Last Updated on May 28, 2021 by Danny
How much are drumming lessons? This is a question that comes to every aspiring drummer and parent’s mind when they want their kid to learn drums. Drum lessons can cost as low as $20 per hour to $70 an hour and even higher. The exact cost will depend on many factors, including where you live and how experienced your teacher is.
Whether you want your child to grow up to be the next Neil Peart or if you just want him to stop banging on pots, this article will give you an idea of how much drum lessons cost and how you can choose a good teacher.
How much do drum lessons cost on average?
The average price of drum lessons comes between $40 to $50 per hour, but it can range from $20 to $70. The exact cost is based on a multitude of factors, this includes the teacher’s experience, the duration of the classes, and the format of the classes, online or in person.
The city or town you live in is actually a major factor in the cost of drum lessons. For example, the cost of drum lessons for beginners near me are actually pretty expensive but this is to be expected as I am living in a major city where rent and cost of living are sky high. The teachers have higher expenses and therefore charge higher rates. If you are living in a minor city or town where living expenses are not very high, you can reasonably expect the lessons to cost lower.
Length of your lessons affect the price too. As you would expect, longer lessons cost more. However, avoid the temptation to book very short classes as a single continuous hour long session is better than two half an hour sessions. Your cost per minute also decreases when you book longer lessons. For example, an hour session can cost you $60 while a 30 minutes session would cost you $40.
Your instructor is another factor. More experienced teachers tend to cost quite a lot. The demand for the teacher is also another thing that will affect the cost. However, keep in mind that the teacher in most demand is not always the best teacher in your area.
The other factor is the level of teaching your child needs. Beginner drum lessons cost the lowest as the teachers do not need much expertise for those classes. However, intermediate drum lessons can cost almost twice that of beginner lessons as the teachers need better expertise and will need to spend more time teaching you advanced techniques.
The prices can also vary depending on the format of cost. Private drum lessons cost the highest with average lessons costing $50-$60 per hour. In Private lessons, teachers give you one-on-one interaction for the entire duration and are extremely beneficial. Group lessons with students of similar music experience when they are taught together are cheaper than private lessons.
The cheapest options of all would be online lessons. Online drum lessons cost significantly much lower than in-person lessons. With so many drummers now conducting online classes, you will no longer be limited to your local drum instructor.
Here are a few example of drum lesson fees:
- School of rock drum lesson prices: School of rock usually charges between $150-$350 per month. You get open access to their facilities along with the weekly private drum lessons. They even have a Little Wing music program that provides drum lessons for 4 year olds.
- Guitar centre drum lesson prices: Guitar centre charges about $110 per month for four 30 minutes classes and around $220 per month for four 1 hour classes. The cost will vary between localities.
- Learn by Ear (New York) prices: Hour long sessions cost $60 while half an hour sessions cost $40. They also have monthly packages.
- Steve Geller Drum Lessons (Las Vegas) prices: They charge $30 for half an hour sessions, $40 rfo 40 minutes, and $50 for hour long sessions.
How many lessons per week/month will my kid need?
Drum tutors typically recommend at least one lesson each week or about four classes a month. Typically, four classes a month will cost you anywhere between $80-$160 per month, based on the instructor, duration of classes, and the type of class. Learning from a good tutor is not cheap, so be sure to consider your budget before enrolling
What are the additional costs that are involved in drum lessons?
The main additional cost for drum lessons will be in procuring the equipment for your lessons. Because a drum set cost somewhere between $400 to $1000. The other factor would be the cost of travel to and from your home and place of teaching.
If you have a drum kit in your house you will be able to save a lot of money as the drum lessons cost with and without owning a kit differs a lot. If you do not have a drum kit, you will have to ask your teacher or music institute to provide you one. While a few teachers will provide you the drum sets specially made for juniors for no extra cost but most music institutes and teachers will charge a fee for providing you with the drums.
Having your own kit has many advantages, you will be able to practice at your home between lessons and will also not have to spend money on rentals. Keep in mind that a basic 5-piece drum kit will set you back anywhere between $350 and $600.
While this might seem expensive, it is an investment that will last for many years and allows your kid to practice and improve. If you are living in a place where people might complain of excessive noise, you might want to consider getting an electronic drum kit for practice as they will only be heard through headphones. Hearing protection is also something that you should get without fail.
If you cannot afford a full-sized drum set now, there is still a way for you to practice. You could buy a practice pad from here, a pair of drumsticks, and hearing protection. These together will only cost less than $100 and should be enough for you to practice between lessons.
Finally, make sure you consult your kid’s drum instructor before you purchase anything. They will be able to help you choose the right items for your kid and will also be able to tell you where you can get them at lower prices.
When should kids start drum lessons?
Most music institutions and drum teachers have a minimum age for students. This minimum age criteria is entirely up to the teacher but it typically varies between 6 and 10 years of age. A few teachers will be willing to take on students who are younger if they’ve had prior experience with other instruments.
How can I find a drum teacher for my child?
Finding the right drum teacher for your child needs you to do some research. You will have to check the instructors experience, his training, and how many years they have been teaching and playing drums. You should also get reviews from their previous students and their parents. This will give you a clear idea about the teacher. If you are still not satisfied, many teachers allow parents to sit in on classes, so you should be able to witness their style of teaching.
How can I save money on drum lessons?
There are plenty of ways to save money on drum lessons if you are willing to be a little flexible.
A few drum instructors offer free trial classes. So, book a trial class for your kid and see if the teacher is suitable for your kid and his music style. Since this class is completely free, you will not have to worry about wasting your money with a subpar instructor.
Another option is to ask a music college student to teach your child. While a college student isn’t as good as an established teacher, he/she would still be able to instruct your kid quite effectively. The biggest advantage with a college student as a tutor is that the cost of drum lessons will be nowhere near that of a teacher or professional as becoming a pro drummer is not an easy task.
The final option would be to have your kid join a group class. Music schools conduct group drum lessons which cost significantly lower than private lessons. If you have a little bit of doubt read our article about whether it is easy or hard to learn drums.
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