RHYTHM ROUNDTABLE
Drums in the Modern Church
By Alexander MacDougall
Drummers. Try to imagine polishing and and community outreach advertising efforts. What’s the surprise? Little did you know, the
packing up your kit, your prized cymbals, and It’s late Saturday afternoon, and as you’re church doesn’t allow drums within its walls.
all of your hardware. You’re in a Christian band, loading up your car, your bandmate drops by You find this out when you arrive from an older
and you’ve been rehearsing several songs to “caravan” with you to the church. But wait. man dressed in a blue, pinned striped suit
for weeks that you believe will draw others It’s the early 1970’s, and you’re about to be met and tie. He’s an elder with his hair greying and
closer to God. Your group has a mix of songs. with a big surprise. with a serious tone to his voice. What he says,
Some are evangelistic in lyric content, some “goes”. The youth pastor is embarrassed, his
songs may address the cultural mores, while student workers are disillusioned, and you’re
other songs are sort of “sing-along” in content hurt. But you put the best face on the situation
reflecting the times. You might be covering and are relegated to tapping on a pair of old
James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend”, but there bongos while the band plays at an extremely
are not a whole lot of popular songs available low volume due to the usage of electric guitars.
for your band to access so you do what you You’re not even given a chance to demonstrate
can. Your intentions are pure, and your band is your sensitivity to the acoustics of the room
ready, and the church youth pastor is excited with your drum set. This is long before drum
that you’ll be bringing your music to his group
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James Taylor
February 2020
“cages” are manufactured. Does this sound
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