Tonight I had a rehearsal for a concert that I’m giving next Saturday night, May 10th, 2014. For me, being an enthusiastic but non-professional musician, it takes a little time to settle into confidence, full expression, and into a bodily experience of the music. I first brush through cobwebs of stiffness, and habits that I’d rather leave behind. Ah, but when the groove opens, when the joy flows in, when the twinkle appears, when the bounce carries me, it’s like falling in love with life. It can take about three songs to get there. My goal? To fall in love with the process immediately and unselfconsciously. For me, playing music with the right person or people helps. It’s like going on a journey together that is magical. We become part of something that develops a life and energy of its own, and carries us away.
In my mind, grooves aren’t limited to music. It can be gardening, skiing, mathematics, running, training your dog, doing crossword puzzles, rooting for a sports team. Zumba on the beach in Mexico! A groove is something that you fall into naturally that carries you away from distraction, distress or boredom. It can be spending time with the right person. Time flies by and you are somehow replenished. Your groove could be hiking alone in the wilderness. There is something cellular about the right groove. It’s like a flower growing towards the light.
Susan Rose: Singing Grandma 