01
Studio.
Come to our Kikuyu studio. Private or small-group sessions, in the room with your trainer and a proper instrument.
—/ session
Book a studio classDrum lessons
The pulse behind every band.
Drumming looks like wild abandon — it's actually the most disciplined seat in any band. We teach coordination of all four limbs, rudiments that translate to every genre, and band-ready timekeeping from the first lesson. Trinity Rock & Pop syllabus available.
Accreditation
Trinity Rock & Pop Drums
Grade range
Initial – Grade 8
Styles
Rock · Pop · Gospel · Afrobeat · Jazz
Studio kit
Acoustic + electronic
The journey
What you'll learn at every grade.
Beginner to Grade 8 (Trinity Rock & Pop Drums). Each milestone below is roughly a year of consistent practice; ABRSM certification is recognised worldwide and counts toward UCAS points for university applications.
01
Foundation (Pre-Initial).
Stick grip, posture, the four primary kit voices (kick, snare, hi-hat, ride), basic eighth-note rock pattern, counting out loud, and one full song with a verse-chorus structure within four lessons.
Outcome:Ready to sit Trinity Drums Initial or Grade 1.
02
Initial – Grade 1.
Sixteenth-note hi-hat patterns, the first five rudiments (single stroke, double stroke, single paradiddle, flam, drag), fill construction, song-form awareness (verse / chorus / bridge), three syllabus pieces.
Outcome:Trinity Grade 1 — confident with rock-and-pop basics.
03
Grade 2 – 3.
Ghost notes, snare buzz rolls, more rudiments, syncopation, simple jazz swing patterns, basic Latin (bossa, samba) and African rhythms. Reading drum notation in 4/4 and 3/4 reliably.
Outcome:Trinity Grade 3 — band-ready across multiple genres.
04
Grade 4 – 5.
Linear drumming, advanced fills, double-bass technique (if equipped), odd time signatures (5/4, 7/8), reading complex notation, transcribing drum parts from recordings.
Outcome:Trinity Grade 5 — competent session-style timekeeping.
05
Grade 6 – 8.
Advanced jazz independence, hand-foot ostinatos, polyrhythms, drum-set soloing, recording session etiquette, click-track work, ensemble-leader responsibilities.
Outcome:Trinity Grade 8 — performance-grade across most genres.
How you can learn
Three ways in.
02
At home.
Trainer comes to you — Muthaiga, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Upperhill, Milimani. Same faculty, your space, no commute.
Premium · pricing on enquiry
How in-home works03
Online.
Live one-on-one over our private classroom. Anywhere with a stable connection — Kenya or abroad.
—/ session
Try onlineInside the room
What a typical Grade 2 drum lesson looks like.
Every session has a rhythm. Here's the shape of a typical hour — adjusted up or down depending on age, grade and what your last week looked like.
00:00 – 00:05
Warm-up.
Rudiment of the week on the practice pad — currently the single paradiddle. Slow then up to tempo, both hands leading.
00:05 – 00:15
Technique focus.
Hi-hat foot independence drill: kick on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4, hi-hat foot on the upbeats. Layer in subdivisions as it locks in.
00:15 – 00:35
Repertoire.
A song you brought — kick/snare pattern first, then add hi-hat, then fills. We learn it bar by bar to a click before pushing to recording tempo.
00:35 – 00:50
Reading & creating fills.
A fresh notated piece read cold. Then build your own 1-bar fill from the rudiments you know — that becomes a transitional fill in the song above.
00:50 – 01:00
Practice plan.
Daily targets: 15 minutes pad work, 15 minutes song practice, 5 minutes free play. Pad work is the priority on no-kit days.
Frequently asked
Before you enrol.
01How young can a child start drums?+
We accept students from age six upward. Younger learners (4–5) can join our pre-drumming rhythm classes (clapping, body percussion, simple hand-drums) which build the foundations before they reach the kit at age six.
02Do I need to own a drum kit to start?+
No — for the first six months a practice pad and a pair of sticks (around KES 3,500) is enough. You will use our kit during studio lessons. We recommend buying a kit (acoustic or electronic) from Grade 1 onward; entry-level kits start at around KES 30,000 acoustic, KES 45,000 electronic.
03Acoustic vs electronic drum kit — which should I buy?+
Acoustic feels more authentic and responsive but is loud — most neighbours and landlords will not tolerate it. Electronic is silent (with headphones), records cleanly, and is the practical choice for apartment living in Nairobi or shared-wall homes. Either works for grade-exam preparation.
04Will the neighbours be a problem?+
Honestly: yes, if you go acoustic in an apartment. Electronic kits with mesh heads are near-silent. We can advise on noise mitigation and rental kits.
05Can adults start drums from zero?+
Yes — and adults tend to enjoy drumming uniquely (it is physical, immediate, and the dopamine of locking into a groove is real). Our adult cohort meets in evenings and on Saturdays.
06Do you teach church / gospel drumming?+
Yes — gospel drumming is one of our most popular tracks. We cover the gospel swing groove, ghost-note pocket drumming, dynamic control for worship leaders, and arrangement etiquette in band rehearsals.
07Can I do drum lessons online?+
Yes, with caveats. The trainer can see your hands, posture and counting, and assess songs you play. The biggest gap is hearing the room — we will recommend a single overhead mic (around KES 4,000) for clearer audio over the call.
08How long until I can play in a band?+
With consistent practice, students reach "I can hold down a simple rock song through a 4-minute track" within three months. Joining a band confidently as the timekeeper takes about a year. Our intermediate students play in our small ensembles which rehearse monthly.
Sit at the kit this week.
Book your first lesson — your trainer will meet you wherever you are, with a plan tailored to your goals.