False Sense of Accomplishment

I'm appreciating more than ever these days how much video games are like work.

Especially a game like Minecraft, where you're literally building a house, growing plants, and raising cattle. All in a digital world.

Playing video games requires practice, too.

As you get better, you complete levels and go to the following stage. Or if you're a character in a role playing game, you "level up."

This tells our brains we've accomplished something, which makes us want to keep playing. But, it's a false sense of accomplishment.

Because when you turn the game off, it's all gone. Nobody cares.

Kids (and even adults) can play video games for hours every day, but struggle when it comes to practicing the piano for 10 minutes.

And so, I've begun obsessing over the parallels between the two, and how we can bring the addictive qualities of video games to piano practice.

Here are the edges that video games have that make them addicting.

• There is a clear goal to every game.
• Video games often have several elements of randomness to them, keeping you guessing.
• You're receiving ongoing feedback on the screen as you're playing a video game. At all times, you know exactly how well you're doing.
• You know when you've advanced to the next level.
• Most video games have a long-term, overarching storyline. You want to see what comes next.

I'm sure you could add some more, but this is a start.

So, how can we take these elements and apply them to practicing the piano?

Here's my stab at it, but I invite you to come up with your own and share them with us in the comments below!

• Create a long-term goal for yourself for the year. (your "overarching storyline").
• Change up your practice routine so you're not practicing the same way every time. ("elements of randomness")
• Set clear, tangible goals for every practice session before you begin. (like the "goals" in a video game)
• Before you practice, decide which metrics indicate you're doing well (the "ongoing feedback" for your practice session). 
• Decide what constitutes "leveling up" at the piano. (reaching the "next stage," which will look different for everyone)

We can't turn piano practice into a video game. Although, I'm sure between Meta, Google, Apple, and AI, we'll see several attempts at it over the next few decades.

But that doesn't mean you can't turn your practice into a game to keep you engaged and progressing.

After all, life is but a series of games we play. All you have to do is decide what kind of player you want to be.