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No matter what style of music you want to play, Knoxville Academy of Music is your best choice when it comes to drum lessons in Knoxville!

Drum Lessons

Have you always wanted to be a drummer? Knoxville Academy of Music offers the best Percussion lessons in Knoxville through innovative, engaging, and individually tailored lessons for students of all skill  levels. Our percussion instructors teach various styles like rock, jazz, blues and more. Beginner students will learn about the drum kit and its parts, rhythmic patterns and counting measures. Advanced students will continue to progress with a wide variety of technical exercises to improve speed and comfort. Drum lessons at Knoxville Academy of Music are taught with total musicianship in mind while providing a comprehensive music education, including ear training, sight reading, theory, and technique.

About the Drum Kit

There are records of them from as early as 5500 BC. The drums found were made with alligator skins and they have been found in China, where they were used mostly for religious purposes. Drums have been used for communication purposes throughout history.

Before the development of the drum set, drums and cymbals used in military and orchestral music settings were played separately by different percussionists; if the score called for bass drum, triangle and cymbals, three percussionists would be hired to play these three instruments. In the 1840s, percussionists began to experiment with foot pedals as a way to enable them to play more than one instrument, but these devices would not be mass-produced for another 75 years. By the 1860s, percussionists started combining multiple drums into a set. The bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, and other percussion instruments were all struck with hand-held drum sticks. Drummers in musical theater shows and stage shows, where the budget for pit orchestras was often limited, contributed to the creation of the drum set by developing techniques and devices that would enable them to cover the roles of multiple percussionists.

drum kit – also called a drum settrap set (an abbreviation of the word “contraption”) or simply drums – is a collection of drumscymbals and other percussion instruments, which are set up on stands to be played by a single player, with drumsticks held in both hands and the feet operating pedals that control the hi-hat cymbal and the beater for the bass drum. A drum kit consists of a mix of drums (categorized classically as membranophonesHornbostel-Sachs high-level classification 2) and idiophones ⁠– ⁠most significantly cymbals, but can also include the woodblock and cowbell (classified as Hornbostel-Sachs high-level classification 1).[3] In the 2020s, some kits also include electronic instruments (Hornbostel-Sachs classification 53). Also, both hybrid (mixing acoustic instruments and electronic drums) and entirely electronic kits are used.

What Do You Learn In Drum Lessons?

We have the most professional drum lesson rooms in Knoxville; with state of the art Yamaha Electronic drum kits for students to use. Our drum instructors teach rock, metal, jazz, funk, blues, and many other styles. Drum language can be complex and our instructors will challenge any drummer with a wide variety of technical exercises designed to improve your speed and comfort. Bring in your favorite drum parts to learn in your lessons and learn the foundations of rhythm. Many of our drum students have gone on to play in local bands, be it in rock clubs or their local churches. You do not have to purchase a drum kit to take lessons. Beginning students can learn with a drum pad and sticks for only about $25.00. Students use our drum set at their lessons and do not have to bring anything except their drumsticks and a notebooks.

What Happens at the First Lesson?

Prospective drum students often ask that question. Our drum teachers make it a priority to get to know you on a personal level and to become familiar with your personal musical needs and goals. We do not treat every drum student the same in terms of what and how we teach. A 9 year old having their first drum lesson will have very different needs than a 57 year old taking up drums for the second time after having had lessons as a child.

Are Your Drum Instructors Qualified?

Our instructors have formal musical training and/or extensive musical experience. Many Knoxville Academy of Music instructors have received special training in areas including: child development, multiple learning styles, classroom management techniques, and human physiology. In addition to their teaching credentials, our teachers have warm personalities, are extremely friendly, and strive to get to know each student and their parent on a personal level.

Our Drum Instructors Teach

Snare Drum Lessons

Drum Set Lessons

Various Percussion Lessons

Jazz Drum Lessons

Funk Drum Lessons

Rock Drum Lessons

Metal Drum Lessons

Blues Drum Lessons

Country Drum Lessons

Gospel Drum Lessons

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