DiW: 2 Ways to become a better drummer - guaranteed!

Two top tips for becoming a better drummer and yes, they really do work AND I'll tell you them for free...

The better the drums sound, the better you'll play

I was reminded of this one while talking to one of the Gateway Vineyard drummers about the newly tuned snare on the church kit. She had been energised by the fact that when she hit the snare, it had good sound. There were no distracting overtones, or disappointing  noises, just a good sound that freed her up to be more musical and dynamic in her playing.

Good sounding drums help make good sounding drummers.

The better the musicians you work with, the better you'll play


I have previously outlined that one of the things we do in the kind of music I play in church, is to copy other peoples arrangements. It's all very well working on new patterns and parts but if those around you aren't able to play theirs, it's just not going to work as well. But, get together with a group of players who are better than you and they will stretch you, ask things of you musically, and you'll get better. When you're creating your own arrangements, that sort of interaction is vital to make new, interesting music that sounds like you!

Don't forget though that sometimes you'll be the better player helping others step up and sometimes they'll be helping you.

I can think of two bass players that I have worked with in particular, who have made me get better. They have had such good rhythm & tone that I've stepped up my game to match theirs.

Good sounding musicians help make good sounding drummers.

Switch

This may seem abrupt, but it isn't. Not to us anyway.

Some will have read the last 5 months of posts and status updates and listened to comments and will not be surprised at what follows. Some will be like the guy I followed out of the cinema after the 'Six Sense' who was telling his girlfriend that he had totally got the twist from the beginning...of course you did.

Hol and I recently spent an evening recounting what we've been through in the last few years and, quite frankly, I was shocked! Yet we're still here, and God wants to make sense of it all. He's great like that.

It's a truth that, when you give your life to God and ask Him to lead you, He has the uncanny ability of taking you up on the offer.

So, one Sunday morning in September, God stirred both of us. That moment has, eventually, led us to the decision to leave Oak Grove Chapel, after nine years, and head over to Gateway Vineyard. It's time to switch.

This is about who we are in Christ; as individuals, as a married couple, as parents and as a family. I really don't know where we're going and what the rest of the year will be like, but I'm looking forward to it!

We've learnt a lot about community and community engagement at OG and it feels good to be leaving OG for good reasons, even if it does mean leaving some very good people. I like to think that God has that covered.

This Sunday, 21st February 2010 is our last 'official' Sunday at OG and I'll be playing. So, if you want to see me drum for that last time at OG then....don't come. Find a better reason to go to church!