Rediscovering Joy in Musical Practice: The Play vs. Practice Debate
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Chapter 1: The Guitar Hero Experience
During my second year in college, “Guitar Hero” became a cultural phenomenon. I vividly recall watching peers spend countless hours on the plastic guitar, expertly playing “Raining Blood” by Slayer, eliciting cheers from pixelated concert fans.
I often thought, “If only they dedicated that effort to mastering a real guitar, they would be phenomenal.” How could they develop such fast finger dexterity in such a short time? The secret was that they were “playing,” while I was stuck in the grind of “practicing.”
Practicing, by its nature, can feel laborious. It involves forcing oneself to remain focused, repeating the same movements until they’re perfected—or as close as possible. This can be exhausting.
In contrast, when you immerse yourself in your favorite video game, it’s hard to step away. After countless attempts, you finally conquer a challenging level, only to find that the sun is rising, and you’ve spent the entire night gaming!
The primary distinction between play and practice lies in your mindset. A game provides its own rewards; practice is often results-oriented. Interestingly, when you stop fixating on outcomes, you tend to achieve results more quickly and enjoy the journey. Practice can be stressful, while play is enjoyable.
Section 1.1: The Transition from Casual to Committed Musician
Typically, musicians are a relaxed group—until they aren’t. Transitioning from a casual to a serious approach can lead to a mental trap where you endlessly repeat the same passage (unsuccessfully) out of frustration.
Consequently, you may find yourself in need of a break, and the longer you stay away, the more daunting it becomes to return. Before you know it, months have passed, and the activity you once loved now feels intimidating.
While breaks can be essential, and practice is undeniably crucial, if your sessions feel like a form of punishment, it may be time to reevaluate your approach. Letting go of the obsession with perfection might be the key. Trust that improvement happens naturally over time.
Section 1.2: Embracing Imperfection
Remember, audiences often overlook (or are indifferent to) the occasional missed note. There’s no reason to subject yourself to unnecessary stress for minor mistakes during a performance. By relinquishing the need for perfection, you can concentrate on the overall vibe you’re conveying, which is what truly matters to most listeners.
Are you placing excessive pressure on yourself? If so, consider ways to reignite the fun in your practice sessions. Instead of tackling that challenging jazz piece, why not play some simple, three-chord 90s grunge songs?
Watch “Better Call Saul” while your fingers casually navigate scales to build muscle memory. Play along with a music video of your favorite band without stopping the track when you make a mistake. By reintroducing play into your practice, you’ll likely see faster improvement and, most importantly, enjoy the process.