DRUMS
[ THREE ESSENTIALS NEEDED TO BE CLICK PROFICIENT | David Owens ]
I have the pleasure of playing for Harvest So, what are the essential tools needed to be called Monitor Mix that gives us control over our
Christian Fellowship (Greg Laurie’s ministry) a click proficient? individual mixes from our phones.
few times a month. Every Sunday they have at
least 40+ musicians playing for their different First
and
most
importantly
is
a
good Having command over what we hear when
campuses. They have a pool of 130 players metronome. Every musician should own one we are behind a sonic shield is imperative to
they draw from. To get on that list one must and practice with it. It is not only the drummer’s having a successful rehearsal or performance.
go through auditions and be a very competent obligation to have good time, it is each band If we can’t hear what is being said or played,
musician. The drummers must be comfortable member’s responsibility. rehearsals will go slower and it is impossible
playing to a click or track. All campuses have
to play our instruments musically. When it
the same song list. This keeps all the satellite Three functions a metronome should allow you comes to worship, I feel it is important to
campuses on the same time frame as the main to do: have an audience or ambient mic. That way
campus. The drummers are asked to be familiar 1. Program a series of tempos. we feel more a part of the corporate worship
with the app Prime, which is used to trigger 2. Subdivide the beat so you can hear experience.
tracks and clicks. We are the ones pushing accented quarter notes with softer 8th buttons to start and stop everything on Prime. notes or triplets. Many churches may not be equipped with
This article was inspired by a conversation I
Have an “audio in” jack so it can accept these essentials. I always make sure to have
had with one of the new drummers regarding
3.
an outside sound source (i.e., an in-ear my own in-ears, a metronome and my own
getting comfortable playing with a click. monitor mix) allowing you to hear the personal in-ear monitor amplifier. I can take
metronome and in-ear monitor mix at the whatever source is going into the floor monitor
same time. and plug in and have volume control. Then I
take a cable going from the headphone jack of
I
recommend
getting
a
stand-alone the personal in-ear monitor amplifier and run
programmable metronome like the Boss Dr. that into the auxiliary input in my metronome.
Beat or Tama Rhythm Watch. Then I plug my in-ears into the metronome so I
can hear the monitor mix and the metronome.
The second necessity is a great set of In this case, I might be the only one hearing
headphones or in–ear monitors. Often, we the click but at least with this the basics are
drummers are in a box or playing behind covered.
Plexiglas. A good set of custom molded in-
ear monitors is a game changer. I use Ultimate Playing with a click or tracks has become the
Ears. I got my first set 17 years ago and have standard in many churches and there is an art
been spoiled by the pristine sound quality they to doing it efficiently. Over the next few articles
provide ever since. If they fit well they cut out I will discuss ways to improve our time and
about 25 to 30 db of external sound making it become more comfortable grooving in this
possible to keep the click and music level much realm.
softer in your ears. In the long run your hearing
will thank you for this.
But for now, make sure you have a good
metronome. We all have time issues and this
Thirdly, another essential is a good in-ear tool keeps us honest. Metronomes don’t drink
monitor feed that allows us control over our too much coffee or stay out too late. They
mix, which will eliminate a floor monitor in the give us the consistency we need. We all need
drum cage. The most common mixers I have to be comfortable using them in practice and
worked with are made by Roland, Aviom or performance.
Allen & Heath. Harvest uses an app by Yamaha
40
October 2017
WorshipMusician.com