M3 VIDEO #1 – SOLVING DRUM VOLUME ISSUES

Watch this short video. To understand the thought process behind the teaching video, read the blog post below it.

What’s the most common and passionately expressed complaint that’s made about sound in a Church service? Right at the top of the list will be …

“The drums are too loud!”

Ask any Church sound engineer!

I’m a BIG fan of drums. Played well, they are an amazing instrument and provide so much of the energy, feel and dynamics of a band’s sound. But many Church drummers – especially less experienced players – seem unable to hear, judge or produce an appropriate volume level. It is tough to do. But not impossible.

There are many solutions to this problem that are worth considering, but I am NOT a fan of the ones that seem to be utilized most frequently: drum screens, drum enclosures or (even worse!) electronic drums.

These physical barriers, or the synthetic, electronic mimicry of “real” acoustic drums come with costs. Sure there’s the monetary costs, but there’s more than dollars at stake here: We seriously compromise the musicians’ ability to connect! Nothing much sucks away the “good vibes” of music more! The barriers we build handicap the bond between the musicians in the band and between the musicians and the congregation.

Primarily, we use music in a Church gathering to help us connect more deeply: with each other, with the Gospel and with God. Anything that makes that more difficult should be seriously questioned. The most popular and widely used solutions may not be the best ones.

In this instructional video for Church musicians, I speak with drummer/percussionist Jonathan Truman about some other approaches drummers and band leaders can take to solve the problem of drums that are too loud. We may not be able to instantly “gift” our volunteer Church drummer with the necessary skills and musicality to control their volume today. But there are highly effective, simple steps that can be taken right now.

Watch Video # 1 “Solving Drum Volume Issues” again here.

For more free resource videos and info, visit www.MoreThanMusicMentor.com.