“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:12

To play in the natural physical world is easy. To play and be aware of the supernatural above the natural is not. There have been times when I have played in ‘worship’ and, in the natural physical it all sounded great with no mistakes and a good groove. But, afterwards, I realise it was all me and I not not spiritually aware or sensitive to the Holy Spirit and potentially missed opportunities to worship in God’s presence. Continue reading »

A succesful drum solo is one that takes the listener (and even the soloist) on an audio journey, washing over the participants with dynamics and emotion.

A drum solo that is inspired by God has a definite purpose. I will discuss soloing in church further on in this article. I will begin first by looking at a drum solo in general. Continue reading »

This article will be looking at the scientific and physical characteristics of sound. But I will also be looking at the spiritual aspects of sound and how to be a drummer that uses the properties of sound to impact people’s lives. So, before you get all weirded out by the title, read on and then make up your mind!

What’s that sound?
When you strike a drum, it makes a sound! Now that I have astounded you with this major revelation, allow me to elaborate further! That sound is created by sound waves created by the vibrations of the head of the drum. Ok, a rather simplistic evaluation, but the principle is sound (no pun intended, or is it?).

Sound is affected by many factors such as the size of the drum, the thickness and tension of the head/skin, depth, physical properties, height, environment and even moisture in the air! Continue reading »

When we (my wife and I) first moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2004, I had never heard of, nevermind seen, a drum called the lambeg. It was to be an interesting introduction as I realised that this drum divided communities and caused political tension. Now that’s a pretty powerful drum!

Some say the lambeg can lay claim to being the loudest drum, measuring louder than a super 120 decibels, it is easily heard for miles away. It is a voice that is not readily relegated to the background. You could say this drum carries with it a sense of auditory power and commands attention! Continue reading »

I had the opportunity to pose ten questions to Wig, the drummer from Boulevard Road. It was my first email interview and I think it went pretty well! Many thanks to Brian for his contribution and willingness to share his experiences as a seasoned drummer in both Christian and non-Christian areas. I appreciate it. Continue reading »