. This differs by
instrument. For example, while "hammering on the piano," holding the A
Button makes an improvised note repeat the last note from the melody,
rather than play a random note from the song's main chord. And holding
the B Button cuts off each piano note for a clipped "staccato" effect.
Tutes:Wii Music stands in a class of its own. Compared to most other music games, which penalize players if they don't play perfectly, Wii Music
is a musical playground where there are no mistakes. But there are
nearly limitless ways to play the instruments and songs, and that's
where the Tutes come in. When not playing with friends, you can invite
jam masters known as Tutes to play with you. They'll join a session
playing an instrument that each thinks is strong for a specific song.
You can simply enjoy the musical camaraderie, or pick up instrument
tips by watching them jam. Each of the 60-plus instruments has a lot of
musical depth and variety. The Tutes will show you lots of techniques
for many of these instruments, then ask you to follow their examples.
They'll start with the simplest techniques, then as you master each
one, show you even more nuanced ones.
Getting the Band Together: Every band has six
members: Two play the main melody, two cover the percussion beats, one
covers the bass groove and one uses the song's chords to support the
melody. As a band, the six members often play their special parts at
the same time, though each player can jam however and whenever he or
she wants. Play all at once. Take turns in the spotlight. Pair up in
creative ways throughout the song. You can bring the band to life by
yourself, playing one part at a time-or with up to four players.
Solo play: When you play by yourself, you can add
one part at a time to arrange the whole song exactly how you want. The
Tutes are on hand to back up your band in any parts you need filled.
Multiplayer: When in a band with friends, up to four people can be band members.
Wii Friends: Using WiiConnect24, you can send your jam videos to Wii Friends who own Wii Music. They can then watch your performance, modify it to their liking and send their jam videos back to you.
Beyond the Jam: Wii Music includes many other modes besides the main band jams, including several musical games and an enhanced video playback mode for recorded jams.
Play it again: Use the playback mode to see your jam recordings brought to life with dramatic camera angles.
Pick up the baton: Command an orchestra in
the conducting game where you'll wave the Wii Remote controller like a
conductor's baton to lead a Mii orchestra through orchestrated music.
Make them play quickly, slowly, strongly or gently.
Ring a bell? Play a handbells game where
you'll swing your Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to play your two
handbells as part of a larger ensemble. Everyone on the team has a job
to do: Play one of your notes only when the tune demands it.
An ear for music: Take a tone quiz that tests
your musical ear by giving you challenges, like putting note-playing
Miis in order from lowest to highest pitch.
Bang the drum: Play a virtual drum set in the drumming mode, the one mode in Wii Music that also uses the Wii Balance Board accessory (sold with Wii Fit™).
You'll use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers as drumsticks, and
place both feet on the Wii Balance Board-which work as virtual pedals
for the bass drum and hi-hat cymbal.
