DRUMS
[ THE LAST-MINUTE GUIDE TO LEARNING NEW SONGS | Daniel Hadaway ]
We’ve all been there: it’s late Saturday So here are the three layers, in the order that I These key thematic elements can help us get
night. We’ve spent all week listening to, and approach them. closer to replicating the original song, which
memorizing, all of the nuances of the songs
will help the other musicians on the worship
we’ll be playing on Sunday morning. Thankfully, LAYER 1: THE “ONE-SENTENCE DESCRIPTION” team feel more comfortable with this new song.
all of the songs in the setlist were organized in At the most basic level, I will listen to a song Remember- they are preparing last-minute too!
Planning Center by Tuesday, so we’ve had a a couple of times. Then I’ll try to write down solid 5 days to really get familiar with the drum one sentence that describes the overall “feel” LAYER 3: THE SIGNATURE PARTS
parts. Then we get that fateful text from the of the drum part. Within this sentence, I try to Is
worship leader… describe 3 key aspects of the drum pattern: recognizable? A good example of this would
tempo, dynamics, and feel. be a song like “Hosanna” by Hillsong. That
“Hey guys, I know it’s late on Saturday, but I just
the
verse
drum
pattern
extremely
verse pattern is pretty distinctive. Almost every
spoke with the pastor and we decided to call So, for example, I would describe the drums for song has at least one section that includes a
an audible and add a new song to the worship “Great Are You Lord” by All Sons & Daughters signature drum part.
set tomorrow morning.” like this: A 6/8 pattern with a mid-tempo feel,
Immediately,
we’re
zapped
from
feeling
that dynamically shifts from sparse, quiet If you have the time, spend a few minutes
verses, to epic, huge choruses. working out where and what those parts might
completely prepared for Sunday, musically
be. While certainly not the most important
speaking, to worrying that all of our preparation Is all- aspect of a song, having one or two “signature”
could be derailed by this one new song. What encompassing? Not entirely. But if someone patterns present in the song is a great non-
can we do in these situations, where we have were to give me that one sentence as verbal way of instilling confidence in the
very little time to learn a new song? instructions for a drum part, I might be able to worship leader that the team is willing and able
get 70% of the way to accurately recreating the to go with the flow and make these important
I like to think of a song, from the perspective original drum parts for the song. Which isn’t too last-minute adjustments!
of the drum parts, as 3 layers stacked on top bad for last-minute preparation!
that
one
sentence
perfect
or
of each other. And I always start at the top-
Just keep in mind: a last minute change to the
most layer and then work my way down as LAYER 2: THE THEMATIC ELEMENTS song list is almost always made to better fit the
time allows. I may not have much time to go Beyond a one-sentence description, I might vision of the worship leader(s) and pastor(s). So
past the first layer, but by approaching a new try and establish some core rhythmic themes even though they provide unique challenges,
song this way, it allows me to do my absolute that are found throughout the song. Is there a they are also unique opportunities to support
best to prepare for a new song without the rhythmic “hook” that repeats at the end of every our church body and use not only our musical
fear or worry of my unfamiliarity turning into a 8 bars? Or maybe the overall vibe of the song talents, but our time and effort - which is truly
distraction. is very tribal, except for the bridge - where the a gift!
rhythm “straightens out” a bit.
52
October 2017
WorshipMusician.com