“I don’t have any rhythm” is an inaccurate self description
excerpt; “History of the Groove, drummer’s tale” Russell Buddy Helm ©2013 all rights reserved
“I don’t have any rhythm” is an inaccurate self description; what is really happening is that our sense of rhythm has been dislocated. It is there but it is in a state of shock. All we have to do is bring it back into alignment and we will have a perfect sense of rhythm. It will be our own sense of rhythm. Each of us has a unique sense of rhythm. It is as individual as our fingerprints. The concept of the downbeat is how we can all player together. We can agree on at least one note; the anchor note, the beginning of the phrase.The downbeat played in the middle of the drum head,, hitting it evenly with alternating hands reestablishes a steady rhythm in our belief system. Everybody’s sense of rhythm is unique; like a fingerprint, so don’t compare.The intellectual mind constantly replays trauma, stress, illness, injury, abuse, fear in a well meaning attempt to prevent us from repeating those tragic events. This process in our intellect is well intentioned but it is overstimulated; from the environment, technology, media, modern life. So it is driving us crazier by replaying our history, reminding us of what to avoid. These repetitive loops of memory can be completely distracting and prevent us from being present in the moment. The drum and soothing rhythms can override those dysfunctional grooves with a healthy, confident groove that is life affirming. This repatterning occurs below the awareness of the intellect because we are centered in the body, feeling the rhythm. The intellect does not understand the effect of rhythm on the belief system; that is why commercials have soundtracks. The intellect can be convinced using rhythm. We can repeat affirmations, or releases to inculcate these new positive concepts into our belief system. It only takes a minute; one minute, for the belief system to take on a new concept. That is why commercials are sixty seconds long. Advertisers have done the research. So with drumming as a therapy we can take back our own sense of rhythm and use it to power our own life affirming agenda.
excerpt; “History of the Groove, drummer’s tale” Russell Buddy Helm ©2013 all rights reserved