Gotta find the “groove”. The groove is where it all happens. The groove is the pulse, the center where all the sound and music comes together.
At Chris Berry’s drum and dance camp he taught us four rhythms and dances with songs to go with them. They are played in a series Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. They represent the four elements and the “fifth element” is the blood, the pulse, the common beat that goes through all rhythm. He called it “ropa”.
Interesting thing is, we all have rhythm happening inside us all day long. The pulse of our blood and the in and out cycle of our breathing. The fifth element is at the core of all life and music.
It’s also a good science fiction movie I saw recently. It came out about 10 years ago and I didn’t see it until now. According to the movie, “the Fifth Element” is the “Supreme Being”. It’s a little camp and Hollywoodish, but I liked it.
Happy drumming
