Rhythm and Groove are important elements to music and humanness. So lets talk about what that means to us! Rhythm is the mechanism of what puts it all together. Groove is an interpretation of rhythm and how it connects to you on an emotional – higher level.
Music without groove is… well, ungroovy music. It’s music that does not reach you emotionally or make you want to “get down” or “get groovy with it”. Doesn’t make it bad or good music, just not groovy.
If you’re looking for groovy music, you’re looking to connect to the music rhythmically, and generally in a way that makes you move to the beat. When you hear something flat or "low groove", it doesn’t evoke a rhythm in your body or propel you into movement like groovy music does. There are studies that show when people listen to “high groove” music, the same part of their brain that is responsible for movement and coordination, the basal ganglia and other parts, are activated even though the person isn’t moving. In a way, the groove creates a metronome in your body so your spirit can relate to it.
Groove is an art, it’s emotional and dynamic. When it comes to rhythm, that is scientific. Rhythm is underlying the music, providing shape. Rhythm is a flavor interpreted differently, which is why we have so many genres. A rhythmic tune has repeated patterns creating a flow and predictability which provides a framework for groove to take off from.
As humans, we like to predict how the music will go. But interestingly, at the same time we enjoy music even more when it’s not super predictable. When things are innovative and there is variety within a rhythmic set, it provides the listeners with some challenge and intrigue to keep participating in the music.
“When the musical rhythms are not completely predictable, it invites us to move and “fill in the beat…The music requires us to move to be complete, in a sense… The power of groove is that ‘it makes music this distributed process that we actively take part in and kind of blurs the boundary between music and body and mind’.” (Washington Post Source)
If we apply what we know about rhythm and groove to life, we believe there are so many great lessons to be learned and inspired by.
When you find your own rhythm and groove in music – there is less dissonance and turmoil in your belly. When there is no rhythm to your days, no rhythm in your body, you can’t find groove. Without groove you have no movement or forward motion in life sometimes. Common phrases such as being “stuck in a rut” or “down in the ditches” speak to the challenge of finding the energy needed for movement to move forward and gain a sustainable momentum in life.
If music with groove is groovy music, what is life with groove?
Groove in your life feels like ultimate flow. You forget about time and things are moving forward pleasantly. Things may be challenging but they are intriguing and energizing. You feel capable and seize opportunities. Groove makes you move in life. Sustainable energy is found to keep doing things that bring coherence to your life. Coherence with what you believe, what you want, and what you do everyday. You easily abstain from things that aren't coherent.
As we were researching what groove is, we came across this great article, which put it best: Groove is “the pleasurable urge to move to music.”
…’pleasurable urge’, that’s it! How can we apply that to life?
>>>> How can we find and sustain a pleasurable urge to live? <<<<<<
This is what we want to discuss and work on together:
· Musically – through our instruments, body, and voices
· Emotionally – through guided reflection, exploration, discussion, and art
· Physically – through dance and intentional physical movement
· Spiritually – through observing our breath, being present and aware
· Mentally – through reflection of inner narratives and mind sets that encourage us to move forward in designing joy into our lives
We have all set goals and not achieved them, wondering why we can’t do that thing we know we want to do, but just don’t – for whatever valid or silly reason.
Our goal is to help humans, including ourselves, find ways to bring rhythm in our lives so we can more easily find a groove.
Our goal is to get out of our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual ruts faster than we used to.
Our goal is to just live a little bit better energetically than we did last week.
This doesn’t mean we are focused on constant achievement and growth. Just being in the present moment is enough. It means having a better balance , awareness, and sense of choice in the joy and turmoil in our lives. We want to explore ways to get us closer to living groovy lives that are fulfilling over many years. How can we work towards that in our daily lives?