Music is an energy that seeps into our ears and evokes movement or thought. Music can help guide us through emotions and problems, resolving them on a deep spiritual level. Much like taking a walk can help us navigate our thoughts, music can also inspire progression of thought. The movement evoked could be a full out dance or just a foot tap. The embodiment of the music is expressed physically through dance and the rhythm is re-internalized. I would even venture to say that this rhythm of music gives us unknowing knowledge of how to navigate the deeper rhythms of life.

We calibrate our bodies to give a consistent result. Drumming in specific, is certainly one of the most physically demanding instruments. We condition our bodies and physically train to work up a chosen time of performance. An olympic runner works at getting under a certain time, like we work up patterns in a song to a certain speed. We work tirelessly towards flawless technique to minimize risk of injury and maximize chance of perfect execution.

Music is a language. Practicing and working on technique is just insuring you speak clearly when you play so everyone can understand what your saying. We each have or can develop our own musical vernacular, and further more develop multiple, like someone who can speak in any voice/accent.
Similarly to language, just because people use big words and annunciate properly doesn't mean what they're saying is of meaning! Make a statement worthy of being heard, worthy of repeating!

Once we understand we are all beings of infinite creativity, channels are unblocked. You set your mind free. You must believe its possible first. First an idea is birthed in your mind, then comes manifesting that idea into reality. This is what makes us artists. The end result is rarely exact to the idea, and this is something only the artist themselves(the perceiver) can see. This is why an artist is their own best and worst critic. As musicians, we get better and better at manifesting our ideas into reality. This is truly mind over body.
It takes a lifetime to develop our taste, condition our bodies, and refine our ideas as artists. Rome was not built in a day. Regardless of where you are in your journey there are ways to unlock your current full potential.
I tell myself I am the music. This makes focus not a task but a given, and rids the self of its ego. You become part of the music, it swallows you. The idea takes a highway to reality. Almost like an out of body experience. When you are the music, you are truly in the moment.
-Matt Garstka