Yup that’s what my life consists of.... I have 5 services to play for each week and no time to hop on a set to practice them so I just basically listen to them once at home and then once on the way to the service ha! It can get stressful when it’s new
Definitely do this haha. I devote all of my formal practice to working on technique, groove, feel, and adaptability. I feel like that is a better approach because when things change on the fly like they always do I can quickly use good foundational knowledge to adapt quickly to the new arrangement :)
You mean you had a church gig that -actually wanted you to play the snare -actually was cool with fully open hi-hats -didn't make you play the toms all the way until the last 45 seconds of song -didn't make you click on the side of the tom for 3/4ths of the song -didn't have only one energetic opener followed by 2 slow slow songs with 90% toms ????? What church have you found???
@@DanMowry Apparently some people hear it as "the beat coming in", I don't hear it as a beat unless it has snare, and even then tom beats only make sense to be used for so long in a song to me!!😂😂
Those plexiglass companies make a fortune on churches. Especially the churches who have just one of their own members playing drums because they’re cheap and don’t want to hire a real drummer. That’s usually the only time those drummers ever play is during church so they’re like Animal bashing the shit out of the drums and doing full measure fills every 4 measures.
Chrissy Martinez from my long experience as a church musician it’s because they use drummers out of their church who play loud, busy and generally very bad instead of spending a few bucks to hire a pro. That goes for any of the church member musicians. For a lot of them the only time they play is at church and they view it as their time to shine.
I am a church musician for 2 decades till now. Not been paid but it blessed me so much. I dont question being paid but serving without expecting anything in return made worship to Him more of a devotion rather than a service.
The difference is both of you said "my church". This isn't the case of someone in the congregation just happens to know how to play drums and joined the band.
I'm a church drummer. I don't read charts or even practice songs. The preacher sings it on stage and at that very moment i have to think of a beat! That's why i do many mistakes while playing... Edit: I'm playing for a small church btw.. Not one of those big mega churches
David, thanks for this - so enlightening. As a 'small town covers-band' kind of guitar player, I've never played at the kind of professional level you're doing here... so hearing your 'in-ear' mix is like a whole new thing for a musician like me. Assuming that you're hearing it at the kind of level we're hearing it on this video then it really helps to see how it all works. I'd just love to be able to play in a band with in-ear monitoring... to control the level, keep it listenable to and actually be able to hear what I'm doing (for once!). Anyway, love the videos, thanks again. Look forward to seeing more.
My buddy! Great vid, thank you for keeping it real. It’s so good to see good clean drumming content coming from a great musician like yourself. Keep doing your thing brother. Blessings in all you do.
That tripped me out. Your WL said "Welcome to Seacoast..." and I was like, wait. I am a worship leader and musician at Seacoast Church in Charleston, SC - I did not recognize this campus, haha.
Drummer to drummer, I have to ask (and I’ve always wondered this), I see you have a chart and it’s not really a drum chart, but has cues. My question is, how coarse do you grind your coffee for the press? Thanks!
Hi David, I've grown as a church drummer and truly inspired by your journey and all that you do. I love your approach to playing and your willingness to share your knowledge. All the best and look forward to more videos.
This was cool to watch, and very familiar. I play drums for my church. We use a Dr Beat but not typically a full backing track. I actually have the Dr Beat and foot pedals to operate it in the drum cage with me, so I'm still fully in control of the flow of things. I use lead sheets instead of charts and just make notes on where the dynamics are. We do three services on Sunday mornings, with the second being on live stream. Because it's just a thing I volunteer to do I sometimes forget that I have years and years of performance experience and a large catalogue of recorded "shows." Church drumming is a great way to essentially "get reps" as a musician.
Absolutely, when the charts are as shown in Dave's video. However, "charts" to many churches today are lyrics with letters written over them. NO measures, NO notations.
Great videos David. Curious how you record the audio for these gigs (click, band audio) that you then use in your videos. Any chance of doing a video on that? I know this is an older video but I came back to this as it’s a good one 🤘🏼 Love the channel!! Always look forward to your next one!!
Awsom..around 38 years ago i was playing a church i went to at the time..the guitar player was really good he was once a rock guitar player so he kinda played with a rock feel it sounded great..and to play drums to him and for it to sound good i had to play a bouncy beat With a rock feel to it after we played i was told you cant play rock and roll here..i wasent playing rock and and roll i was giveing a song a beat that Was right for the song..thay wanted a plain beat that dident sound right to the song...so its awsom to see someone alowed 2 play drums in church the way god intended for them to be played in all their Glory.. I no longer. Play it hurts my legs in the shins and it hurts my hands 2..but i loved watching u play..keep up the good work..
Hello accidentally ran across your channel, u were on a Cruze ship, then worship gig, I am a bassist of 45 years, but a worship player for 2.5 years, it's really cool to follow you, you are very blessed and talented, great personality, thanks for sharing PEACE
very cool, very professional. thanks for sharing. Have you tried lowering your ride cymbal a little? Just saying (as a drummer who just turned 40) your right shoulder will thank you many years from now!
