DRUMMER CAFE

I'd consider leaving the whole song wide open from your perspective.  As has been mentioned earlier (and especially IF a loop was used at any time present or future) the guitars are going to be hitting that 16th note pattern.  What strikes me from a drummers perspective, more than anything, are the "&"s  being played on the ride cymbal throughout much of the song.  I LOVE playing in this style and if I know I've got other instruments or especially a percussionist (sadly thats usually me and I don't get the priv. of working with one while I'm on kit) hitting those 16th's then there's no reason for me to lock myself into that part of the groove.  I imagine sitting there at your kit, with what I've got in mind as your worship team and playing 1/8 notes on the verses and the "&"s on the choruses with a simple but heavy 2 and 4 on snare.  That would leave me open to play 1/4s on the bass OR flavor the groove with a little bit bass play (slightly- think of it a salt to flavor the song- too much and you kill it with overplay) such as: on the chorus 1 / / / 2 / / / 3 / / / 4 / / /
1 / / / 2 / / / 3 / / a / / & /  for the bass with snare on 2 and 4.  Once again keeping it real basic but with very occasional "fun" offshoots from the basic pattern.  Do you have a lead guitarist hitting the guitar solo in the middle of tha song?  I don't recall the specs on your church, if you can play out or have to reign in the volume but that short section just SCREAMS for me to play an open 1/4 note ride pattern but on a crash cymbal.  You'd have to have a really good sound system not to play over the guitar at that point however.
I just WISH we were playing this kind of stuff at our church, we seem to be several years behind the current new music out these days but were catching up.  This song is such a celebratory piece.   Keep it simple, leave it open but have fun with it.  You are playing drums in a worship setting for the purpose to help others worship but there is absolutely no reason why you should not consider yourself to be PLAYING for an audience of 1 and worshipping WITH your drums while at the same time (no pun intended) keeping everyone else in mind as far as blending musically goes, etc.

Come on Robyn, you have kept us waiting long enough. 

Robyn.....Robyn.........Beuler

Sorry, the guys went off and left me by myself for a few days, so I've been busy...enjoying the peace and quiet. (And for anyone in my area who thinks they might like to snoop around, yes, I'm by myself...except for my doberman and my friends Smith and Wesson. )

IT WENT GREAT!!! The loop worked perfectly, and I'm so proud of my band--they are a wonderful, sensitive group of musicians. I'd sent everyone an email prior to Sunday, passing along the warnings given by several DC members about the hazards of playing live to a loop. So everyone was right on top of things, we worked out a few minor details in practice (ie, since the song starts w/ loop and some accents, I waved my stick to keep time for the singer--that worked well).  The only hitch was that the music director, Joe, had a cold and wasn't feeling the best. He was on keys, and started the song in the wrong key. Oops! So we paused for a few seconds and started over. It happens. And he couldn't sing, so there was only one singer, and she doesn't have a strong voice.  So we ended up canning the song for the second service, but Joe is considering it for this next Sunday, when we'll have our electric guitarist to fill in w/ all the great guitar riffs. He's a great kid, very talented, works hard and plays well. So then we'll have 2 guitarists, the strongest of the 3 bass players we have, and hopefully Joe will have his voice back by then!

As far as what I played--I put the majority of my attention to keeping on track w/ the loop. I learned alot, noticing that I'd have the tendency to want to slow down. So I had to keep on top of it. I played a straightforward pattern--quarters on ride and kick, 2&4 snare, short 16th note fills to keep the 16th note emphasis, and most of the accents (cymbal swells, etc, the snare rhythm at the end, some of the crashes on beat 2 instead of 1, etc). However, I'm very weak at accented beats--something I'm going to really start focusing on in lessons--so I didn't do the &'s on the ride, nor in the snare bit. I'm going to work on that this week if we decide to do the song again.

I'm glad I chose to do it this way. I was reminded of a Wayne Gretzky quote:  "You miss 100% of the shots you never take" and that's why I decided to go for trying the loop. I think w/ a fuller band and a bit more practice we can do the song the justice it deserves.

robyn

ps--only in my dreams, amoacristo!

At least you have good dreams.

It sounds like everything went well with your drumming. I hope you get a chance to do it again with a fuller band and your leader being able to sing.

comfort zone?  you mean were supposed to play IN one? 

I kid but church praise bands aren't exactly like any other kind of band.  Case in point, I've discussed this with my music minister at times.  Personally, I've believed every member of a praise band should be there strickly on a volunteer basis (now I realize that many here probably get paid to at least some degree and biblically I believe there is basis for such payment.....).  Now, this is ME speaking from my limited scope of praise bands that I have worked within and churches which are usually relying upon volunteer work.  If you drum in a mega church or one that is financially to the point of offering all musicians pay, then great.  My point in bringing this up though is that my music minister has had to consider various means or rules by which musicians can be able to play.  For example, on one hand, if he were to PAY all musicians then he could expect a certain amount of private practise, mandatory rehersal time and definite presence of all paid musicians at each request of their being present.  On the other hand, having all volunteers more closely (not definitly) helps to ensure people are there for the right reasons- no money motivation getting in the way, etc.
We have a situation in our church where a couple are paid due to their request at weddings, etc. and the rest are volunteers and boy, I'm just not certain my initial idea was correct.
How many times have I had to sit in at rehersal for the scheduled drummer for that next Sunday, not get to go over what I'm going to be ding that Sunday and having that drummer come in cold not knowing what to expect.  As a result of this and others not showing up we can't spend time honing the endings of songs, etc. because quite a few won't have learned what is being done.  Having a reason to ensure people are present seems pretty good to me right now-  coming under that situation I'm sure there would be other problems crop and thus my point is made... we never are totally, 100% in our comfort zone...
but that can be a good thing- keeps situations fresh and the mind alert, etc.

Robyn- I'm so glad things went well for you and hope you do get a chance to work up the song next week with a fuller compliment of musicians along side.  Should be really great.

Thats the truth!  Any girl who plays and packs a gun is OK in my books.   

This is really a whole other thread that I'm going to start right now.

Well, Robyn, did you guys end up doing this song again today? If so, how did it go?

I love "Victory In Jesus" in that style.  My other favorite is "Blessed Assurance" with a blues feel.  It sounds like you are having a blast and learning a lot at the same time.