River Valley Music

Here is a post from Aaron Johnson. He is a man of many trades, but his number one passion is drumming. He is on staff with our worship department and sets up the weekend sessions for us on Ableton Live. He also creates a lot of the background music for the videos we show at church. He has a heart for teaching and a heart for worship. So listen up.. It’s going to be good.

THE STATE OF THE CURRENT WORSHIP DRUMMER

Over the past several years I have noticed a significant shift in the role of drummers in worship settings.  Not only do current worship songs require more skillfull playing on the drumset, worship leaders are beginning to expect and require much more from their drummers.  One of the most noticeable things from a strictly musical viewpoint is the use of specific “drum hooks” in songs.  Years ago melodies from the piano or guitars usually fulfilled the role of creating a “hook” for the song.  Though this still happens often, I see that drum parts are being written in a way that serves as a hook for the song.  Nowadays you can often identify a song by the drum part alone.  Ten or fifteen years ago this would have been almost unheard of.  As a drummer, I welcome the new challenges that this trend brings to the table.  Drum parts are much more interesting and many times more musical.  However, I feel there is a danger in this trend as well.  I get the sense that, in some circles, it is the goal of the arrangers to see how unorthodox they can build drum parts.  Sometimes they end up somewhere great that serves the song and other times it turns into a drumfest with a vocal line over the top.  I think there is a fine line between being innovative and creative and forcing a crazy idea into a song with no regard for the needs of the song.  I believe a trained and open ear is required to discern which is which.  The best encouragement I can give drummers is to listen to the drum parts away from the kit.  The worst place to listen to the drums is from behind the drums.  What I mean by this is the drummers’ perspective is naturally skewed.  Of course drums are going to sound awesome as your playing them.  If they don’t, maybe you shouldn’t be a drummer.  What do the parts sounds like from the back of the room?  If you weren’t a drummer, would you think what you’re playing is annoying?  The best perspective and the one I think we should all strive to make decisions on is that of someone in the auditorium.

As for worship leaders, they are looking for their drummers to be much more than timekeepers.  Nowadays drummers are often band directors.  This role requires knowing all aspects of the songs including form, melodies and changes.  As Musical Director for River Valley Church I must lead everyone through their parts from the drums.  I must know enough about melody and harmony to offer suggestions or make corrections during rehearsals no matter what the instrument.  Drummers are also in charge of all transitions.  From managing click settings to triggering loops and samples as well as being aware of and in tune with the worship leader, drummers have a lot on their plate.  Here is where being a great player really comes into play.  There is no chance that a drummer is able to do all the above effectively if they are spending all their mental capacity on playing the drums.  They may end up playing well but are falling short on many of the other things worship leaders are wanting of them.  The goal of any instrumentalist in a worship setting should be to have enough skill on their instrument where they are able to not focus on the notes and rhythms but on what we are all there to do: LEAD PEOPLE IN WORSHIP!!

Aaron Johnson