@@DrumLuv23 Thanks, man! With GOD's Grace and Mercy, I am now playing the Cajon at our small church 😇😊 Stay safe and GOD bless you!! JESUS Loves you so much!! May HIS Peace be with you!
It's not just "reading" the chart it's having the ability to perform immediately what's on the chart ie; making each of 4 limbs do what is required independently , that is very professional...
David - You are definitely an inspiration to us Working Christian Musicians. Thanks for Giving back this little piece of your life :-) It's Really Appreciated. Oh, You are an amazing Drummer Very Professional and Keep Giving back :-). Hey, I think it's ok for you to spread your Religious beliefs :-)
I'm a worship guitarist and it was cool to see a similar experience when you're playing at church! That second song is one we do too. Great vid. Keep it up.
Amazing videos bro, God bless and know his glory is always around us!!!! You have passion and so did Jesus Christ !!!!🙌🙌🙌🙌💙🇺🇸 Stand Firm and be strong!!!!
I’m not a drummer but much respect. You kept it real and vlogged your experience lol. Love how people got worked up that he called it a “gig” or that he got paid. He has to carry his very expensive and heavy equipment from location to location, travel, practice on his own (if needed), rehearsal/sound check with live band and then actually perform. But everyone wants to criticize this talented dude and say they wouldn’t accept pay lol. Ok but you probably don’t have to do multiple “gigs” so you probably are not getting offered the same amount of money either.
Jorge Gomez I appreciate that Jorge! I never meant it with any disrespect. But hey, as a normal human in LA, most people have to make 3-4K a month live comfortably. And when musicians can make as little as $75-100 per gig for 8-12 hours of work and struggle to find more gigs in a town over populated with musicians it gets pretty difficult. So taking about 12-14 hours out of my weekend for no pay wouldn’t be the most viable option for me to afford rent, let alone any other predicament that may arise. Some horrible drivers here 😅
Great video! I'm also a worship drummer and it's super interesting to see it from another persons perspective. I'm also the same way, I'll listen through the music a couple days before and maybe sit down on the kit and work some things out if it's new but lately I've had my kit packed up and just work things out mentally and actually play through on a kit for the first time during practice. I started playing for a smaller church with a super tight very talented band. It was amazing. I have played in bigger churches with bigger bands and even though the sound can be fuller and technically better, it just doesn't have the same feel. When you play with a smaller group, everyone has to play so much tighter and it makes you a better musician and makes you connect with the band so much better. I now go to a pretty big church and still fill in once a month at my old smaller church and the smaller church is def where I feel more into it. We also don't play click tracks or anything at the small church and it's more raw and natural and we follow direction from one another and it's just more organic. Thanks for sharing! You're a great drummer!
David I love that snare! What is it? would mind telling me how do you usually tune your bottom heads and how you adjust how much tension on the snare please? Awesome video and Playing!
This video just popped up in my youtube feed since I have been learning worship songs for the church I now play drums for, but then I realized that your name sounded REALLLY familiar. BOOM, I just saw you in a ZackGrooves video from today (6/30/22) doing the drummer guessing! Super cool! I am a self taught drummer for 20 years, but since I have joined this church I have been striving to finally learn more regarding reading music and charts as well as more chops and whatnot. Thankfully I have been playing to a click and recording my own music with my 2 kits for years so it's an easy transition into this field.
Thanks a lot David I really got a lot out of this video and it’s very gracious of you to share the day in the life of a church drummer. I found the video both informative and inspiring please continue posting such amazing content! Peace and love, -Bishop Bautista
Nice video, I too am a church worship drummer and I don't have the luxury of technology, I get the music sheets of a song and listen to the rest of the band play it one time through without me and I write in "notes" on the sheets as the band plays as to what I need to play or what sounds good then we play it..
The best church md’s are the type that send out charts like this. The one at my current gig just sends out a packet of charts...every tune in order, boom. Assuming you have experience and reading chops, all you have to do is show up and play...it’s a great gig.
I’m a new subscriber and I am glad I subscribed. Your content is really good and I use to play in church. Right now I just make drum covers on my channel and your video on lighting in your drum room was very helpful and I thank you!
Hi David, I have been watching you for a couple of years now, not sure of dates though. I loved the CHUCH gig. Does that church have sermons and services that I can access, glad that you have settled in LA, not sure about vanilla coffee though!! You are a fantastic drummer and I hope that you get blessed with more great gigs to work at. PS Liked the Arianne playback 'Boyfriend' you made it sound even better.
