The Essentials Of The Church Drummer

[nutha jason]

hello everyone.

my name's jason. i'm on many drum forums and this looks like a decent sized one.

I was the morning drummer in one of london's largest churches for a few years and i wrote an article on drumming in church that you might find useful or interesting. no dogma, just practical advice. this article has sparked a lot of positive debate on other forums so i would like to see how things go here.

here it is:

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/id61.html

let me know what you lot think.

j

[ThePloughman]

Ive read that before, great article.

[nutha jason]

hey ploughman... which board have i seen you before on? pearl? i think i'm actively on 7 boards at the moment. thanks for the vote of confidence. merry christmas BTW ... hope there was something drum related beneath your tree?

[ThePloughman]

Im probably on the same 7 or so boards.

You wrote some great stuff on this........ I just cant remember which place at the moment. But it was top notch. It put a player into the perspective of the venue, so that you see your part as a player, how that affects the whole picture, how worship can be moved, enhanced, changed, made bigger and better, just by the attitude of one musical part.

DFO
The Rogers Owners
The Pearl Forum
Drummerworld
Harmony Central
DML
The Vintage Drum Guide Forum
Ghost Note
Nor Cal Drummers

[Dr.Fill]

Jason, nice job.
Never stopped to articulate it all like that before. You've captured in words what was a vague and natural sub-conscious thing for me until now.

[nutha jason]

thanks guys. i'm not church drumming at the moment anymore but i know i will definitely get back in again. there is so much to be gained from it.

j

[mijahe]

Nutha, thanks for that.

Most of that I've had to learn the hard way - I wish someone had told me this before I started drumming for our church. But, it's some great advice there.

[Yeshuason]

Nutha's skills are nutha butta BLESSING to me...Been drumming about 2 years now in my Church & Im dicovering everyday.

Nutha, please poke me!!!!!!!

[Yeshuason]

Nutha's skills are nutha butta BLESSING to me...Been drumming about 2 years now in my Church & Im discovering everyday.

Nutha, please poke me!!!!!!!

[5string]

I read your article on church drumming and thought it was excellent. In my view you have the right attitude. I don't know how wide spread the violations of your do's and don'ts are in the world but it is very active in our church. It has caused me to stay away from church service for over a year. Mainly it is because of the over indulgence of the huge cymbal which is hit hard, really hard. It drowns out everything for the next 4 or 5 seconds. Then there is that thing he does at the end of the song. Wam, Blam, blammety Wam followed with the huge crash on the huge symbol.
The problem is most people think that is good drumming.
It covers up the music.

Sorry for the Rant.

It must be hard to play drums to contemporary music without really making a mess of it. It seems like that music does'nt have much of a beat like does old 50's and 60's rock 'n and roll. I often wonder if it would be better to just lay out rather than force something that is basically not there and not needed.

Again, I think you have some very, very good points in your article.


chuck

[zunar]

wow that was a very good article! I have tried to do most of things when church drumming. most of the music I have played is the contemerary worship stuff. I have always had the mindset that the drummer is there to help the congregation get closer to God. one thing that I was told that really helped me was ( don't be a worship leader in stead be a lead worshipper.) you must be behind that kit worshipping God. singing to yourself helps out alot. too many times I have seen drummers play like they are in a proggressive band and are trying to be like portnoy and it distracs me and others.

[wayne stock]

thanks for posting this. i try to sing while i play but i dont know all the words since some are new songs to me and also i try to watch for cues but the other people playing dont realise im not totaly familiar with the songs so they dont really give me one ^_^

oh well, sunday is the first time ill be playing for church

woo



peace
me

[tapblessing]

As a pastor and the drummer for the church, I appreciate those spirit-led words. I have copied it and sent it to all the churches in our area that have drum kits. I believe that this article will really step on some toes. I have seen too many church drummers doing it for the wrong reasons. God bless you and keep on tappin'.