Vision & FAQs

1. A Psalm Drummer recognises Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and all his/her activities aim to be established in the Christian Faith and the Bible.
2. A Psalm Drummer seeks to learn about the power and relevance of rhythm in our world and to remain in God’s rhythm and purpose for his/her life.
3. A Psalm Drummer believes the ability to drum is a valuable gift; he/she seeks to grow in that gift with a responsible attitude.
4. A Psalm Drummer acknowledges drumming as a powerful tool for affecting change.
5. A Psalm Drummer plays drums as a declaration of faith and to express his/her worship of Jesus Christ.
6. A Psalm Drummer uses drumming to promote unity, good relationships, to bridge cultural divides and to communicate God’s love to all peoples.
7. A Psalm Drummer aims to serve and encourage the Body of Christ (the Church).
8. A Psalm Drummer is a Christian drummer or percussionist who is readying himself or herself, in the pursuit of God’s call, as the Lord Jesus gathers and sends His drummers throughout the world with His heartbeat.

Besides our 1000’s of drumming friends all over the world, the core team in the UK consists of:

• Mark Jones (Oversight and structure support / Percussionist)
• Michelle Tennens (Oversight and groups support, marketing and comms / drummer)
• Simon Edwards (Oversight and groups support / drummer)
• Dan Abbott (Communications and network support / drummer)
• Terl Bryant (Founder and advisor/ drummer)
• Raul D’Olivera (Pro Trumpet player and percussionist UK)
• Ken Murray (Events support and advisor / Drummer)
• Mike Griffiths (Communications support / drummer)
• Ed Freitas (Drummer / Facilitator, UK)
• Mike Simpson (Training and education Mgr / Percussionist, Facilitator)
• Tim Scarborough (Drummer / Facilitator, UK)
• Simon Zacharia (Drummer / PD Group Host, UK)
• Terry Goble (Communications support / drummer)

A wider network of Psalm Drumming friends actively support the vision. They include:

• Jerry Brown (Drummer / London, UK)
• Dez Minto (Pro drummer / YFriday, UK)
• Bono Hodge (Advisory support / drummer)
• Matthew Hains (Training and support / Drummer)
• Phil Manning (Percussionist / Church Warden, UK)
• Martin Neil (Drummer / Percussionist, UK)
• Calum Rees (Pro drummer, Canada)
• Alex Neciosup-Acuña (Pro percussionist and drummer / Christian Minister, USA)
• Carlos Benson (Drummer / Director of Drummers for Jesus, USA)
• Carl Albrecht (Pro drummer, USA)
• Perry Gerhart (Drummer intercessor / PA USA)
• James Entwisle (Agape Alive / Business exec, UK)

We have a team of facilitators, all of whom are gifted communicators, skilled drummers and CRB checked (Criminal Records Bureau).

Psalm Drummers workshops are inspiring and fun and are an invaluable part of the ministry. Designed to communicate the love of God using rhythm, with themes drawn from Scripture, our workshops include prayer and worship (unless it is prohibited). They are suitable for experienced players and non-players alike and are tailored for schools, churches, leadership teams, retreats and holiday camps. To find out about bookings email workshops@psalmdrummers.org

There are many groups and individuals linked to the Psalm Drummers vision - and although we are unable to offer a comprehensive service to link people. We do encourage group hosts (official Psalm Drummer groups or other affiliates) to register details on our NETWORK/GROUPS forum.

Connect with us on FACEBOOK at this link: http://www.facebook.com/psalmdrummers, or visit our NETWORK/GROUPS forum

Many are also linked through our partners at Drummers for Jesus’ based in Fort Worth, Texas in the United States.

Link through to Drummers for Jesus, USA

Connect with Michelle Tennens (PDA Trustee)michelle.tennens@psalmdrummers.org

You may find these thoughts helpful too: The Psalm Drummers vision is to help bring you the drummer into a closer walk with God - with a fuller understanding of what it means to drum in your God-given gift. Meeting together with other believing drummers and using our teaching resources will help serve that end.

