There’s a moment for any artist when you feel like the kit is an extension of you. It could be during a solo, a song, or a concert. The psychological term for it is “flow state,” and once experienced, it’s a feeling you chase for the rest of your life behind the kit.
It’s not just a thing for musicians. It’s a common feeling for athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. It’s actually a scientific phenomenon that neuroscientists study all the time. Take a look:
Flow is that sweet spot where challenge meets skill. You’re not bored, and you’re not overwhelmed. You’re completely immersed. The body moves before the brain has time to overthink. Ideas arrive exactly when they’re needed. Mistakes don’t feel like errors: they become part of the phrase you’re playing. It’s a space where ego fades away and music or creativity leads.
Getting into flow isn’t about luck or waiting for a magical practice day. It’s about creating conditions where your mind and body can align. For drummers, that starts with familiarity around the kit. That’s first and foremost, because it allows you to experiment and not “think” about what you’re playing. You have to know your instrument so well that reaching for a fill or switching a groove doesn’t require conscious thought. That kind of muscle memory comes from slow, mindful repetition.
Breathing is another gateway. Drummers who hold their breath tend to tense up, rush, and lose feel. Controlled breathing: steady and meditative can anchor your timing and keep your mind clear.
How else can you enter this state? Distraction kills flow. Phones, noise, even self-criticism: all of it pulls you out. That’s why it’s important to create space, not just physically, but mentally. When practicing, set an intention: not to be perfect, but to be present. Put your phone in another room and shut off the notifications
And it’s not just a solo phenomenon. Playing with others who are locked in can spark flow almost instantly. When the bass player syncs with your kick, when the dynamics feel good in a band, when no one’s overplaying, those are the moments where you can tap into that “flow” state.
You can’t force flow. But you can make room for it. With practice, breath, focus, and a love for your instrument, you begin to shape the conditions where the flow state isn’t rare… It’s common.