Yeah, as an atheist, I've always wondered what it would be like to be a 'worship drummer.' Or, in my case, 'playing a church gig,' to better phrase it. A good friend of mine from ND, was going to be doing a 6 month mini state tour with his christian band, awhile back, and asked me to be his drummer, but, unfortunately, I was occupied with alot of personal things at the time, so, I had to decline. Anyway, you're right! There are alot of churches out here in Cali. I inquired on a couple Sunday morning gigs at a church, nearby, but, unfortunately, the bias, judgemental, close-minded people, that the general religion has, (most, not all) when they would start asking questions regarding 'belief,' etc.... then realize I don't believe in an invisible man in the sky, they have no interest and don't call back. A little annoying, and just reinforces what say about these, supposed, 'loving and accepting' people that are engaged in this belief system. Oh well. Such is life. Just wanted to say, though, I admire your contribution to the drumming world, and would love to meet you some day. You're living your passion. And, you're very good at it! That's awesome!
Philip Hitchcock Super cool to see working musicians getting paid gigs in churches man, but didn’t it used to be that sunday worship is just what it says it is? people gathering (including musicians) who believes in a god and “worship” ? It’s prolly more about them exercising their belief than them being biased, it’s just that their belief won’t allow them. It’s like forcing a muslim man to eat pork...maybe? tho i’m not saying that some church would’t be happy to hire an atheist it’s all different interpretations nowadays 😂
Phillip. It can be the other way around also. Many bands that consists of people who aren't believers wouldn't want to a member who is a believer in their band (example: The Used). So it goes both ways and it's just people being people. As it's said, birds of a feather flock together. Everyone have their preferences and it's just what it is. God bless.
First, if anyone in the church was outright disrespectful or rude I do want to apologize on their behalf. I do want to add though that being a part of a worship team is a leadership position in the church, and pastors want to know that there musicians leading the church in worship are living a Christian life. It's not anything against you purposefully, but it's important to make the distinction that to us Christians it's more than just a weekend gig. Hope that helps and God bless!
They should be kind and respectful saying no thanks, but at most churches (mine included), the worship team is "leading worship" of God. It would be phony for them to have someone onstage who doesn't believe, calling others to worship. That being said, some churches who really need particular type of musician may hire who they can get, with some hope that a non-believer will see something they haven't seen before and come to know God. Also in my church (approx. 3500 total members over three services) most musicians are volunteers and members of that church who attend the other weekends when they don't play, so I doubt a non-believer would want to play there for free.
This whole music-by-numbers/click is completely foreign to me... but the results are good tempo and a very solid live presentation so... I have to get behind that! More curious about the 3 x plexi shields in front of you and the band... pretty arbitrary IMO... (BTW, I appreciate the time compression edits)
Hi David! Great playing! I am just now seeing this video. Very cool vlog! Can you tell me what you're using in your practice space for your laptop and mixing board? Thanks in advance.
I found thid kind of Videos very interesting. To see how yopu prepare for a "bread an butter" gig and how long that take with learning the songs etc. Very professional done!
I knew there is some work to being a drummer but i had no idea. Great stuff Thank you for making the Cruises people pay a grip for more enjoyable. Also I always thought the "Chuch" band was all volunteer. I had no idea you all get paid. To me.... that makes complete sense. Good job at knowing your value.
I think I might start reading more for church...I've NEVER had to read charts for CCM music bc they all sound exactly the same with the same beats and simple chord progressions... Pentecostal drummers also tend to have a very high retention for remembering complex parts bc those services are basically 3 hours of spontaneous jazz fusion. CCM music is definitely a great way to sharpen reading bc it's soooo easy to chart out.
Hi David! So enjoy to watch you on your drums! I wish my life is just doin' what you are doin' now as a full time drummer(coz' that's my passion). I am a worship drummer too :) but need to learn more on reading music chart and all that stuff! Anyway, keep inspire bro 👍
Wow, I didn’t know many churches paid drummers. I’ve played in church most of my life, and wasn’t aware of that practice (other than the big worship groups like Hillsong, Passion, etc.) Great video.
Not many churches do actually. It’s gonna be the bigger churches that do because they will have to set aside a budget for it. My church has 10k plus members and I drum for 3/6 of our campuses every week and I get paid. I’ve also been a member for over 10 years, even though I’ve just started drumming for them. I feel that a church with size shouldn’t hire people to come in, the worship leaders should come from within. Idk that’s just my view. And not everyone gets paid on stage. For my church only the musicians and the campus worship director do. Vocalists don’t.
Some snares that dont carry good body arent ideal for low tuning in church. They just end up having a fat slappy dead sound, which is a dope sound just not necessarily in church.
Hey David, thanks for the insight. I dig seeing into the shows and hearing from your experience. Thanks for sharing! I was wondering what camera you usually use for live footage, like in this video? And do you use the camera inbuilt mike or have an extra one with you for better quality? Cheers
Zohaib Naeem a lot of churches that use click and tracks usually use ableton live. my church gets tracks from multitracks, but there’s also loop community.
