WOMEN WHO WORSHIP PROJECT // DRUMMER NICOLE HICKMAN
[ WM ] Tell us about how you got started playing drums ?
[ Nicole Hickman ] I got my start in elementary school on the old snare drum . A few years went by , and the drum kit was introduced , and I was hooked . Can ’ t tell you why except that , being an introverted kid , I think drumming allowed me to express myself loudly without using any words . Drumming was something I never felt forced to do , but always found myself coming back to when I was stressed , bored , maybe lonely , or excited … I just loved playing drums . I felt thoroughly comfortable sitting down at the drums and playing around . I played in youth worship teams for years and enjoyed the environment , but it wasn ’ t until college that I suddenly recognized that I could hear the drum parts that were on the worship album recordings , I could transcribe those parts , and learn to play those parts each Sunday .
This developed into well over two full binders of written out song charts , and developed a skill in me that took me places I never imagined I would go . Charting allowed me to be consistent , reliable , and a foundational springboard for the rest of the worship team to base around .
Learning to play a specific part in the song showed me how each instrument intricately plays off-of each other , giving ample space for each rhythm and melody to move and breath . It also gave me a huge advantage to being asked to tour with some of the most amazing artists as they are usually looking for a drummer that doesn ’ t mind playing the drum part they had produced on their record . They usually want a drummer that doesn ’ t mind making that part look and feel good night after night . Don ’ t get me wrong , I add a bit of my own flare from time to time , but the majority of my career has been spent playing session drummers recorded parts . Now , 30 years after starting to play that snare drum and learning to chart , I ’ ve