Worship Drumming: Less is More
As a youngster, I would watch (in shock & awe) drummers like Stryper’s Robert Sweet and Rush’s Neil Peart. I would imagine myself looking like Robert while playing like Neil in front of millions of screaming fans. Reality Check!
I grew up in Kimball, MN which is not much more than a fly dropping on the map. And, although I had the opportunity to tour professionally on a regional scale, and was fortunate enough to meet both of my all-time favorite drummers, the bottom line is that I’m neither Robert Sweet nor Neil Peart. I’m just me. I will never look as radical as Robert, and I will never be as intricate as Neil; and that’s okay.
My touring days are over, and although I get the opportunity to play out once in a while (where a more ‘showy’ performance is appropriate), I pretty much play in the worship band at church. Even though we play some pretty modern worship music at our church, looking like the ‘Visual Timekeeper’ Robert Sweet and filling every gap with an incredible drum fill like Neil Peart would do nothing more than distract those I am trying to bring in to the heart of worship and completely derail their purpose for being there. Even if you are most seasoned player on stage, it’s not about you. It’s about teaming up with the Holy Spirit to help people engage God in a real way through music. If you have a hard time holding it all in on Sunday morning, create an outside avenue to play… a worship ministry in a bar perhaps. There is a world full of people who desperately need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. So get out there and Rock the Hell out of them… literally. The message is timeless and music is the universal language. Just remember, in a worship setting, ‘Less Is More’… ALWAYS! Find the pocket and simply drum.
Kipp Hardison
