bondChristian

Source: Cameron Cassan

“Hey, Marshall – how would you feel about learning to play drums?” It was the end of 2002 when my dad asked me.

“Um, why?” I wondered.

“Well, we need a drummer. I’d like to start playing out more, and you can use that kit up at the chapel.”

Our worship band had just lost it’s drummer. I had been learning to play guitar for a couple years at that point. My dad wanted me to switch to drums because the worship team needed a drummer.

Eventually, like within a couple minutes of my dad asking, I agreed. I didn’t really know how this was going to turn out, but I was in.

Here I’m going to tell about how I became a drummer and some of the lessons I learned along the way. These lessons, though, could benefit anything you and I do to serve others:

• Teaching Sunday School
• Organizing outreach events
• Volunteering to be a greeter
• And so on

If you’re trying to improve in any ministry, I think these lessons apply. See if you can find some connections.

I said yes

Actually, I said, “I guess.” I could have been more committed.

Still, what’s important is that I went ahead with it. It didn’t seem like such a massive decision at the time, but looking back, that decision changed my life in a big way.

Lesson: Be available. When asked, jump into it. Say yes (and follow through).

I learned in the band

From the start, I practiced with the band. Musicians’ Fellowship was Tuesday night. That’s when I played. Most drummers don’t start out that way. For most drummers, playing with others (not a CD player or iPod) is a rare treat. For me, it was the opposite.

Playing in a band from the get go taught me early on about dynamics, musical interaction, and playing parts. A lot of beginning drummers are all over the place, stomping on what the rest of the band is doing. That’s not musical.

Lesson: Learn with others. When you work on doing your part (not whatever you want), the learning process goes much smoother.

I played live for the “first time” early on

That first live experience was terrifying. I was more nervous for that than when I taught on Sunday morning for the first time. It might have been less important in the grand scheme of the service, but for me, it mattered.

I sweat through my shirt before I even started playing. But somehow, I did it, and now playing in front of an audience doesn’t make me nervous at all (really).

Lesson: Press through that “first time” as soon as possible. You won’t want to do it. No matter how much you think it won’t get easier, it will afterward. Best to get it out of the way early.

I played live all the time

I practiced for about a month. After that, I played live three to four times a week for a couple years straight. The time in front of an audience forced me to develop quickly. And I had instant feedback. If something wasn’t working in a major way, I knew it right then.

Lesson:  Learn by actually doing it… a lot. Don’t practice too long. Machine gun it: “Ready, fire, aim!”

I listened to the best drummers

Before learning to play drums, I’d listened for guitar parts (since I played guitar then). Afterward, I started listening for drum grooves and fills. This came in two parts.

Part 1: Listening for inspiration. In some situations, certain drummers go insane… in a good way. I mean, they go “I don’t even understand what’s happening” crazy on the kit.  Watch Antonio Sanchez in this video for example.

I didn’t learn much from watching that, but the inspiration kept me playing.

Lesson: Watch people who are many times better than you. You might not learn specific tactics you can apply, but you’ll get the inspiration to continue through the difficult stuff.

Part 2: Listening for the basics. In most situations, especially in worship music, I’m not playing all that insane stuff. And it’s hard to learn from that anyway. Instead I studied amazing drummers playing the grooves and fills that work for most songs.

I learned a ton from Joe Porter (Jars of Clay) in this song. I still remember copying some of that note for note and playing it for worship.

Lesson: Study people you can copy directly and immediately. Spend the most time on this listening. The best are the best at the basics too. Don’t discount that. Imitate the pros even when you’re starting out.

I listened to my own drumming

I’m not being selfish here. Quite the opposite. I’m talking about recording my playing, listening to it, critiquing it, and learning from it. That’s actually devastating the first time. Music production is amazing now, so listening back revealed how lousy I really was (am).

Carefully listening to where I mess up is easier, though, when I’m not playing at the same time. It hurts, but it’s a surprisingly good way to learn. (I need to do it more often.)

Lesson: Find a way to critique yourself. This might mean tracking your progress on paper. It might mean asking others how you’re doing. However you can, do it.

Summary

My dad happened to be the worship leader which gave me an advantage in opportunities. I wouldn’t have learned as quickly if I’d been in a different situation. I’m not writing that off.

And I’m certainly not a drummer extraordinaire now. Over the past few years, I’ve not played as much and have actually grown worse over time. (That’s another lesson: stick with it or you’ll lose it.)

I say all this only to illustrate how I quickly learned a particular skill that served the church. I didn’t start out with any intention to play drums (my brothers were actually gunning for that instrument). Through some prodding in the beginning and a lot of experience, it just happened.

And since then I’ve been extremely blessed through this ministry… and the blessing’s spread to others. I encourage you to try something similar.

Once again, here are just the lessons:

• Be available
• Learn with others
• Press through that first time as soon as possible
• Learn by actually doing it… a lot
• Watch people who are many times better than you
• Study people you can copy directly and immediately
• Find a way to critique yourself

Using these, what could you learn to help serve others?

Serving Suggestions:

(1) Apply the lessons I learned from playing drums to (just about) to something you’re learning (or could be learning) to serve the church or anyone at all.

(2) How else do you learn? What lessons have you gained through practice? Share in the comments.