Justin’s Drum Studio
Learn to play the drums and read music
One-on-one drum set instruction in Greenville, SC.
Drum Lessons in Greenville SC
Do you have an aspiring drummer at home tearing up your pillows and plastic buckets? Starting drum lessons could be a great idea. Beginners ages 7 and up can learn how to play the drums, read music, and master the fundamentals at Justin’s Drum Studio located at 904 Pinckney St Studio B, Greenville, SC 29609.
Drum instruction prepares students to play styles like rock, pop, country, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop, while getting them ready for the school band. It also provides a great introduction to the drums, helps students develop proper technique, and speeds up the learning process.
Drum Lessons for Kids, Teens, and Adults
Youth & Young Learners (Ages 7–12)
Kids learn best when they are having fun. Drum lessons for kids focuses on core coordination, proper stick grip, basic counting, and learning to play real rock and pop beats. Lessons are kept engaging and encouraging, with flexible summer schedules available for Greenville area students.
Teens & Scholastic Band Prep (Ages 13–17)
Teenagers need a mix of technical and artistic growth with immediate relevance. Drumming classes for teenagers focus on solid drum set fundamentals, snare rudiments, learning to read music, and audition preparation.
Adults (Ages 18+)
It is never too late to start. Drum instruction for adults is flexible and goal-oriented. We focus entirely on whatever you want to achieve, whether that is a lifelong hobby, drumming for a creative outlet for stress relief, playing in a local Greenville or Upstate band, or preparing to join a church worship team.
Meet the Instructor
I’m Justin, and I’ve been playing the drums for 30 years. That journey has taken me from a teenager behind the kit to recording in studios and performing with bands and churches across the Greenville-Upstate area. I enjoy helping students of all ages accomplish their goals of learning the drums, reading music, and growing as musicians.
Beginner Drum Lessons: What You’ll Learn
Stick Technique, Counting, & Rudiments
• Grip & Motion: Learn how to grip the sticks properly and play with professional technique.
• Learning to Count: You’ll learn how to count out the notes and read drum beat patterns.
• Rudiment Intro: Get an introduction to essential drum rudiments. For example, practicing single strokes, double strokes, and paradiddles.
• Sticking Patterns: Learn sticking patterns to develop your right and left hand, timing, control, and coordination.
Bass Drum & Hi-Hat Techniques
• Bass Drum Technique: Learn bass drum pedal techniques, like heel down and heel up.
• Bass Drum Coordination: Practice bass drum exercises along with hand techniques to build coordination and timing.
• Hi-Hat Pedal: Learn hi-hat pedal techniques and exercises to produce certain sounds on the hi-hats.
• Hi-Hat Stick Work: Learn how to use sticks on the hi-hat with the cross-over method, playing with the tip and shaft to create specific sounds like the pros.
Drum Kit Setup & Tuning Basics
• Parts of Drum Kit: Learn about the drum set, all the parts of the kit, and common drum kit setups.
• Drum Setup: Learn how to properly set up your drums so your posture is comfortable and your drums are easy to reach.
• Tuning: Learn how to tune each drum to get a great sound, bringing out the best possible tone and resonance from your acoustic kit.
Drum Beats, Reading & Coordination
• Basic Drum Beats & Rhythm: Learn to read sheet music symbols (whole and quarter notes) and start playing your first drum beats.
• Hands & Feet Independence: Build coordination by playing independent rhythms with your hands and feet across different time signatures.
• Playing with Music: Build your timing, confidence, and coordination skills by playing along with drum tracks.
Drum Instruction Focused on Your Goals
Whether you want to play on stage in a band with friends, at your local church, or tryout for your Greenville county school band, you can reach your goals. You’ll always know what to practice next with step-by-step lessons.
Discover how drum lessons are structured to see how local area students learn to play and grow into confident drummers.
Helping Students Grow Through Music Lessons in Greenville SC
Personalized drum set classes focused on building strong fundamentals and music ready students.