The Psalm Drummer network operates through friendships, which naturally take time to develop. Being a Psalm Drummer is defined in the question ‘What defines a Psalm Drummer?’ above. We are network of all types of Christian drummer and percussionist and are not exclusive.

However, to become linked with the ‘Psalm Drummer’ ministry, we will want to get to know you and to see that your vision is aligned with the core values of our mission and God’s Word. Psalm Drummer groups are active partners in the vision and have a key role in supporting the core team through prayer and involvement in the wider initiatives.

As you explore your vision, please seek the advice and support of the local church body to which you remain attached (Rom 13:1, John 5:19). Psalm Drummer gatherings are not and cannot be a replacement for ‘church’, but can be an effective and fruitful way for drummers and others to meet for prayer, worship and missions.

The following are some pointers to help you explore the idea of hosting a drummer’s gathering:

1. Pray through and write down exactly what you envision doing. Talk to your pastor or church leader and listen to their feedback. It is always best to have the support of your leaders at church and to remain accountable and under authority. Let God speak to you through His Word (the Bible). Is this something God has put in your heart to do?

2. Once you are happy about the vision. Try contacting local churches (put a notice up) and seek out other local drummers. Talk to people and search the Internet for other local drumming events, visit music shops. There maybe a little work in finding other drummers, but you’ll soon find some (they are everywhere!). Make a list of all those you find even if they seem very different from you. This could be a mission?

3. Keep praying (Luke 18:1) – and ask God about the names on your list. God uses drumming to bring people together.

4. Once you have made contact with others, talk to them, share your vision and find out who is interested.

5. Don’t run before you can walk. If you make friends with one or two others, it might be worth getting together over coffee or a meal first to talk/pray in more depth about what you would like to do.

6. If then others sound keen, take a lead by finding somewhere you can get together to drum. Share the responsibility by asking one of the others to help you set it up. Will the church let you meet in their building (if they have one)?

7. Try an initial meeting. It is sometimes possible for someone from our core team to visit and help with this. Ask us? Your gatherings should neither be too heavy or too formal. There are some helpful tips on hosting a meeting on FAQ question about ‘facilitating a prayer/worship drum circle’ too. If you try an initial meeting, make sure you cover it with prayer. Afterwards talk about the fruit of the meeting and see how you can improve on what you’ve already done.

8. Go back to your original vision. Stay prayerful. If God is at work in this, He will guide you (Is 46:4). Keep close to God’s Word and follow His leading in all you do. Keep talking to others at church and let us know how you are doing.

Here are a few tips on hosting a drum circle prayer meeting .

A suggested outline for hosting a ‘prayer-drum circle’.

These 10 points are only a very rough guide, but do form the basic model for the way in which we have led ‘prayer and worship’ gatherings using percussion and hand drums. This is suitable for people wanting to explore prayer and worship using drums and can be a great tool for introducing the non-churched into an environment of worship with the body of Christ. If you are planning to host a meeting always pray in preparation and seek your pastor’s blessing alongwith the support of your church community. Remain accountable and take advice from people you trust within the church body.

1. Get the room/space ready first. If you are able to provide extra percussion instruments, unpack them and have them ready at hand. Create a circle of chairs (where possible), making sure they are not tightly packed to give room for people to move around, or to join the circle.

2. Once everyone has arrived briefly introduce yourself - and give people a few ‘ground rules’ i.e; clarify your intension for meeting with God through prayer and worship. Let people know how long the session will be and explain about sharing instruments, and any other practical stuff too.

3. Ask for a show of hands for those who might not have played a drum before - encourage them to join in at their own pace. Explain (briefly) how drumming is stirring, encouraging, useful for prayer and worship, but also lots of fun! You may want to draw on one or two biblical ‘tof’ (tambourine) references. “Praise Him with the timbrel and dance.. ” Psalm 150:3-6. “Begin the music, strike the tambourine… ” Psalm 81:2.”Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.” Psalm 149:3.

