GROOVE … THERE IS NO QUESTION .”
Team spirit is the next pillar for a great worship musician . Besides having your act together on the spiritual and technical side you have to help your teammates as well . Ah … you thought this would be easy . NO WAY ! Now , you have to build up your fellow worship warriors .
When you ’ re feeling strong look for those that are not having a good day and encourage them . Actually we need to do this whether we feel good or not . Rise above your emotions . It could be something very small in your own eyes . Just a kind word or maybe helping the team set up can change the atmosphere . Look for ways to build people up and you ’ ll find it becomes a kind of “ positive emotional glue ” that holds you all together .
If you feel there is a spiritual void and no one is giving much attention to prayer and heart issues , you might be the one to draw the team into fellowship time . Don ’ t nag , but encourage the troops to gather in for a focused time before an event to meet with the Lord . Like great teams in sports always have a locker room gathering before a game , a worship team has got to pull together in the final moments before a service . Always strive to be the encourager ! “ THOU SHALT HONOR YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS .”
Last , but not least , be sure to “ play to the room .” Yes , this means to control your volume . Everything else could be in place , but if you ’ re not adjusting to the room it will weaken all the other pillars . Usually this means being too loud , but on rare occasions you might be playing too softly to get the band to sound good together .
Sometimes you have to dig in a little bit to get the band to gel . I always work with the engineer and the whole team to be sure we sound as good as we can for whatever room we play . “ THOU SHALT NOT KILL THE WORSHIP ATMOSPHERE .”
At every conference or clinic these are the most discussed topics amongst players , worship leaders , and pastors . REALLY !! You have to get this !!! Make these the cornerstones of your calling and you ’ ll truly be the drummer the Lord has called you to be .
Blessings ,
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 LMAlbrecht @ aol . com photo by Shawn Sim via Unsplash