Sat. night, and 'Last' services are usually the least attended ones. They probably had 2 services in between that were packed. That's what I'm guessing, anyway...
hey... greetings from Brazil... very cool to see how familiar is your routine in the weekends playing at church. How many drummers in a church like that? I don't think you play every weekend right? Do you have fixed band members - always playing with same people - or you just fits in some band as a drummer in the weekend you gonna play? keep it up, God bless you!
What/who is making the cues like ‘intro’ and ‘chorus’? Is that a human or is some magical software running the show? How does this magic work? If you made a video explaining that I’d be so into it! Thanks! Great videos!
I thought but wasn’t sure if you were in Los Angeles at first until I saw all the palm trees on the freeway and the smog lol then I for sure knew you were in LA lol.
![Coheed and Cambria - Searching for Tomorrow [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hDsYGLbmadg/mqdefault.jpg)
Shoutout to all the other worship drummers who “practice” by listening to the song then figuring out the rest on the day..
Austin Coyne
My “practice” is showing up and studying the charts during sound check hahah
Yup that’s what my life consists of.... I have 5 services to play for each week and no time to hop on a set to practice them so I just basically listen to them once at home and then once on the way to the service ha! It can get stressful when it’s new
The only instrument where you can pull this off. Gotta love being a drummer!
Definitely do this haha. I devote all of my formal practice to working on technique, groove, feel, and adaptability. I feel like that is a better approach because when things change on the fly like they always do I can quickly use good foundational knowledge to adapt quickly to the new arrangement :)
♥️🖐️
You mean you had a church gig that
-actually wanted you to play the snare
-actually was cool with fully open hi-hats
-didn't make you play the toms all the way until the last 45 seconds of song
-didn't make you click on the side of the tom for 3/4ths of the song
-didn't have only one energetic opener followed by 2 slow slow songs with 90% toms
????? What church have you found???
Emotional Relation they accept me regardless of how loud I play 🥺
@@DavidColaDrums True Christianity!! (Jk)
@@DavidColaDrums I was so glad to hear you played at church. I didn't know you believed!
Haha... 48 measures of tom build up, right? :)
@@DanMowry Apparently some people hear it as "the beat coming in", I don't hear it as a beat unless it has snare, and even then tom beats only make sense to be used for so long in a song to me!!😂😂
Glad to see a church drummer not encased in plexiglass 😂
Yep. He has the cymbal shields in front of him, but that's really all that's needed.
Those plexiglass companies make a fortune on churches. Especially the churches who have just one of their own members playing drums because they’re cheap and don’t want to hire a real drummer. That’s usually the only time those drummers ever play is during church so they’re like Animal bashing the shit out of the drums and doing full measure fills every 4 measures.
exactly! so funny.
Well some churches do it to get proper eq and mixes soooo yeah they have reasons
Chrissy Martinez from my long experience as a church musician it’s because they use drummers out of their church who play loud, busy and generally very bad instead of spending a few bucks to hire a pro. That goes for any of the church member musicians. For a lot of them the only time they play is at church and they view it as their time to shine.
@9:00 Those HOLY Ghost notes bro...wow
Holy fuck. I didn’t even hear it til you said something lol. I’m not using my headphones. Good comment. Underrated with only 4 likes.
I was anticipating that since i read your comments and i agree 100%!!!
Oh yeah I caught those as well. Nice touch.
I am a church musician for 2 decades till now. Not been paid but it blessed me so much. I dont question being paid but serving without expecting anything in return made worship to Him more of a devotion rather than a service.
Who cares about God just give me the freakin money !!!
just kidding
American Gods come on green paper slips my dude
Ive been playing in my church band with the same guys (and lady) for 12 years. Definitely the one thing I look forward to every week
Same
The k high hats. Just always a winner when I hear them.
I play 15" I sweet hats my guy they are a dream
Cole Sisler I’ve been searching g for a used set they are not cheap! But dang seem worth the price!
@@Chudhole Yessir!
Wait... Some drummers get paid to serve at church!?!?
Idk man. My church sure don’t pay me😂
Big churches in big cities do yeah
The difference is both of you said "my church". This isn't the case of someone in the congregation just happens to know how to play drums and joined the band.
I played for the church i used to go to for 15 years, never received any pay...akd never charged them either
Playing 4-7 services through a weekend with the possibility of a mid-week rehearsal, is a huge ask for just volunteers.
As a keys player I can say that there’s nothing more stressful than listening to a song for the first time on the way to sound check
I'm a church drummer. I don't read charts or even practice songs. The preacher sings it on stage and at that very moment i have to think of a beat! That's why i do many mistakes while playing...
