Auxiliary is defined by M-W.com as
a : offering or providing help b : functioning in a subsidiary capacity
Unfortunately, who do we usually assign to auxiliary percussion?
1. The drummer who can't cut it on set, either because of inexperience or sub-par talent.
2. The person who wants to be on the team but can't play an instrument. Can you clap in time? You're in.
Chances are, both people will overplay.
I don't want to just pick on percussionists here. There's an inverse relationship between the skill/experience/maturity of any musician and the amount he or she plays. Great musicians know how to make fewer notes count for more.
I remember the first time I paid attention to a great percussionist at work. I was actually sitting behind him in the choir loft during a worship conference breakout session at a large church. During the demonstration of a ballad, he couldn't have hit a drum or a cymbal more than a dozen times in the whole song. He just sat for bars and bars waiting for the perfect moment to plink finger cymbals together. Then a light hit on the djembe rim. Then some chimes.
He knew his place. And he loved it.
Each instrument and voice, at some point, must take a subservient role - be the understated dot of icing on beautiful cake. In most songs, the aux percussionist will need to take that role.
This Worship Director video from Gateway* is a great example of a master percussionist in action.
Did you notice he doesn't even touch the congas until 2 minutes in to the song?
All this less is more stuff is important - but worship leaders, we need to remember one thing:
They still need a chance to rock out and shine.
So look for songs and sections that can be driven by your aux percussionist. It'll carry him through while he's counting the 88 bars till his next finger cymbal hit.
*by the way - this is one of my new favorite songs. It started its pre-service introduction at my church last week.
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