Band, Drums, Leaders, Players, Worship Leading
The Weakest Link
#WeakMadeStrong This post is a response to one of our awesome WTT friends…he asked the question: “What if your drummer is your ‘weakest link’? I.E., it’s hard to sync up with a drummer with poor time and limited patterns.
Just wondering how this works out in the “real world.”” – WTT friend Our friend just said it best, here’s a few phrases I picked up: “Weakest Link” “Limited Patterns” “The Real World.” This maybe what you have, here’s what you can do about it! There’s no doubt, trying to help a person expand in their skills is challenging, especially when this is your own world week-to-week.
It’s too bad that we can find playing perfection sold in a bottle! In working with challenging player/situations, you always want to play according to a musician’s strengths. In your scenario of musician limitations and timing issues, it’s best to not focus on what they can’t do, but what they can do.
“Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.” – Prov 15.21
Work With What/Who You Have
God is more interested in your commitment, rather than your comfort. Do you commit to Him the patience to learn and the patience to receive, rather than the comfort of the easy way out? We all want that star player on the team, or maybe some star qualities in an existing team member.
Learning how to work with what/who you have not only makes you stronger, but it empowers them more. Think about it, you don’t just have a person on your team, you have someone you can build into. They want to learn from you, so teach them.
If you feel a bit under-rated in your teaching abilities, I’ll offer a few points here. More importantly, if you need that one-to-one help for more instruction go here Workshops for your team, go here Mentoring for you Heb 11.6 – He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. This is one of my go-to prayers when working with other musician/singers on the team.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Eph 6.10 Yes, they may have dynamic control issues, may slow the tempo down, may forget the words or may forget their part. They maybe weak, but you are the leader of the weakest link.
They have the responsibility of practicing, but you have the responsibility of nurturing and shepherding. Here’s a few things of what not to do…
- don’t give them parts beyond their ability
- don’t expect perfection
- don’t expect them to change over night
- don’t give up hope
- don’t compare them to other team members
It is a commitment, but once you show your commitment to them, it will burn a bright flame of encouragement for their learning. “We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.” 2 Cor 13.9
Time Is Limited, Patterns Are Not
If you have a struggling drummer, guitar player or pianist, you can never go wrong with giving simple exercises. Sometimes a method book is great, but there’s nothing like the real-feel of a piece of music. What you can do…
- turn your regular music into an exercise pattern
- map out parts of your favorite music to work on: verse, chorus, etc
- section off 4 or 8 bar sections: find the tough spots
- think of your section as a loop and have them play it
- slow down the tempo, let them get down the hard parts
- keep what ever it is simple: chord changes, melody, rhythm, etc
- work on things like timing and control
- create patterns from the music to create exercises
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” – James 3.13
The Real, Yet Unreal World
- Relax, they are volunteers
- Give yourself permission to grow
- Press towards the next level
- Learn how to get instruction for yourself and give it to others
- Don’t think you need to be a master, be a master of sharing
- Your team loves you, be yourself and offer your time
- The best teachers are the best learners
- The best learners are the best teachers
- Love the real people you have
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15.1
Here are a few examples of clues of what you can do to help your players:For Drummers:
I’ve worked with drummers who could not play 16th notes on the hi-hat very well. Instead, I had them play straight 8th notes. Other concerns: if their left hand was weaker, have them focus more on the right hand. Complicated kick drum patterns that sound cluttered, encourage them to play simple 1 & 3 patterns to help anchor down the band.
For Guitar Players:
if strumming is a concern, have them listen to the drummer. Help them lock-down the their timing to what they hear between the hi-hat and the snare. Don’t bother about complicated patterns. Have the guitar players play quarter notes and eight notes, etc. Yes, it’s boring, but your practicing timing, not Eddie Van Halen.
For Bassists:
have them follow the kick and anchor down on the simple root chords. Have them work on timing as well. Yes, they can play inversions, but they need to align with the main chord everyone else is playing.
If they play bass riffs/patterns, have them focus on the tempo, energy and emotion. Plus, have them listen to what the pianist is doing. They can learn better of how to fill in the notes, without getting in the way.
For Keyboardists:
focus on the chords. The better they simply their sound, the easier it is for the guitarists to play along. At the same time, they can listen to the bassist, and stay away from their registers.
Encourage the use of practicing at home with a click – same for every musician/drummer. When tempo is the issue, it’s usually due to the musicians trying to do too much. Simplifying patterns one at a time always help.
Encouraging them to practice in both slow and fast tempos. Not everything needs to be rehearsed/practiced at 120 bpm and loud volumes. Don’t sweat it, the congregation doesn’t pay much attention to musical details – only we do because were the band. The foundation of having solid players is always best.
You can try to up the bar each week/month in trying new patterns and styles. Introduce new ideas one at a time. Once your player catches on to the first step, then move to the second and so forth.
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Prov 3.27
Stay true to the music, your team and your congregation. Keeping striving to improve and better others in their playing/singing. Most of all, worship the Lord and play skillfully!@BranonDempsey @worshiptt
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