Edit: I'm playing for a small church btw.. Not one of those big mega churches
David, thanks for this - so enlightening. As a 'small town covers-band' kind of guitar player, I've never played at the kind of professional level you're doing here... so hearing your 'in-ear' mix is like a whole new thing for a musician like me. Assuming that you're hearing it at the kind of level we're hearing it on this video then it really helps to see how it all works. I'd just love to be able to play in a band with in-ear monitoring... to control the level, keep it listenable to and actually be able to hear what I'm doing (for once!). Anyway, love the videos, thanks again. Look forward to seeing more.
Two things:
1) Don’t microwave water for coffee; get an electric kettle.
2) how long did you steep the French press? 5 min max, ideally 4.
@J.Y.718 except talk to me in 20 years when all the 5G energy coming thru the microwaves into your coffee, turns you into a lizard person.
My buddy! Great vid, thank you for keeping it real. It’s so good to see good clean drumming content coming from a great musician like yourself. Keep doing your thing brother. Blessings in all you do.
That tripped me out. Your WL said "Welcome to Seacoast..." and I was like, wait. I am a worship leader and musician at Seacoast Church in Charleston, SC - I did not recognize this campus, haha.
Drummer to drummer, I have to ask (and I’ve always wondered this), I see you have a chart and it’s not really a drum chart, but has cues. My question is, how coarse do you grind your coffee for the press? Thanks!
Peety In Jax great question ;p
or does he drink coffee?
I wold imagine he has a formula similar to mine. The more unfamiliar the songs, the stronger the coffee!
This is the real question. I'm wondering the same.
I’m a catholic and as soon as I saw this I thought” Welp, this doesn’t look like my type of chorch”
Great VLOG! Gives a wonderful insight into what goes on behind the scenes. Those charts are amazing!
Hi David, I've grown as a church drummer and truly inspired by your journey and all that you do. I love your approach to playing and your willingness to share your knowledge. All the best and look forward to more videos.
Wow. So spot on. Exactly what it is like as a worship drummer. Get the charts learn the part and have a positive attitude.
This was cool to watch, and very familiar. I play drums for my church. We use a Dr Beat but not typically a full backing track. I actually have the Dr Beat and foot pedals to operate it in the drum cage with me, so I'm still fully in control of the flow of things. I use lead sheets instead of charts and just make notes on where the dynamics are. We do three services on Sunday mornings, with the second being on live stream. Because it's just a thing I volunteer to do I sometimes forget that I have years and years of performance experience and a large catalogue of recorded "shows." Church drumming is a great way to essentially "get reps" as a musician.
I know right the music director makes a world of a difference when they send charts 🙌🏾 it helps so much when you have little to zero time to rehearse
Absolutely, when the charts are as shown in Dave's video. However, "charts" to many churches today are lyrics with letters written over them. NO measures, NO notations.
As a drummer at my high school...that stick break was beautiful. lol
Great videos David. Curious how you record the audio for these gigs (click, band audio) that you then use in your videos. Any chance of doing a video on that? I know this is an older video but I came back to this as it’s a good one 🤘🏼
Love the channel!! Always look forward to your next one!!
Awsom..around 38 years ago i was playing a church i went to at the time..the guitar player was really good he was once a rock guitar player so he kinda played with a rock feel it sounded great..and to play drums to him and for it to sound good i had to play a bouncy beat With a rock feel to it after we played i was told you cant play rock and roll here..i wasent playing rock and and roll i was giveing a song a beat that Was right for the song..thay wanted a plain beat that dident sound right to the song...so its awsom to see someone alowed 2 play drums in church the way god intended for them to be played in all their Glory.. I no longer. Play it hurts my legs in the shins and it hurts my hands 2..but i loved watching u play..keep up the good work..
Looks similar to my prep but without sheet music.
Thanks for the inspiration David. You rock brother! 🥁
Hello accidentally ran across your channel, u were on a Cruze ship, then worship gig, I am a bassist of 45 years, but a worship player for 2.5 years, it's really cool to follow you, you are very blessed and talented, great personality, thanks for sharing PEACE
very cool, very professional. thanks for sharing. Have you tried lowering your ride cymbal a little? Just saying (as a drummer who just turned 40) your right shoulder will thank you many years from now!
Dude, continue this weekend vlog, i love it!
Its always been my passion to play drums, I hope that I would play at our church someday, in GOD'S Will.
You'll get it, man!!!!
@@DrumLuv23 Thanks, man! With GOD's Grace and Mercy, I am now playing the Cajon at our small church 😇😊 Stay safe and GOD bless you!! JESUS Loves you so much!! May HIS Peace be with you!
Love 'Great Things!' awesome song really like that floor Tom thang you did before the outro 🔥
It's not just "reading" the chart it's having the ability to perform immediately what's on the chart ie; making each of 4 limbs do what is required independently , that is very professional...
David - You are definitely an inspiration to us Working Christian Musicians. Thanks for Giving back this little piece of your life :-) It's Really Appreciated. Oh, You are an amazing Drummer Very Professional and Keep Giving back :-). Hey, I think it's ok for you to spread your Religious beliefs :-)
Missed a lick around 7:00 looked like he said, "Fuck" 😂
I'm a worship guitarist and it was cool to see a similar experience when you're playing at church! That second song is one we do too. Great vid. Keep it up.