4. It can be helpful to mention God’s creative nature etc., as this might be very new for some. Encourage freedom, moving around, sitting or standing etc. Also encourage singing and speaking out prayers (this very important). You may need to lead by example with this - if you stay too serious/sitting/static so will everyone else.

5.You may have a scripture verse (ask God what He would like you to say) and/or a theme to touch upon? If not, don’t worry many times the Lord delights in revealing His presence in the moment. I consider Ephesians 3:16-19 as a helpful Psalm Drumming prayer.

6. Make your session ‘Prayer, Praise and Worship’ (in character and content). Avoid aggressive spiritual warfare (shouting at Satan etc.) unless the Lord specifically leads and you feel confident in this area. Although not very common, If you experience distracting or unhelpful manifestations don’t be afraid - sometimes this sort of praise can bring release. Talk to the Lord, and either hold the level of praise until it subsides, or be unafraid to shut it down. Again, if you are inexperienced in this area, take advice from your pastor or elders in the church fellowship. Do some study and ask for His wisdom - the Lord wants to teach you how to move in His authority in all these situations.

Luke 10:19 ‘Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you’.

7. Get the group drumming - perhaps say a short prayer, and start a beat inviting others to follow in as they feel comfortable. Lead and stay in charge, but NOT aggressively, or by interrupting the flow all the time. Be unafraid to let the drumming go on for a good while. Twenty minutes to an hour is quite normal and allows things to develop.

8. Watch what’s going on keeping your eyes open, acknowledge with a smile different things going on. Try following or picking-up on the beat or pattern someone else is playing. Don’t be afraid to gently lead into a louder or quieter phase. When you are ready stop playing, stand and wait for others to stop too. The silence after a time of drumming can be very powerful too.

9. Invite feedback and then pray into the comments and observations. Perhaps (if there is time) pick-up a new beat.

10. End by affirming all present. Encourage them to pray through and or write down things they may have sensed the Lord speaking. It’s always good to end with a prayer of thanksgiving.

There are in fact 17 references in scripture to the Hebrew word ‘tof’, which modern translators mostly interpret as ‘tambourine’, or sometimes ‘timbrel’ or ‘tabret’.

The ‘tof’ (a word still used today by orthodox Jews) is very like our contemporary word, ‘drum’, in that it does not define the instrument in every detail. It is the name given for the common drum of the period, a frame drum. Although often decorated it is an historic and simple design, being a skin fixed over a circular frame that is larger in diameter than depth. Frames drums are common all over the world and in Biblical times would have varied in size and depth as they do today. The name ‘tof’, like most drums throughout the world, is onomatopoeic. That simply means it describes the sound it makes.

Think of other drum names like ‘conga’, ‘tumba’, ‘doumbek’, ‘tar’, ‘tom-tom’ and even the word ‘drum’. A linguist or Hebrew scholar is likely to comment that the ‘tof’ would not have had jingles, as there is no metallic quality in the sound of its name. Contrast that to the metallic resonance of the word ‘tambourine’. ‘Tambour’ is the drum sound, and ‘rine’ suggests the metallic sound. It may also be worth mentioning that ‘tambour’ remains the French word for drum.

There are commonly two types of frame drums across the globe: plain drums whose primary sound comes from the skin like the Middle Eastern ‘tar’, Egyptian ‘duff’, and South Indian ‘kanjira’; and those with additional sound makers attached, commonly metal ring chains, bells or jingles, which are attached to the rim or inset into the frame. The Egyptian ‘riq’ (or ‘rek’), Brazilian ‘pandiero’, and the ‘tamburello’ found in Spain and Italy, are common drums which feature the metallic sounds of jingles. Other drums like the North African ‘bendir’ can have a gut string (an early form of snare) underneath and the ‘tambores con charchillos’ are Peruvian drums with vibrating cactus spines underneath.

‘Percussion Instruments and their History’ by the late James Blades (originally published 1969 by Faber and Faber) also refers to instruments of Mesopotamia and Egypt circa 1100 BC. These include frame drums, small kettledrums (baz) and vase shaped drums made of clay. Blades supports the view that the Biblical ‘tof’ had no jingles. He comments, “In Biblical references the words tinkling and metal are used in connection with bells and cymbals, but not with tabret or timbrel, (commonly translated as tambourine).”
So why do translations of the Bible speak of a tambourine and not simply a drum?

