If you want to learn drums or hone your existing abilities, taking drum lessons can make total sense. But you’ll want to make sure you know what you're getting into financially before you book classes. Read on to find out how much a drum lesson will cost, how to spot hidden fees, what topics are often covered, and resources for finding qualified teachers.\
The price of drum lessons can differ based on factors like where you're located, the experience of the teacher, and the format of the lessons - we’ll cover the main factors in the next section. Here’s a breakdown of the typical expenses associated with drum lessons in both the United States and Europe:
Private Drum Lessons: The average cost for these lessons is typically between $50 to $75 per hour. Monthly packages typically consist of 4 to 5 lessons and are priced between $190 and $340.
Group drum lessons: Group lessons are a great option for those looking to learn in a more budget-friendly way. The cost per session typically ranges from $20 to $40.
Online Drum Lessons: The price of online lessons can vary, with different platforms offering different rates. Melodics offers a subscription to over 1200 online drum lessons, 170 course & 180+ song tutorials - all for $12.49/£8.33 per month!
Comparing the weekly cost for a student taking one lesson per week, our online drum lesson subscription is a much more affordable way to start learning the drums:
Type of Lesson
Weekly Cost
Private Drum Lessons
$50-75
Group Drum Lessons
$20-40
Online Drum Lesson with Melodics
$3.12
UK: In the UK, drum lessons are priced similarly, with private lessons ranging from £25 to £40 per hour. Group lessons come at a more affordable price, typically ranging from £10 to £20 per session.
Other European Countries: Prices can differ significantly, but private lessons typically range from €30 to €60 per hour, while group lessons usually cost between €15 to €30.
When it comes to drum lesson costs, several factors come into play.
The experience and qualifications of the drum instructor can greatly impact the price. Highly sought-after instructors with extensive experience and a prestigious background in music education may charge higher rates compared to those who are just starting out.
The duration of each lesson is another important factor. Typically, drum lessons are offered in various time increments, such as 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 1 hour. Naturally, longer lesson durations will result in higher costs.
Drum lesson prices may vary depending on where you live. In areas with higher living costs and a greater demand for music education, such as major cities, drum lessons tend to be more expensive compared to rural areas.
Some instructors offer one-on-one lessons, providing personalized attention and tailored instruction to each student. These individualized sessions often come at a higher price point due to the focused and customized nature of the teaching. On the other hand, group drum lessons, where multiple students learn together in a shared session, are usually more cost-effective as the instructor's time is divided among the participants.
Equipment and resources can also impact the pricing of drum lessons. Instructors who provide drum kits, practice pads, and other learning materials as part of the lesson package may charge higher fees to cover the cost of maintaining and updating these resources.
Specialized training programs or workshops offered by instructors may come with an extra cost, especially if they involve guest instructors or unique learning experiences. Specialized drum lessons may focus deeply on a particular style or genre of music, in these types of lessons you may be looking for a more specialized instructor which can come at a higher cost.
The number of lessons you will need per month depends on your personal goals and commitment level. Most commonly, students will begin with lessons once a week, while others may opt for biweekly or even monthly lessons. Clearly, the more frequently you take lessons, the quicker you will progress. However, it's essential to find a balance between lessons and practice time to reinforce what you've learned.
Ask instructors about discounts for pre-booking numerous classes. Taking frequent classes can save you money over time.
Planning your monthly schedule should also include lesson length. If you want to focus on specific topics or learn more deeply, longer courses may be better. However, shorter, more regular courses can help practise and improve abilities between sessions.
We developed Melodics to help beginners learn the drums at their own pace. Our highly interactive platform offers bite-sized lessons, provides specific feedback based on your drumming performance & holds hundreds of popular songs for you to master.
With our free trial you can try out unlimited lessons for 7 days. Check out our plans for access to our full features (including over 1200 lessons, 170 courses and complete guided path) - check out our plans here.
Drum lessons cover a diverse array of topics and techniques, tailored to meet the needs of students at different proficiency levels.
Novice drummers can expect to learn fundamental drumming skills, such as mastering the correct grip, practicing basic rhythms, and enhancing coordination through various exercises. As you continue your journey, lessons will explore more advanced techniques, including fills, rudiments, and various drumming styles.
In addition to developing technical skills, drum lessons also emphasise music theory and ear training. Having a solid grasp on how rhythms and beats complement various musical genres can significantly elevate your drumming skills.
In addition, performance skills are often highlighted by many drum instructors. Students are encouraged to engage in practice sessions with backing tracks, metronomes, and fellow musicians to enhance their timing skills and foster a strong sense of synchronisation with others.
Learn fundamental drumming skills with a clear learning path that lets you take control of your own journey. We’ve curated a course specifically designed to help drummers get the most out of the first 7 days of their drumming journey.
Get the basics down with these lessons that will walk you through core elements of your drum kit. Then work up to a beginner groove.
Develop a solid foundation to build your drumming skills by bringing yesterday's elements together to form the fundamental groove.
The bread and butter for every drummer. Develop this foundation groove through lessons designed to improve accuracy, speed & endurance.
Spice up rock beats using snare variations that build on the basic groove. Double the backbeat to add energy and flair.
Separate your limbs with rhythm exercise patterns that improve accuracy, speed & endurance.
Get your feet in action. Explore kick variations by listening to bass lines and locking in with your kick.
Drum fills keep the beat interesting. Learn how to use them to smoothly transition between musical sections.
Learn more about our drum lessons
One of the most common routes is to seek out private drum instructors. This can be done through word-of-mouth referrals, online directories, or music schools in your area.
If private lessons are not within your budget or preference, group drum lessons can be a more affordable alternative. Many community centres, music schools, and music stores offer group lessons for beginners and intermediate drummers.
Online drum lessons are becoming more popular due to their ease and flexibility. Virtual platforms enable you to learn from the convenience of your own home. There are a number of apps for learning drums - including Melodics! - and these are a great way to quickly get started on your journey.
With Melodics, you’ll learn by playing. Our highly interactive app takes drummers through lessons beat by beat, giving them specific feedback on how they're doing.
Melodics is the only drum lesson app that tracks performance & progress, giving you specific feedback on how to improve. It’s a highly interactive drumming experience: Either plug in your electronic drum set or turn on your device’s microphone near your acoustic drum set and start playing. Melodics will then provide guidance on how to play songs & techniques with specific feedback on how to level up.
NEW LESSON DROP!
NEW LESSON DROP!
Come Together
As made famous by The Beatles
Learn to play this and over 500 songs in Melodics
Play this song now