Amazing videos bro, God bless and know his glory is always around us!!!! You have passion and so did Jesus Christ !!!!🙌🙌🙌🙌💙🇺🇸 Stand Firm and be strong!!!!
nah bro spit out your beliefs bring glory to Him 🙏🙏🙏
Dude i was looking forward to seeing the breakfast burritos! LOL- Great chops! Keep up the good work you're a monster player!
nice. thank for the insight and peek into the view of a worship musician. God's love and blessings sir!!!
Showing up Sunday morning for rehearsal/practice and improving as I go. Yup pretty much the story of my life lol😂
I’m not a drummer but much respect. You kept it real and vlogged your experience lol. Love how people got worked up that he called it a “gig” or that he got paid. He has to carry his very expensive and heavy equipment from location to location, travel, practice on his own (if needed), rehearsal/sound check with live band and then actually perform. But everyone wants to criticize this talented dude and say they wouldn’t accept pay lol. Ok but you probably don’t have to do multiple “gigs” so you probably are not getting offered the same amount of money either.
Jorge Gomez I appreciate that Jorge! I never meant it with any disrespect. But hey, as a normal human in LA, most people have to make 3-4K a month live comfortably. And when musicians can make as little as $75-100 per gig for 8-12 hours of work and struggle to find more gigs in a town over populated with musicians it gets pretty difficult. So taking about 12-14 hours out of my weekend for no pay wouldn’t be the most viable option for me to afford rent, let alone any other predicament that may arise. Some horrible drivers here 😅
"David you played great! We love you, please join our Chorch!"
Great video! I'm also a worship drummer and it's super interesting to see it from another persons perspective. I'm also the same way, I'll listen through the music a couple days before and maybe sit down on the kit and work some things out if it's new but lately I've had my kit packed up and just work things out mentally and actually play through on a kit for the first time during practice.
I started playing for a smaller church with a super tight very talented band. It was amazing. I have played in bigger churches with bigger bands and even though the sound can be fuller and technically better, it just doesn't have the same feel. When you play with a smaller group, everyone has to play so much tighter and it makes you a better musician and makes you connect with the band so much better. I now go to a pretty big church and still fill in once a month at my old smaller church and the smaller church is def where I feel more into it. We also don't play click tracks or anything at the small church and it's more raw and natural and we follow direction from one another and it's just more organic.
Thanks for sharing! You're a great drummer!
As a WL, I internally was screaming seeing how he prepares 😂😂
Great vid dude
Different people learn at different rates. A pro will sight read at a much higher level than a practiced amateur.
I know that's right brother Pearl the best reason why I play drums 💪🥁
The sound of that snare is goals
David I love that snare! What is it? would mind telling me how do you usually tune your bottom heads and how you adjust how much tension on the snare please? Awesome video and Playing!
This video just popped up in my youtube feed since I have been learning worship songs for the church I now play drums for, but then I realized that your name sounded REALLLY familiar. BOOM, I just saw you in a ZackGrooves video from today (6/30/22) doing the drummer guessing! Super cool!
I am a self taught drummer for 20 years, but since I have joined this church I have been striving to finally learn more regarding reading music and charts as well as more chops and whatnot. Thankfully I have been playing to a click and recording my own music with my 2 kits for years so it's an easy transition into this field.
Is there anything more satisfying than slowly pushing down the plunger on the French press? :) You know it's gonna be a good morning!
Thanks a lot David I really got a lot out of this video and it’s very gracious of you to share the day in the life of a church drummer. I found the video both informative and inspiring please continue posting such amazing content! Peace and love,
-Bishop Bautista
Nice video, I too am a church worship drummer and I don't have the luxury of technology, I get the music sheets of a song and listen to the rest of the band play it one time through without me and I write in "notes" on the sheets as the band plays as to what I need to play or what sounds good then we play it..
The best church md’s are the type that send out charts like this. The one at my current gig just sends out a packet of charts...every tune in order, boom. Assuming you have experience and reading chops, all you have to do is show up and play...it’s a great gig.
Great playing, man. I don’t know how you learn songs so quickly. Very impressive!
I’m a new subscriber and I am glad I subscribed. Your content is really good and I use to play in church. Right now I just make drum covers on my channel and your video on lighting in your drum room was very helpful and I thank you!
its so amazing that i heard him playing with the star cymbal and i could just feel you ooze church drummer then i saw this video 😁
So cool to watch worship from this aspect, glad I stumbled onto this! Awesome bro! Keep em coming!
Love this! Do more worship drummer content!
