Smule has announced that Leaf Trombone World Stage, an iPhone app described as the first massively multi-player musical game for the iPhone and iPod touch, is now available (iTunes App Store link).

Leaf Trombone builds on Smule’s work with Ocarina, creating virtual instruments that are interesting by themselves – but more interesting as part of music social networks. Leaf Trombone also throws in a dash of American Idol competitiveness.

If you try out Leaf Trombone, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Description:

Smule, the company behind Ocarina and Sonic Lighter, presented a sneak peek of the Leaf Trombone World Stage at Apple’s iPhone 3.0 event last month. As the name suggests, anyone can perform a tune on the Leaf Trombone before a global audience. A player can also request a panel of self-appointed judges, randomly selected from anywhere in the world, providing an instant critique of the performance, using a combination of emoticons and text. Judges can reward a performance or veto it mid-note.

The World Stage will separate the Music Gods from the Wannabes. “People can play at home, alone, as badly as they want. It’s like singing in the shower. Where’s the challenge? The thrill?” asks Smule CTO and co-founder Dr. Ge Wang. “We are inviting people to abandon their egos and put it all out there, before a global audience and a potentially merciless tribunal.”

Inspired by traditional Chinese leaf instruments, Smule’s Leaf Trombone is ideally suited to both the iPhone and iPod touch platform. Users move the slide up and down to change pitch, and, with iPhones, blow into the microphone to create sound. Leaf Trombone ships with a group of songs already loaded, so users can immediately begin learning how to play the instrument. A music box provides accompaniment, and floating leaves show beginners where to place the slide to achieve the correct note. Once users have mastered a song, they’re ready to perform on the World Stage.

“Leaf Trombone was developed to unleash people’s creativity and their inner rock star.” said Wang. “Now, with the Leaf Trombone, anyone can perform on the World Stage.”