Worship Musician August 2020 | Page 106

DRUMS LOCKDOWN DRUMMING | Carl Albrecht These are the strangest of times. Many of you are in some level of “lockdown.” Many churches are not meeting, or they are only streaming. If you play drums in other settings, most live gigs are gone for now. So many of you may not be playing with a live band of any kind right now. Probably the toughest job at this point is to maintain a positive attitude and not let discouragement get the best of you. The simple answer I have is to keep playing! Keep worshipping! And use this time to keep growing in your skills and your walk with the Lord. I know that sounds like an obvious answer, but if you’re feeling stuck, here are some quick tips to stay joyful, hopeful, and motivated to use your time wisely. your basement, garage, or any isolated space you can use. Put it on your schedule to go play it everyday. Even if it’s only for 30 minutes, you will feel energized by playing. I prefer at least an hour, but don’t give up if you only have a few minutes everyday to play. I’ve been working on many different things. Which isn’t unusual for me at anytime. But if I don’t get some drum playing in my daily routine I start to get a bit bummed out and cranky. If you’re like me, you were made to play. So play! The Lord made us this way and we were made to make music for Him. Don’t get trapped in the idea that because there is no work that there is nothing to do. Work on you! “artsy” and maybe too emotionally expressive as a drummer, but it is a great way to connect your spirit to your gifting. You should also start reading passages of scripture and play anything you feel as you read through the word of God. If you’ve never done anything like this it may feel very awkward at first. That’s totally normal. But stay at it. This type of spiritual, emotional connectivity to your playing is very important. If you’ve already been in this mode with your drumming then just keep pushing the boundaries. Be even more expressive in your playing. It will feel like your flying; like it’s a cosmic experience; a spiritual experience… a JESUS experience! And isn’t that what our gifts and whole life should really be about? 1. DO NOT QUIT PLAYING DURING THIS SEASON. Unless the Lord has specifically told you take a break, find a way to keep the “drumming juices” flowing. Hopefully you have a kit at home in 2. MAKE YOUR PLAYING A WORSHIP TIME. Every musician is called to worship. If you are “in the Lord” then there is a calling on you to offer yourself to Him in your gifts. Let this down time become a time to deepen your walk in the Lord by having your own worship events in your drum room. Really! Don’t just practice, which is always a good thing, but worship Him. Play along with your favorite worship recordings. Picture yourself being in the moment with those believers that are on the recording. Worship is timeless, so the presence of the Lord is always in music that glorifies Him. Play with that picture in mind. We are always playing for an audience of one… THEE ONE… so now is a great time recalibrate your focus on the reason why you really do this. You’ll be exercising your heart’s intention towards the Lord. You may find it opens up things in your playing and your walk with the Lord you’ve never experienced before. 4. THE TECHNICAL STUFF. I don’t want to avoid the obvious. Even while you’re pursuing a deeper spiritual depth during this time while you play, the mechanics of playing will still enter you mind. That’s a good thing. I find that as I worship more my creativity increases. So as you worship and you start to get ideas receive that as a gift from the Lord. He will inspire you to make sounds or try something you’ve never done before. Just let it all flow together and let nothing hinder your process of going deeper in every aspect of your playing. Don’t let this lockdown lock you down. Allow this special worship space before the Lord to launch you into a deeper realm of your playing. “Go boldly to where you’ve never gone before!” (*I hear a TV theme song rising in the background.” NOW GO! Blessings, Carl 3. PRAY AND PLAY! READ AND PLAY! Besides just putting on a recording and worshipping together with other teams and churches make your practice time also your devotional time. While you’re setting at your drums start praying and let you hands, feet, and whole body move with your prayers. I know this sounds very Carl Albrecht Professional drummer for 30+ years, playing with Paul Baloche, Don Moen, Ron Kenoly, Abe Laboriel, LeAnn Rimes and others. He’s also a clinician, author & pastor. Contact Carl for coaching, online lessons, producing, or sessions. I’m still growing too.. www.CarlAlbrecht.com [email protected] 106 August 2020 Subscribe for Free...