GOD❤❤❤ BLESS bro nice to play for our FATHER❤❤❤. thx for sharing you're very good
Hi David, I have been watching you for a couple of years now, not sure of dates though. I loved the CHUCH gig. Does that church have sermons and services that I can access, glad that you have settled in LA, not sure about vanilla coffee though!! You are a fantastic drummer and I hope that you get blessed with more great gigs to work at. PS Liked the Arianne playback 'Boyfriend' you made it sound even better.
All good and well David. Love your content...but do you know Jesus personally? That’s the one question worth answering
Jesse Camera And of course he needs to be asked that question because him being a paid musician probably doesn’t right? 🙄
Actually Giovanni, he needs to be asked because it’s a matter of his soul’s eternity as well as yours. Do you know Jesus?
I do and preach it weekly but it’s pretentious of you to put yourself at higher spiritual plane by asking “do you know Jesus personally?”.
"Look, no traffic!" [Still insists on driving in the left lane].
i cant fully describe the amount of annoyed i get at left laners lol
i didnt even know the chart stuff existed lol. i'd just show up and play the set. but we would also play the song a little differently a lot of times.
I find these videos interesting as it shows the lead up and background to a performance, thanks
Tasty chops bro! Watched a few video's and enjoy your playing.
Yeah, as an atheist, I've always wondered what it would be like to be a 'worship drummer.' Or, in my case, 'playing a church gig,' to better phrase it. A good friend of mine from ND, was going to be doing a 6 month mini state tour with his christian band, awhile back, and asked me to be his drummer, but, unfortunately, I was occupied with alot of personal things at the time, so, I had to decline. Anyway, you're right! There are alot of churches out here in Cali. I inquired on a couple Sunday morning gigs at a church, nearby, but, unfortunately, the bias, judgemental, close-minded people, that the general religion has, (most, not all) when they would start asking questions regarding 'belief,' etc.... then realize I don't believe in an invisible man in the sky, they have no interest and don't call back. A little annoying, and just reinforces what say about these, supposed, 'loving and accepting' people that are engaged in this belief system. Oh well. Such is life. Just wanted to say, though, I admire your contribution to the drumming world, and would love to meet you some day. You're living your passion. And, you're very good at it! That's awesome!
Philip Hitchcock Super cool to see working musicians getting paid gigs in churches man, but didn’t it used to be that sunday worship is just what it says it is? people gathering (including musicians) who believes in a god and “worship” ? It’s prolly more about them exercising their belief than them being biased, it’s just that their belief won’t allow them. It’s like forcing a muslim man to eat pork...maybe? tho i’m not saying that some church would’t be happy to hire an atheist it’s all different interpretations nowadays 😂
Phillip. It can be the other way around also. Many bands that consists of people who aren't believers wouldn't want to a member who is a believer in their band (example: The Used). So it goes both ways and it's just people being people. As it's said, birds of a feather flock together. Everyone have their preferences and it's just what it is. God bless.
Lol wat
Beliefs kinda come with playing at a church
First, if anyone in the church was outright disrespectful or rude I do want to apologize on their behalf. I do want to add though that being a part of a worship team is a leadership position in the church, and pastors want to know that there musicians leading the church in worship are living a Christian life. It's not anything against you purposefully, but it's important to make the distinction that to us Christians it's more than just a weekend gig. Hope that helps and God bless!
They should be kind and respectful saying no thanks, but at most churches (mine included), the worship team is "leading worship" of God. It would be phony for them to have someone onstage who doesn't believe, calling others to worship. That being said, some churches who really need particular type of musician may hire who they can get, with some hope that a non-believer will see something they haven't seen before and come to know God. Also in my church (approx. 3500 total members over three services) most musicians are volunteers and members of that church who attend the other weekends when they don't play, so I doubt a non-believer would want to play there for free.
As a worship drummer myself, well done sir
CHOECH DRUMMER 🤣Love it! (did I spell "choech" correctly?)
Dude that's awesome you read sheet music! It sounds super hard to do that, because i play by ear.
I was looking forward to the breakfast burritos!!!
I'm not religious at all, but I would honestly go just to hear you drum. So tight!
You should consider it, it might change your life
This whole music-by-numbers/click is completely foreign to me... but the results are good tempo and a very solid live presentation so... I have to get behind that! More curious about the 3 x plexi shields in front of you and the band... pretty arbitrary IMO... (BTW, I appreciate the time compression edits)
LanceCampeau When plexi-shields are used like that it’s just to keep the cymbals from bleeding into the vocal mics in front
I love it! I wish I could visit your church! What's the name of it?
54 degrees is definitely not freezing my friend haha 😂Had to drive to soundcheck after a blizzard in sub-zero temps many times here in Omaha, NE! 😭
I read this comment and thought 54 degrees Celsius. Makes a lot more sense in Fahrenheit lol
Hi David! Great playing! I am just now seeing this video. Very cool vlog! Can you tell me what you're using in your practice space for your laptop and mixing board? Thanks in advance.
