[Church Drummer]

These for the most part are good tips, I do disagree that a Church drummer doesn't need any chops. You should learn the music and try to duplicate the feel that the drummers on the recordings have. It isn't always necessary to play the worship songs exactly like the recordings (most of the songs we do have several different recorded versions), but you should play them with similar tempos and feels. You have to make the song your own, and do it in a way that is recognizable, singable, but fits the players and singers in your worship team. Church drumming is a less is more proposition, but you should have enough stick control (chops) that you can play at various volume levels, tempos, and in many different styles. Just because you can play 32nd notes at 100 BPM doesn't mean that you should, but having the chops and the stick control to do it will help you play at slower tempos with finess. I think it's a mistake for a church drummer to say that they don't need chops, and not work on technique.

As far as the use of Cymbals, etc. You have to choose the cymbal sound (or in some cases, the decision not to use cymbals in a certain section of the song) based on what fits in best with what the rest of the players are doing. I tend to start for the most part with a softer cymbal sound (such as closed Hi-hats) on the verses, and switch to the ride on the chorus. There are no pat formulas you have to listen and use your ears, and do what fits appropriately.