Drumming with Sensitivity
Oct 1st, 2008 | By Matt | Category: Drum Articles
Being in worship team is more than just keeping the beat. In fact, I started this web site because that was my conviction : there is more to being a drummer in a worship team than just keeping the beat! A proficient worship leader would expect those basic qualities in a drummer as a given. But I would think that the worship leader would expect more, and moreso in the area of sensitivity. Sensitivity in one’s playing and also spiritually. I believe they’re intricately related in the playing of a Christian drummer.
Let me explain what I mean in the two related areas of sensitivity:
I found it easier to focus on God when I was able to ‘let go’ of my hands and feet
Being sensitive in one’s drumming, physically
- Knowing when to come in and to go out
- Being aware of the dynamics of the song you’re playing
- Being selective as to which instruments you’re playing
- Being able to follow the worship leader so you can ‘read them like a book’
Being sensitive in one’s drumming, spiritually
- Being aware of the Holy Spirit
- Being able to follow the ‘flow’ of worship
- Knowing when it’s time to build up a song dynamically for the purpose of encouragement, stirring up the congregation, warfare, worship and more
- Being able to worship while maintaining the physical integrity of the beat.
In my experience, I found it easier to focus on God when I was able to ‘let go’ of my hands and feet and allow my spirit to be free and therefore, I could pray or sing and not get caught up in the technical execution of the rhythms because my body could play what it needed to! The reason my sensitivity was heightened to the Spirit was that my focus was no longer on the technical execution of my chops (although it’s always there in the back of your mind I suppose).
I wrote this article a long time ago, I could never quite finish it off properly. But I thought I’d share it anyway and welcome further comments…
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I agree. But to be able to “let go” is to not let go in practice. Stick Control is essential. “Stick Control” by George Lawrence Stone. This must be a focus. First do the exercises with hands, then feet, then left hand right foot, then right hand right foot, then right foot left hand then left hand left foot, etc. These things lead into creative freedom that is almost subconscious. Also working on independence and site reading ability. Freedom to worship to me may come easier when I have a lot of fundamental freedom in my playing. Anytime I play I try not to focus on what I practice. It is becoming subconscious. This is letting me be more and more free to worship. Also, learning the order of the songs and then the order of each song individually is helpful. They don’t need to see me thinking out the song as I play it, because it is a distraction from conscious contact with God through worship. Great topic by the way. I look forward to hearing more about this.
take it light,
jpj
Matt,
I’d just like to take a moment and say thank you for sharing the things that God places on your heart concerning drummers. Your article on sensitivity came at the right time for me. Up till today I have found myself getting so into technical execution and not even focusing on God, who we come together to praise and worship! Today i decided I would let God take control, focus on him and bring him my best worship and all I can say is I thank him and give him all the glory for using me. In my moving my focus from technique/ execution I was able to be free and as you said focus on what the Holy Spirit was doing in the service. I just pray that I will be able to trust him more and more and that he will use what I practice during the week in the most appropriate way.
Just as an aside.. do.you guys end up closing your eyes when you’re worshipping on the kit and have you ever opened them to find every one looking at you like, mate new song??? I guess what I’m trying to say is do you get too carried away sometimes?
May God bless you all.
Ben
Many thanks for the comments Ben, I do close my eyes quite often but not too long so I can still see the worship team leader to make sure he’s not about to change or do something that I need to be aware of. There have been times where I have had my eyes closed for most of the song and really worshipped without even being aware of the drums in front of me but still playing - awesome stuff!
thanks for the comment
im 14 and the main drummer in my church
thanku
I just found your web site. Wow! I can’t agree more, letting go of the control and letting the Holy Spirit work though me amplifies any talent that I may have. I also find the less thinking I do about what to play and just relax and do it helps me alot. Some of the nicest compliments I have had are for not filling up the music with unesessary playing. Like you said knowing when not to play.
I’ve played drums in church settings for a ‘few ‘ years, for a while in a very small church building on an acoustic kit, I was paid what I consider to be the best compliment ever, a musician who visited the church on an infrequent but regular basis came to me one morning and said that he really enjoyed my drumming because he hardly ever noticed it,
meaning that my drumming complimented the worship and supported the music.
Russ
Very good and well done. Sometimes we’re playing our best when we’re not noticed. A very difficult thing, I think, for a lot of drummers to accomplish (to be heard and yet not seen…)
I drum my best when I forget I am in front of all those people, when I forget how stressed out the worship leader can get if she “perceives” that I am off time. We all know when we feel the groove that god places on us, we are at our best. The problem for me is always getting to a place where I can just love playing for him, but when I do, it seems the whole band benefits.
Hi folks,
I got a great compliment from one of our worship leaders concerning my playing: whenever I ask how I was after a practice session she says to me “I didn’t notice you”!
It’s a compliment as I was succeeding as an accompaniment! Good stuff and I was well encouraged!
Btw her being my wife has nothing to do with it!! :o)
Brendan
Hey Matt… being in a team with family members…good or what?
I think very good!!