The Role of a Worship Drummer

 

Drummers always seem to get a bad rep in church. We get the lion’s share of criticism – mostly about playing too loud, too much, or out of time – second only to the electric guitarists (aye! I’m friends with many electric guitarists, so no hard feelings...).

In one of our Drum Stream classes this year, we took a short trip down memory lane and examined how worship music has evolved over the years to what it is today. Our takeaway was that worship music today places heavy emphasis on:

  • Congregational singing

  • Facilitation and flow

What does this mean for us drummers? 

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1. Worship drummers must provide a dependable foundation.

The reason we are able to bob our heads to any song is because its tempo is steady and does not fluctuate from bar to bar. While it can be argued that the burden of timekeeping should be shared among the entire band, it is one of the bread-and-butter rolls roles of any drummer. 

Keeping time is not glamorous or flashy, but it is highly essential in facilitating corporate, congregational worship. Remember that our ultimate goal should be to serve the congregation and to encourage them to worship with us, the worship team. Keeping a consistent tempo is one of the easiest ways we can help people do just that!

2. Worship drummers must be worshipers.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious!” No, but really, sometimes as drummers, we think that all we need to do is to sit in a sound-dampening plexiglass box and keep time. 

We’re selling ourselves short with this mentality! Worship drummers, we are called to be so much more than that! I love how my friend Josh Yeoh teaches about worship: 

“Worship is our response to the revelation of God. Your expression of worship is pegged to the level of revelation of God that you receive.”

As worship drummers, we must constantly seek the face of God – and the revelation of God – because it is what drives our expression of worship, on our instrument or otherwise! More than that, intimacy in our relationship with God is what He ultimately desires; it is pleasing to Him.

3. Worship Drummers must be facilitators

Facilitation is giving permission for others to do something. Being a solid timekeeper and a passionate worshiper is great, but I believe the platform ministry is also about tangibly encouraging others to engage in worship too.

We do this with what we play. If it’s a song about victory, let your music be victorious and uplifting; if it’s a song about pursuing Jesus, let your playing indicate hunger and desire; if it’s meditative and devotional, let your drumming be sensitive (or perhaps even refrain from playing at some points). 

Your drumming is not just music; the incense we raise in worship clears the airwaves and changes the atmosphere. It gives people courage, and the permission, to go after that revelation of Jesus.

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In closing, the role of a worship drummer has changed so much! A worship drummer must be devoted in posture – pursuing intimacy with God –  and devoted to excellence in his/her craft, to be able to express the revelations of God on the instrument. We do this, so that others may be encouraged to press in for more of God too.

The instrument remains the same, but the responsibilities have certainly evolved. What an exciting time to be a worship drummer!

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Caleb Kay is a full-time ministry staff and drum mentor at Awaken Generation. Watch him play powerfully in I Know A Name, the first single off AG Music’s 2019 live recording, To God Be the Glory.


 
Blog, Identity, Worship, Drums, TechnicalCaleb KayComment
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