Pride and the Christian drummer
Feb 24th, 2008 | By Matt | Category: Matt's Blog
I remember when I first started drumming. Those were great days. The excitement of learning new rhythms and techniques, being able to make as much noise as possible and be the only member of the band who could clear the church’s youth hall in seconds the moment he started playing! Yep, good times!
I learnt so much, though, through the early years as I groped my way through countless church youth group meetings and amateur worship teams for the youth group. The one thing I learnt which I still hold in my toolbelt today, the one thing that has helped me in many situations where other drummers have been in the room is this little bit of advice : “Don’t show off”"
How did I learn this lesson? It was very easy and it only took ONE minute to learn. AND I only had to learn it ONCE! So, now I will impart my incredible and hard-earned wisdom down to you.
I was about 20 years old I think. I played regularly every Friday night at our church’s youth group. We had a couple of guys playing guitar, bass, keyboards (sometimes) and we were all pretty fresh, still learning the ropes so to speak. I was young, daring and loud. As there was no-one else playing drums but me, I thought I sounded pretty good! One evening we had played our ’set’ and made some noise and the meeting was over. Everyone was hanging around, drinking coffee and eating stuff and running around outside and whatever we did to expel our youthful energy. The band would sometimes jam, which would cause everyone to leave the hall and go outside - but we didn’t care, we loved the music!
I was hanging around doing something or another, can’t quite remember what, just after jamming with the band and showing off at how good and loud I could be on the drums - trying to impress whoever was watching (as there was always somebody watching). A couple of new guys had arrived to visit our youth group that night and one of them approached me and asked if he could have a go on my kit. I said ‘yes’….. Retrospectively, I probably should have said no.
It turns out that the ‘visitors’ were members of some hot band from somewhere else and the guy was a pretty good drummer. Actually, he was a very, very good drummer and proceeded to lay down some grooves that, well, hurt me… Yep, I was put in my place alright! From that night on, I realised one thing : no matter how good you are (or how good you think you are), there’s always somebody better! Another drummer I learnt from said to me, “It doesn’t matter if you’ve been practicing 5 hours a day. There’s another guy who’s been practicing 6!”
And then I remembered that Proverb, ‘pride comes before a fall’ - taught to me from when I was knee-high! I had to learn the meaning of that Proverb the hard way! And I did, and I am glad!
So, when I am around drums and drummers and I get behind the kit - I put my attitude and pride in check. I don’t want another lesson in pride and falls! Don’t show off, unless you’re supposed to and unless you’re Zoro or Buddy Rich!
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You’re definately not kidding!! That really hits home! I learned this lesson the hard way too!!!! It wasn’t until I grew enough in my ability to play that my eyes were opened to the fact that I was really marginal as a drummer. And in reality, my chops are still really basic today!!! We always need to be in a humble place in order to grow, and therefore be available to serve God as he chooses.
Now this really is part of the bottom line, because it’s so easy to try to show off. I think it’s a trap that everyone of us drummers experience and should consiously be aware of. For me, I definetely have to guard against this every time I play. It’s an on-going thing. I think that overcomming pride is, especially when I find myself regularly in the context that can stimulates pride (like drumming), a step of obedience to the Holy Spirit and consious decision to be made EVERY TIME I play drums. It’s more or less the same as not trying to impress others with your prayers every time you pray in front of people, or when one is “testifying” as how the Lord used you when you were “so obedient” to Him in a specific situation… Jesus wouldn’t have taken the effort to warn us against pride if it wasn’t a definate trap for each christian continually. It is certainly a DAILY walk…
Wynie
South Africa
Yes, pride can be a dangerous heart attitude. I find myself sometimes twirling a stick or other stick tricks in church but not all the time. I am well aware of my talent and have been playing for over 20 years. I have not always played or dedicated my talent back to God. Having been born again I realize God gave me this passion and talent and I humble myself in His presence. I am also humbled by some of the local church drummers (Berklee grads) but it is NOT an air of intimidation. Competition is a wordly view and an illusion. Everyone has a beautiful, unique statement to make on their instrument. A brilliant secular drummer (Terry Bozzio) said that if his ideas came from God than it is his responsibility to practice these ideas and it is a form of prayer (I could not agree more!).
I have been teaching the art of rhythmic intelligence for 8 years here at the Bermuda Drum Institute and really have been blessed in this business (thank You Jesus). I have been trained by some really great players Pat McDonald (Charlie Daniels Band) and Jon Dobson (Lefty Lucy-Texas Station, Las Vegas). I have some problem with fellow Christians who say I am “profaning” my gift to God by taking it into the secular market. I also get the opposite for profaning the church with drumming ( some give scriptural proof that the 8th note rock beat is in and of itself evil). Either way I have settled it in my spirit that I alone will be accountable to God for my stewardship of my drumming gift.
I am blessed to be part of Psalm Drummers and Drummers For Jesus. It opened my eyes to guys like Vinnie and Gregg Bissonette with their testimonies. I don’t think they are “profaning” their gift in the secular music realm.
In closing I wish to encourage ALL drummers to give God your best practice and performance and remember RUDIMENTS ARE EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY DRUMMING!!
Nick