They say we are the sum of our experiences, and as many musicians know, whatever life throws at us, we can take and turn into art.

No one knows this better than my guest on the podcast this week, Ray LeVier.

Ray is a drummer, composer, producer, author, and motivational speaker who has played and recorded with John Abercrombie, Dave Binney, KJ Denhert, Joe Locke, Francois Moutin, Wayne Krantz, Mike Stern, and Rich Tozzoli.

At the age of 12, Ray suffered severe burns all over his body which left him unable to play the drums in a more ‘traditional’ way. As a result, Ray has come up with his own innovative methods to play the drums.

Ray’s story is one of hope and resilience and he shares all of it with us in this episode.

Listen in as we discuss Ray’s breathing techniques, how to achieve a flow state and optimal performance, how drummers with physical limitations can overcome the challenge and play effectively, why mindfulness is key to creating beautiful art, and more.

Let’s dive in.

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