The name ‘tambourine’ does have historic roots, being a generic name for differing sizes of frame drum with jingles common throughout Europe for several hundred years. However the ‘tambourine’ has been popularised in Western culture as the name for a lightweight jingle instrument often lacking a head or skin. With a skin it is limited to finger drumming due to its delicate nature.
This is where the problems of definition really start to arise. It seems the tambourine has been going through some changes (haven’t we all) and that the drummer and the tambourine player of today have much less in common than several hundred years ago. The point is; when we read about the ‘tambourine’ in the Bible it is all too easy to imagine a rather nice, rather safe, rather ineffective and inconsequential little jingly noise going along with the music, instead of the authority and focus of a dedicated and professional drummer, playing a powerful beat on a large frame drum to empower the music - a beat that reflects the passion of the Psalms and the almighty nature of God!

However the strongest argument for the character of the ‘tof’ still remains its name, which most naturally indicates a deep thud. Try saying it. It’s not ‘tar’, ‘tif’, ‘tick’, tom’, ‘ching’, ‘ping’ or anything else - ‘tof’ is a very definite drum sound. The popular Irish frame drum, the ‘bodhran’, (pronounced ‘bow-ron’) is very close in sound. Incidentally whenever I’ve been to Ireland everyone seems to say the name differently - and use a different implement to play it, anything from a little, carefully turned stick to a favourite old paintbrush! Making this connection between the ‘tof’ and ‘bodhran’ is really quite interesting, as some historians believe the instrument made its way to Ireland from the Middle East in ancient times. It is also probable the Bible ‘tof’ would have been played with hands and/or with sticks according to the natural preference of the player, not unlike many ethnic drums today. Indeed, most drummers of today have a stick bag containing a wide variety of sticks, mallets, brushes and other playing implements.

We mustn’t forget either that ‘tambourine’ is only one of the words used in English Bible translations. The authoritative King James and the New King James Bibles use ‘tabret’ or ‘timbrel’. These words seem to create less of an issue when translated as ‘drum’, closing the gap for misunderstandings, even though they are not commonly used today.
In light of this it becomes clear the use of the English word ‘tambourine’ is at best incomplete and at worst misleading. It is clearly outdated and fails to describe accurately the instrument found in Biblical Scripture.

Scripture references for the ‘tof’ are as follows:
1. Genesis 31:27,
2. Exodus 15:20,
3. Judges 11:34,
4. 1 Samuel 10:5,
5. 1 Samuel 18:6,
6. 2 Samuel 6:5,
7. 1 Chronicles 13:8,
8. Job 21:12,
9. Psalm 68:25,
10. Psalm 81:2,
11. Psalm 149:3,
12. Psalm 150:4,
13. Isaiah 5:12,
14. Isaiah 24:8,
15. Isaiah 30:32,
16. Jeremiah 31:4,
17. Ezekiel 28:13

Excerpt from ‘A Heart to Drum’ by Terl Bryant
(more info)

Firstly, there are no membership fees or subscriptions for Psalm Drummers. The network are drummers and percussionists who share the core values of the vision. The work is served by The Psalm Drummers Association, which is a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation established as an unincorporated association working within the guidelines of the UK Charity Commission.

Costs involved in running the ministry include:

- Website / Communications
- Organizational meetings
- Leadership expenses
- Travel

Although most of our members act as volunteers, we due aim to cover expenses and also to procure fare rates for professional players from funded organization or events. Most Psalm Drummers serve at events and on missions as volunteers.

Areas of income are as follows:

- Partner donations
- Corporate sponsorship
- Merchandise / Resources
- Bookings (workshops / teaching)

We encourage partnership support bby becoming a ‘heartbeat partner’ find out more here.

If you would like more info about Psalm Drummer finances, either out of a concern or because you are interested in how you could help in this area please email michelle.tennens@psalmdrummers.org