- Easy-to-Understand Teaching: Trying to learn online with videos can be challenging. Get step-by-step instruction where I personally show you how to read drum sheet music and play it on the drum set.
- Coordination & Keeping Time: Learn how to play the hi-hat, snare drum, bass drum with toms and cymbals to build great coordination skills.
- Structured Learning Plan: Avoid the frustration of self-teaching. We build core fundamentals like counting, stick control, and reading music to make real progress to lead up to playing the style of music you like best.
Drum Lesson Plans & Pricing in Greenville SC
The Beginner Routine
30-Minute Drum Lessons
Best for: Students looking for beginner drum lessons to build a strong foundation and confidence.
Duration: 4 private lessons per month.
Scheduling: Weekly or bi-weekly dedicated time slots for sessions.
Price: $120/month for studio lessons.
The Builder Routine
45-Minute Drum Lessons
Best for: Students who want a strong foundation, and prepare for auditions.
Duration: 4 private lessons per month.
Scheduling: Weekly dedicated time slot for session.
Price: $180/month for studio lessons.
The Advanced Routine
60-Minute Drum Lessons
Best for: Students who want a strong foundation and prepare for stage performance.
Duration: 4 private lessons per month.
Scheduling: Weekly dedicated time slot for session.
Price: $200/month for studio lessons.
Ready to Start Drumming?
Start with a free lesson to see how I help students learn the drums and enjoy making music on the kit
Call: (864) 780-0262
Frequently asked questions about drum lessons
What can students expect on their first drum lesson?
The most important thing to begin with is building a solid, friendly, and respectful relationship between student and teacher. I take the time to introduce myself, then learn about students: what brought them to an interest in drums and what types of music they like to play.
From there, we move right into hands-on learning. Students learn how to hold the drumsticks and get a quick tour of the drum kit. Then, we practice basic counting and take a look at simple music notation. This gives students an immediate start to learning music and drums on day one. We then build on each concept in depth as lessons progress.
What curriculum do you teach drum lessons with?
I teach with A Funky Primer for the Rock Drummer. It’s the same book I learned with, and it’s great for building solid timing and learning the fundamentals.
It starts slow, building the foundational blocks of notes and simple patterns. As a student progresses, the lessons gets quite challenging toward the middle and later parts of the book incorporating all of the drums of the drum kit, with coordination exercises to improve your playing.
The book is applicable to just about every genre you can think of—from rock and funk to R&B, country, blues, and even some jazz grooves. It is highly respected and used by many drum teachers.
Is a drum kit required before starting lessons?
There is no need to buy a drum kit right away. Lessons at the Greenville studio are designed so students can learn on a professional kit from day one. This allows students to learn the fundamentals, practice on a full kit, and experience the joy of playing the drums without any upfront equipment costs.
What advanced techniques and skills are covered in private drum lessons?
Everyone moves at their own pace. From the first lesson to stage performance, my goal is to build musical fluency in every student. As students progress, lessons expand to cover:
Physical Mechanics & Technique: Learning matched and traditional grip styles. Additionally, how to utilize the Moeller technique for speed, optimizing ergonomics and rebound. We also cover how to practice heel-up and heel-toe bass drum mechanics for faster speed and control on the bass drum.
Rhythm & Control: Developing a solid internal clock and steady timing. In addition we’ll cover mastering dynamics, and learning essential rudiments—the small patterns that form the foundation of complex drum beats.
Making Music & Playing Live: Learn to read drum music, play by ear, and move smoothly across the kit. Ultimately, students practice these fundamentals so they can confidently step on stage and play live with a band.
Learn more with my Beginner’s Guide to Drums to take your next steps with learning the drum kit.
What is the youngest recommended age for a child to begin drum lessons.
Generally, kids around 7 years old are ready for drum lessons. However, there are some cases where a child is ready earlier. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us to talk about your child taking drum lessons.
How do I request information and sign up for lessons?
Getting started is easy. Visit the contact page, and select your preferred plan and the days and times that work best for your schedule. No credit card is needed to get started. Once I receive your request, I’ll reach out to you to get started.