Drumming in Church
An exclusive article by Chris Dennis, DM Music
When my dad and I first took my rather old and dilapidated kit to church and set it up right next to the speaker’s platform there were more than a few raised eyebrows. Being a somewhat more traditional fellowship the norm was for piano and organ to accompany hymns and more modern tunes alike. However, having been carefully briefed by dad not to play heavy and just sit out the hymns, the service went rather well. Indeed, at the end I had a small fan base come up to me to comment on the spectacle. This then became a regular fixture and as a result the church ‘band’ grew, gathering members and momentum until we were rehearsing and pushing ourselves to grow musically.
I have also had less positive experiences. I once was speaking to a gentleman about our church music and told him that I was the drummer. He turned very cold and expressed his opinion that the drums were nothing more than loud and brash and a distraction from the act of worship. I am still proud of my comment to the effect of ‘praise him with clashing cymbals’ (Psalm 150:5).
This did raise a good point. There are many ways to worship. Some prefer quiet prayer and reflection, some like a hymn, and some like to express themselves at the top of their voices. As a drummer in a church setting it really pays to think of all these people.
Historically drums and percussion have been varied in their appearances in worship. The Old and New Testaments feature much music, often with cymbals, bells and drums along with the familiar trumpets and harps. In the Middle Ages worship was more vocal only, and indeed right up until the last few decades the organ and piano were the mainstay of church music. This is why it is difficult to play along with a traditional hymn.
For me playing in a church setting was a great lesson in reserve, control and thoughtful playing. In this situation less really is more. Be aware of the needs of the congregation. Be mindful of how you play with the music and most importantly remember why you are there in the first place.
After all that I have also played in churches where the MD wanted 'More, louder, harder and a solo when you are ready!'.
Chris Dennis, DM Music
When my dad and I first took my rather old and dilapidated kit to church and set it up right next to the speaker’s platform there were more than a few raised eyebrows. Being a somewhat more traditional fellowship the norm was for piano and organ to accompany hymns and more modern tunes alike. However, having been carefully briefed by dad not to play heavy and just sit out the hymns, the service went rather well. Indeed, at the end I had a small fan base come up to me to comment on the spectacle. This then became a regular fixture and as a result the church ‘band’ grew, gathering members and momentum until we were rehearsing and pushing ourselves to grow musically.
I have also had less positive experiences. I once was speaking to a gentleman about our church music and told him that I was the drummer. He turned very cold and expressed his opinion that the drums were nothing more than loud and brash and a distraction from the act of worship. I am still proud of my comment to the effect of ‘praise him with clashing cymbals’ (Psalm 150:5).
This did raise a good point. There are many ways to worship. Some prefer quiet prayer and reflection, some like a hymn, and some like to express themselves at the top of their voices. As a drummer in a church setting it really pays to think of all these people.
Historically drums and percussion have been varied in their appearances in worship. The Old and New Testaments feature much music, often with cymbals, bells and drums along with the familiar trumpets and harps. In the Middle Ages worship was more vocal only, and indeed right up until the last few decades the organ and piano were the mainstay of church music. This is why it is difficult to play along with a traditional hymn.
For me playing in a church setting was a great lesson in reserve, control and thoughtful playing. In this situation less really is more. Be aware of the needs of the congregation. Be mindful of how you play with the music and most importantly remember why you are there in the first place.
After all that I have also played in churches where the MD wanted 'More, louder, harder and a solo when you are ready!'.
Chris Dennis, DM Music
Drum Screens
Sometimes it’s no fun being a drummer. Whilst, for most other instruments, playing more quietly is simply a matter of reaching for a button on an amplifier, or playing more softly, with drums this isn’t really an option. This isn’t a problem in a concert hall, but in a small church keeping the sound level down can be a real problem.
Enter the drum screen (or shield). Typically a set of clear acrylic panels about 600mm across, these are hinged to form a noise barrier between the drumkit and the congregation, directing the noise back towards the drummer. The panels come in different heights, which is important considering the amount of noise that cymbals can make. The screens fold together for easy storage.
Other advantages of using a system of screens is that far less drum and cymbal sound is picked up by the vocal microphones in front of it, making for a cleaner mix and an easier job for the sound engineer. It can also be beneficial for the other musicians, as they will be able to hear themselves at a lower level, meaning that stage monitors do not need to be as loud, and, strange as it may seem, many drummers have commented that using the shields they have been able to hear their own playing properly for the first time. Whether this is a good or a bad thing is, of course, entirely dependent on the abilities of the drummer concerned...
Enter the drum screen (or shield). Typically a set of clear acrylic panels about 600mm across, these are hinged to form a noise barrier between the drumkit and the congregation, directing the noise back towards the drummer. The panels come in different heights, which is important considering the amount of noise that cymbals can make. The screens fold together for easy storage.
Other advantages of using a system of screens is that far less drum and cymbal sound is picked up by the vocal microphones in front of it, making for a cleaner mix and an easier job for the sound engineer. It can also be beneficial for the other musicians, as they will be able to hear themselves at a lower level, meaning that stage monitors do not need to be as loud, and, strange as it may seem, many drummers have commented that using the shields they have been able to hear their own playing properly for the first time. Whether this is a good or a bad thing is, of course, entirely dependent on the abilities of the drummer concerned...
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