Drum Lessons in Atlanta, GA

There are 13 verified drum teachers and schools in Atlanta, each confirmed from a source the business controls. 12 teach complete beginners, and 7 also teach online.

Verified drum teachers in Atlanta

A few that stand out in Atlanta

Chosen by what each teacher publishes about their own lessons. No teacher can pay to appear here.

  • Highland Music Studio — takes complete beginners, teaches online as well as in person, covers rock, jazz and pop.
  • The Music Studio Atlanta — takes complete beginners, teaches online as well as in person, covers Pop, Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop, Broadway and Classical.
  • Atlanta School of Musical Arts — takes complete beginners, covers Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz, Metal, R&B, Country and Classical.

What you need to start in Atlanta

Space and noise are the real constraints here, not money.

  • Start on a practice pad and a pair of sticks. It is what most teachers will put in front of you anyway, and it costs less than one lesson.
  • If you move up to a kit, an electronic one is the realistic choice in an apartment. Mesh heads and low-volume cymbals get an acoustic kit close, but never silent.
  • Ask your teacher about studio time. Many rent their room by the hour, which is often cheaper than solving the noise problem at home.

Drumming in Atlanta

Atlanta does not just have drummers, it has institutions that produce them.

For fifteen years the Honda Battle of the Bands brought the country's leading HBCU marching bands to the Georgia Dome, drawing crowds above 50,000 to what is routinely called the Super Bowl of Black college bands (Andscape). Two of those band programs are local: Clark Atlanta University's Mighty Marching Panthers, whose drumline appeared in the 2002 film Drumline (Clark Atlanta University), and the Morehouse College House of Funk.

That pipeline produces working professionals. Sonny Emory grew up in Atlanta, went through Frederick Douglass High School and took a degree in jazz and classical performance at Georgia State, then spent years drumming for Earth, Wind & Fire and later Bruce Hornsby's Noisemakers. He now teaches applied percussion at the same university that trained him (Wikipedia).

The practical version for a beginner: this is a city where rhythm is taught in structured programs, where a great many drummers came up through a band room or a church, and where a lot of them still teach.

Frequently asked questions

How many drum teachers are there in Atlanta, GA?

We list 13 verified drum teachers and schools in Atlanta. Verified means we confirmed they teach drums from a source the business controls — their own website, or a claim from the owner — and checked it within the last 12 months. Anything we only ever saw in a third-party listing is not listed here.

Can a complete beginner take drum lessons in Atlanta, GA?

Yes. 12 of the 13 verified listings in Atlanta say they teach complete beginners, with no prior experience and no kit of your own.

Do drum teachers in Atlanta, GA offer online lessons?

Yes. 7 of the 13 verified listings in Atlanta teach online as well as in person.

What drumming styles can you learn in Atlanta, GA?

Between them, the verified teachers in Atlanta list American Folk, Blues, Broadway, Classical, Country, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Metal, Pop, R&B, Rock, all styles, blues, classical, contemporary, electronic, funk, jazz, latin, pop, popular, r&b, rock, soul and swing. Styles come from what each teacher publishes about their own lessons.

Do you need your own drum kit to start lessons in Atlanta, GA?

No. Most teachers here start you on a practice pad and sticks, which is the setup that actually fits an apartment. If you move on to a kit, an electronic one or mesh heads and low-volume cymbals will keep you on speaking terms with your neighbours.

Practice between lessons

A teacher gives you the plan for the week. Drum Coach is what you play along to on the other six days — it listens while you play, tracks your timing and accuracy, and tells you which bar you keep dropping.

Get Drum Coach