Tutorial - Elements of Drumming in Church

Hey guys. Here's another tutorial, this time aimed squarely at drummers.

Having a drummer in the music ministry team is a great blessing. Besides keeping time, your instrument allows you the unique responsibility of directing dynamic expression in a song. If that sounds like university physics to you, what I mean is that you can help to build parts of song, bring down the power level and emphasise passages perhaps more obviously than other instruments.

I know drummers get a lot of flack. If you're not being rained on because you're too loud, you are left to yourself to tap along. Drummers are there to provide a tempo, emphasise the rhythms present in the songs, and keep the songs at the right power levels for the mood it creates.

As a result, there are a few things you should work on as a drummer:

• Practice with a metronome! This is something all musos should do, but particularly for drummers. Having a good intrinsic sense of timing covers a multitude of sins. Practice different simple beats at a very slow time (about 48bpm - gives a great workout and you can hear immediately when your beat is off.) Then practice fills at this tempo, aiming to always be on the beat.

• Learn to read drum notation. Whilst you may not use this in church, it helps you no end in understanding the rhythmic construction of your playing. If this sounds daunting, it took me one 30min lesson to teach a pupil to read notation, and already it has helped him to understand how the beat starts on the 1, and how quavers and semiquavers should sound in bar. Looka round on the web to find drum notation and start learning.

• Think rhythmically when you play a song. Don't just think, "The song is at this speed, so that's how I'll play it." What are the rhythms in the words? Say the words in time without singing them, and see what rhythms jump out at you, and then use these in your playing. This will help you to support the song and better serve those around you.

• Think like an orchestral percussionist. Think of your drums as playing a part in a song, rather than just keeping time. Some songs require the drums to drive the pulse, other songs may just require the drummer to accent certain sections with cymble washes or floor tom rolls. Don't be scared not to play - the best players are characterised more by what they don't play. Less is always more.

Drummers have a hard job, but are so vital to many church music teams. Be encouraged! But always think how your playing can glorify God and serve those around you as they worship.