Nice 🔥 but I was looking for the deep snare CCM sound tho. Still smackin
I don’t play the drums but I love your channel! Keep up the great work!
I found thid kind of Videos very interesting. To see how yopu prepare for a "bread an butter" gig and how long that take with learning the songs etc. Very professional done!
I knew there is some work to being a drummer but i had no idea.
Great stuff
Thank you for making the Cruises people pay a grip for more enjoyable.
Also
I always thought the "Chuch" band was all volunteer. I had no idea you all get paid. To me.... that makes complete sense.
Good job at knowing your value.
It depends on the church. Some are volunteer, some pay
Funny enough my Sunday superstition is I have to eat a breakfast burrito before services that I'm playing in. Great minds thinking alike.
If only we'd have this in France !
I think I might start reading more for church...I've NEVER had to read charts for CCM music bc they all sound exactly the same with the same beats and simple chord progressions... Pentecostal drummers also tend to have a very high retention for remembering complex parts bc those services are basically 3 hours of spontaneous jazz fusion. CCM music is definitely a great way to sharpen reading bc it's soooo easy to chart out.
I really enjoyed your playing. Keep doing your thing.
Hi David! So enjoy to watch you on your drums! I wish my life is just doin' what you are doin' now as a full time drummer(coz' that's my passion). I am a worship drummer too :) but need to learn more on reading music chart and all that stuff! Anyway, keep inspire bro 👍
Wow, I didn’t know many churches paid drummers. I’ve played in church most of my life, and wasn’t aware of that practice (other than the big worship groups like Hillsong, Passion, etc.) Great video.
Not many churches do actually. It’s gonna be the bigger churches that do because they will have to set aside a budget for it. My church has 10k plus members and I drum for 3/6 of our campuses every week and I get paid. I’ve also been a member for over 10 years, even though I’ve just started drumming for them. I feel that a church with size shouldn’t hire people to come in, the worship leaders should come from within. Idk that’s just my view. And not everyone gets paid on stage. For my church only the musicians and the campus worship director do. Vocalists don’t.
dang those transitions are nice 👌🏻
lol he totally said "fuck" at 7:04 lord strike him now
Maaaaan!!! That is some tight drumming 😱😱😱😱😱😱🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Have you ever tried to use low tuning on the snare? Btw, nice vid👌🏼
Some snares that dont carry good body arent ideal for low tuning in church. They just end up having a fat slappy dead sound, which is a dope sound just not necessarily in church.
Cole Sisler I’ve tried this tuning last Sunday it actuallly sounded good . It was low but not to loose with bottom heads really tight
What!! You have to take whole kit to church??? every week! That's big commitment!
He only took his snare and cymbals from what I can tell. The snare is blue and the rest of the kit is a different color.
Nice cues. Very professional.
Hey David, thanks for the insight. I dig seeing into the shows and hearing from your experience. Thanks for sharing!
I was wondering what camera you usually use for live footage, like in this video? And do you use the camera inbuilt mike or have an extra one with you for better quality? Cheers
Hi , Loved it all. Can you please guide me what software you were listening to the tempo and the ques. It seems very cool and helpful, Best Regards.
Zohaib Naeem a lot of churches that use click and tracks usually use ableton live. my church gets tracks from multitracks, but there’s also loop community.
I definitely don't miss SoCal traffic. Awesome video dude!
Those empty seats burden my heart....
Sat. night, and 'Last' services are usually the least attended ones. They probably had 2 services in between that were packed. That's what I'm guessing, anyway...
And usually..... unfortunately, people will come late :’)
So the beginning of the worship service is usually more empty compared to the end.
God will call His elect to himself! In his timing brother, though we can all do better to evangelize and spread the gospel!
Sadly every church has them
People are waking up to the scam that religion is 😂☕️
Hey great video!! Was the the electric guitarist Dillan Witherow?
WAS THINKING THE SAME THING PLEASE CONFIRM!!
Pelazix - yup!
I missed seeing the breakfast burrito, and how you transport, set-up, and break-down your drum kit.
Looking for a church to visit during my stay in December. What church is this? Also, you totally killed it at See a Victory and This is a Move!
What are you using for the verbal cues? Pretty cool....
hey... greetings from Brazil... very cool to see how familiar is your routine in the weekends playing at church. How many drummers in a church like that? I don't think you play every weekend right? Do you have fixed band members - always playing with same people - or you just fits in some band as a drummer in the weekend you gonna play? keep it up, God bless you!
Have to have more than one drummer. The other guy lost the wing nuts and top felts. Lol!
What/who is making the cues like ‘intro’ and ‘chorus’? Is that a human or is some magical software running the show? How does this magic work? If you made a video explaining that I’d be so into it! Thanks! Great videos!
Abelton Live
I thought but wasn’t sure if you were in Los Angeles at first until I saw all the palm trees on the freeway and the smog lol then I for sure knew you were in LA lol.