David Michael

David Michael

Literacy Narrative

ENGL 101

Ms. Smith

September 4, 2007

The Band That Made the Man

Playing in the Jacobs Well Band really had a great impact on my literacy in music. It helped me to realize that there are many elements to being able to speak this language. It was nearly ten years ago when this took place, but I am still being impacted by the weight of its profound system of standards that it taught me. I feel that for any musician, this is a greatly beneficial environment for one to cultivate not only their music skills, but their people skills as well. My parents noticed the change in me over those two years and I noticed the change in myself likewise. I knew that my literacy in music would grow and this language helped me to develop my identity and personal characteristics. The Jacobs Well Band was a group of friends and spiritual brothers that cared for one another and shared a common purpose of glorifying God and leading others into worship.

The year was 1998 and I was the tender age of fifteen. I attended an overcrowded high school, South Gowinnett. This was before I had my license so I still depended on my family to be able to pick me up from school. One day I stayed after school, and I needed to call my mother to pick me up; I went to the school office and found that the line was busy and not possible to use for a while. I decided to head to the great big building next door, it was a church named Snellville First Baptist Church. When I walked in the front doors I immediately heard a sound that I recognized: it was the sound of drums being played! Before calling my mother, I wanted to find out who was playing those drums and where the sound was coming from. I walked into a big room, which was the youth group room, and I told the drummer that I played drums as well. He smiled and told me that he was about to go away to college, so the group was looking for a new drummer. Right then and there, I auditioned for the band leader, who also happened to be in the room, and he asked me to start playing with them immediately on Wednesday nights. I was very excited and agreed.

The very first Wednesday night I was very nervous. I had spoken the language of music before, but never in front of so many people! What if I stuttered? What if I forgot what to say in this language? My lack of self-confidence was met with great gratitude for my artistic attempt at being proficient in my expression. Many students came up afterwards and welcomed me with open arms. They were excited to see a new face, close to their age, giving my all for the language of music. The name of the church youth band that I played with was named Jacobs Well. There were seven people in the band: this included five guys and two girls. The two females were back-up singers and provided vocal harmonies for the lead vocals. Brian was the lead singer, and he was a big inspiration to me: he was ten years older than me, but treated me like somebody his own age. He seemed to be one of the funniest guys that I had ever met, but at the same time, his love for the Lord was very apparent. This interplay of character intrigued me. Michael, who was the same age as me, played the bass. He was a tall and slender guy who loved to play golf and pool. Brad expressed himself on the guitar very well. He was taught how to play by his dad. Brad was a couple years older, and in contrast to Michael, he was shorter and stout for his height. Steven, who did not stay in the band much longer, tinkled the ivories. He went away to college soon thereafter.

My role as the drummer in the band was one that I was both happy and eager to fulfill. I learned that there are many unspoken rules in the language of music, especially in the context of a full band. There are many things that I have learned that are to be expected of a drummer as a music speaker.

The Jacobs Well Band practiced together twice a week. This was a time for me to grow in my literacy and to become connected with my fellow band mates. We spent time in prayer and discussion about how and what we should play for the group of three hundred students for each upcoming Wednesday night. As an immature musician I desired to display my knowledge of complex drum fills and intricate drum beats. Although, my band mates were impressed and others that listened were impressed, I learned later that I broke one of the unspoken courtesies of playing in a band: I was drawing too much attention to myself. Through my time with the Jacobs Well Band I slowly learned this lesson. The band is not named the David Michael band, nor should I be setting peoples focus onto me. Our groups sole purpose was to glorify God, and I later learned that I had been bringing glory to myself. Playing with the Jacobs Well Band taught me a great internal lesson.

The band leader, Brian, was very gracious and patient with me. Due to my lack of knowledge in the language of music, and language of drumming, I wasnt fulfilling one of my chief roles as a drummer: this role is to keep a steady and unchangeable rhythm for the band to be able to play on top of. There were times where I would be so busy thinking about playing powerful drum fills, that my timing would slightly shift and eventually Brian noticed this. When I was told this heartbreaking news, my pride had been shattered, which I am now thankful to God for. I know how God says that pride comes before a fall and that He resists the proud in heart. I learned that there is a much bigger picture and it is much more encompassing than me. From that point on, I began seeking to play in a more God-glorifying way, and being a good example to others with not drawing attention to myself, and striving for an absence of pride.

Playing for the youth group on Wednesday nights showed me the great influence that a musician has on its listeners. With a mere drum beat, or rhythm, the whole group of students began to dance and clap. That was all that it took from me; a simple rhythm would bring joy to peoples hearts. It is a great experience to be a part of this and to see the smiles on the faces of the students. There were about three hundred students each Wednesday night. Some of the songs were very upbeat and got all of these high school students to clap along; other songs were more slow and allowed for more time to focus on spiritual things.

There were other times when the power of the Holy Spirit was really evident and brought tears to the students eyes. I did understand this until the first time that I cried overwhelmed by the goodness of God. I was even playing drums during this time and it became difficult to see where I was hitting, with all of the tears in my eyes. Playing for a worship band is very different than playing for a secular band, which I have done before. With an attitude of worship, everything is different, its not about the music; its about God. Every once in a while, I would stop playing drums in the middle of the song to kneel down beside my drum set to pray and talk to the Lord.

The day that I knew would be our last day together was really difficult. Most of the band members were heading on their own separate ways, but we would all still share the language of music together. Our music really bonded us and brought us to a kinship that may not necessarily be achieved through literal speaking with words. We opened up our hearts and souls to each other through music and our expression on instruments. I greatly cherish and miss these special times that we spent together. Playing the drums was able to help me to grow and develop as a musician, and it led me into a group of musicians where I was able to fit in and play along. Without this experience, I do not know where I would be today; my life would be completely different. Speaking the language of music in the Jacobs Well Band also led into the greatest change in my life, which was surrendering my life to Christ. This was all through my meager knowledge of playing the drums. Playing in this group also led to me playing with other church groups in the future, as well as learning to play other instruments. I was impacted so much through my new literacy in music that I sought to nourish it through study and practice.

I would love for everyone to be able to share in the joy of being literate in music. This literacy does not inexorably require one to be able to read sheet music; but it does ask that you give your time and emotion into the goal of speaking the language of music. I am thankful for this gift and I will continue to share it with others until the day that I die. I pray that it may have an imprint on others hearts and that it will bring delight into others lives. David MichaelThe Band That Made the ManPage 4