Going with the Flow

This chapter examines how musicians access a flow state, particularly in a group setting, where instinct and trust align not only with the self but also with the collective. Trusting the flow state is a topic that has been frequently referenced by the musicians interviewed and is also widely featured in the literature on the subject. This chapter explores the notion of trusting the flow state, in which musicians create a zone of creativity where agency feels instinctive and they make choices beyond premeditated, cognitive choices. The chapter also seeks to understand how musicians navigate through trust, both their personal intuitions and the dynamics of the group.