when they are pursuing different goals.
Once the church auditorium is framed primarily as a concert venue and the congregation primarily as an audience, many production decisions naturally follow. If the main goal is a polished, high-impact listening experience modeled on contemporary recordings, then certain production choices make perfect sense. In that setting, a drum cage may be exactly the right call.
And to be clear: I’ m not against great concerts. I love a compelling musical experience. God can certainly be honored through beauty, excellence, and artistic skill.
But should that be the main goal for your regular church service?
For many churches— especially those of us in smaller-than-mega-church settings, served mainly by volunteer musicians and technicians— I would suggest we should pursue participation over production. Connection over sonic perfection. Our Sunday morning singing may need to feel more like a campfire singalong and less like a slammin’ concert.
So if the agreed goal of church music is congregational vocal participation, then some otherwise good desires may need to move lower on the priority list: album-accurate drum tone, bigger energy, louder impact, cleaner isolated channels, or a more polished listening experience.
Not because those things are wrong.
But because they may not serve the voice of the congregation. In some cases, they may even work against it.
If congregational singing is the stated and shared goal, then other choices begin to rise in value. Simpler arrangements. Congregational key choices. Less stage volume. More eye contact. Clearer leadership. A sound where people can hear themselves sing.
Some years ago, I visited a church in St. Louis to play bass for a smallish evening service. Before rehearsal, I was chatting with the drummer. His large kit sat inside a full“ fish tank.”
I asked whether he liked drumming from inside the enclosure.
“ I love it!” he said immediately.
I was surprised. Many drummers tell me the opposite. They dislike the isolation from the room, the disconnect from the band, the reflected drum sounds bouncing back at them, and, in some unfortunate cases, the stifling heat and lack of ventilation.
“ Really? Why do you love it?” I asked.
“ Because I can hit as hard as I want. I was sick of being told to play softer.”
I understand that instinct. Playing hard and loud can be fun. But it struck me that no one had helped this drummer see a higher purpose: to use his gifts in a way that warmly invites the congregation to sing these songs— these prayers to God, praises of God, and reminders of truth about God.
When we lead sung worship, we are in the business of connection. Music can help foster meaningful connection between people, and between people and Almighty God.
For me, especially in gatherings of under 1,000 people or so, one of the clearest indicators of that connection is the voice of the congregation.
Are they singing? Can they participate? Can they hear one another? Can I hear them?
To sense that, we need to share the same vibrating air. And yes— I’ d like to share the same vibrating air with the drummer too.
The purpose of acrylic screens and enclosures is sonic isolation. But our ministry goal is connection. If the unshielded drums are too loud, we should find a way to lower the levels at the source. We should prioritize solving the drum-volume problem there, rather than with a countermeasure that reduces connection.
The image I shared was satire. But satire works because it exaggerates something already true. Sometimes the clearest sign we need change is when we laugh first.
Transparent booths can’ t fix opaque priorities.
Clear walls are easy. Clear purpose is harder.
If you’ re interested, check out the posted image on my Facebook page here.
Credit where credits due: The image that inspired this article was generated by Google via the Imagen 3 model from a prompt by Jon Gardner, 4 / 19 / 26.
Grant Norsworthy Grant is the founder of More Than Music Mentor- providing online & onsite training for the heart & the art of worshipping singers, instrumentalists & technicians. Grant’ a passion is to IMPROVE musicality, INCREASE participation, INSTILL unity & INSPIRE worship in The Church worldwide. An Aussie who also lived in Nashville, TN, USA for 17 years as a pro CCM muso, today Grant lives and works from his Nelson New Zealand home base.
MoreThanMusicMentor. com Facebook. com / GrantNorsworthy
56 May 2026 Subscribe for Free...