DRUMS
JUST YOU AND JESUS AT THE DRUMS | Carl Albrecht
Every musician and singer I know usually spends some time just worshipping the Lord privately . It ’ s a vital part of their ability to lead a group of people in worship . We should also do that on the drums ! If you ’ ve never tried it let me encourage you to make this a part of your practice routine . Even though you may feel a bit strange not having another instrument playing along with you , you will discover some unique aspects to being a drummer and a worshipper that you ’ ve never experienced before . Let me give you some ideas on how to approach this powerful and inspiring aspect of worship drumming .
If you ’ re new to this idea of just worshipping with drums only , start by doing your normal routine of practice first . This should include working through some rudiments , working through instructional books , and playing along with some of your favorite songs or even new music you ’ ve never played before . Also be sure to work on groove and fill concepts . All of this should be done with a metronome or drum loops of course . Once you ’ ve worked a while on what seems normal to you then turn the “ spiritual page ” and focus on your playing as an expression of worship to the Lord .
I do believe working on the mechanics of playing is also a spiritual thing . Everything we do , even the mechanical things , should be done to bring honor back to the Lord who has given us the skill to play . He really does help us in our work . But it ’ s important to just worship God by yourself with your instrument to step into a deeper place in your worship experience . OK , let ’ s look at some steps to “ entering in to the next level .”
1 . TAKE TIME TO PRAY FOR A BIT BEFORE YOU START MAKING A SOUND . It will help you focus totally on the Lord and allow your playing to become an expression to Him . If you need a bit more inspiration you could light candles , put up a poster somewhere of Jesus , or anything else artistic and iconic that would help you focus on the Lord . As you ’ re praying allow your hands and feet to move as you feel led . Don ’ t over think it ! Just pray and play ! I even sometimes imagine the Lord being in the room with me reacting to the sounds . Ofcourse the Lord is ALWAYS with us ( actually in us ), but when we start doing this it will feel different than when you ’ re just praying without music happening .
2 . READ SCRIPTURE AS YOU PLAY . YES , I actually do this sometimes . The Psalms are an excellent place to start . Pick your favorites and play drums as you read . Try reading something out of the Book of Revelation . That can be a really wild experience . Some people say to me they just don ’ t know what to play . I still encourage them to not think so hard . This is NOT a performance . It ’ s an exercise in expressing your heart reacting to the presence of the Lord in your prayers , scripture reading , and honoring Him with your own unique creative sounds .
3 . IF YOU FEEL STUCK GETTING INTO THE EXPERIENCE YOU COULD ALWAYS PLAY ALONG WITH SOME WORSHIP MUSIC FIRST . Then turn off the music and keep going by yourself . It ’ s sort of like using training wheels to ride a bike when you ’ re first learning . Sing the song out loud as you continue to play the drums . Allow the song to fade out of your mind and just focus totally on the Lord and see what comes out of you . It ’ s OK if you just play the groove for a while and pray , talk to the Lord , or sing your own song to the Lord . Release “ the groanings too deep for words ” – Romans 8:26 . Just let worship pour out of you and see what happens .
4 . JUST PLAY SOUNDS RANDOMLY TOO ! Don ’ t
always play with a groove in mind . When I worship like this it feels like I ’ m painting pictures or playing a movie score . I let my prayers , reading , and expressions to the Lord come out in anyway they want to . It feels like my spirit is playing and my mind and body are responding to that . Don ’ t analyze anything , just let it flow !
I know all this may feel really strange at first . But think of how Kind David would have been worshipping the Lord alone in the fields while tending sheep . He wasn ’ t performing for the crowd . He was expressing his heart to the Lord with the creative gift he was given by God . We should also do this as drummers . It ’ s not just for singers and the other players . Have fun . Be blessed . Carl
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