In a recent South Park episode, we see two of the show's main characters, Stan and Kyle, rocking out to the video game Guitar Hero as a roomful of their friends watch, rapt.
As they're playing, Stan's father walks in, asks, "You kids want to see something really cool?" and starts to play an electric guitar.
For a moment, the room is dead silent. Then, Stan asks, incredulously, "Dad, what are you doing?"
"I can actually play a lot of these songs on a real guitar," the father responds. "Want me to show you boys how?"
Stan spits back, "That's stupid, Dad."
Well, maybe not, say guitar teachers. In fact, the immense popularity of the hit Guitar Hero franchise--the third iteration of the game, Guitar Hero III, brought in $115 million during its first week on the market--may be the best thing that has happened to the instrument, to rock 'n' roll, and to guitar instructors, in a long time.
"I have an overwhelming feeling that my business is safe for years to come when I see kids playing Guitar Hero," said Dan Emery, owner of New York City Guitar School. "These kids are really enjoying playing Guitar Hero, and they're really being turned on to old classic rock" via the game.
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