DRUMS
[ PREPARING FOR SUNDAY | Carl Albrecht ]
Besides your daily practice routine, there’s article. Hopefully your team has a long history of the game and it will make your life easier.
always the need to prepare for the next worship of playing together and a lot of experience so Trust me on this! Working out the tech stuff
service. that this scenario doesn’t hinder the music and, early relieves stress. AND… try to have back up
most importantly, the worship experience for systems in place if your church can afford to do
your congregation. that. Or you can have another band member
Here’s a quick rundown of what that should
look like.
have a duplicate system on their laptop or pad.
2. OVER PREPARE!
I know some churches that run major music
1. IF YOU USE PLANNING CENTER OR ANOTHER
production systems and have up to three levels
SCHEDULING PROGRAM OR APP, GO THERE FIRST Print out the charts or put them in your iPad of backup for their services. Not every church
AND QUICKLY. or other device, and take notes. What’s can afford this, but work with what you’ve
the tempo? … the style? … the feel? … the got. Even if it just means keeping your laptop
Don’t wait until the night before or on the way technical needs? Write it all down. Do the work. backed up to an external drive. (*The rule in
to church. That will really stress you out… If the music is familiar, then you probably don’t computer systems – “Have three copies.”)
AND probably means you will not bring your need a lot of time to practice it. But I would best game. Check the list and practice the still do a quick run through. If you’re nervous music according to your level of need. More about any of the music, give it more attention. on that in a minute. If your worship leader or Practice until you’re not “over thinking” the As you play through the music be aware of
MD (Musical Director) doesn’t give you a list or music. For experienced players that might the sound of your kit. Are the heads in good
music until rehearsal time before service, then mean only playing a verse and chorus and then shape? Does the tuning work for the songs
make the best of it. That’s a topic for another moving on. If drumming is new to you, or you that you’re playing? Do you need to adjust
have less experience, then working on a new the muffling of the drums? Think of how your
song for an hour might be needed. Be honest sound matches the recordings of the music you
with yourself and do what it takes. have to reproduce for the service. I try to match
4. HOW’S YOUR DRUM SET SOUNDING?
sounds as closely as possible. Even if your
3. BACK TO THE TECHNICAL STUFF.
worship leader doesn’t demand this, make it a
musical goal to be as meticulous as possible. If
If I’m suppose to prepare “drum loops” or your kit at home is different that what you play
play with tracks (music stems) I’ll load that at church, then work on matching their sound
stuff into my laptop using whatever program as closely as possible. I believe the sound of
is needed. It could just be play along tracks your drums makes you play a certain way. Be
played from iTunes. But you might be using a mindful of the details.
major music track source like Loop Community
or MultiTracks using a music DAW (digital audio Being prepared and having a consistent
workstation) like Ableton, Cubase, or others. practice routine allows you to enjoy the music
Whatever the case may be, get a head start on and the worship experience. Blessings as you
all of this tech work. Sure, if you do this all the continue to grow in skill and service to the Lord
time it may feel like the night before is no big and His people.
deal. It may not be a problem for you. BUT…
it’s not “you” I’m worried about… equipment
can be unpredictable. What has worked great
a hundred times, all of a sudden can crash or
just not be working properly. Be way ahead
36
March 2018
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 with questions or
inquire about lessons.
www.CarlAlbrecht.com
WorshipMusician.com