Drum Lessons in San Diego
Drum & Percussion Lessons with a Juilliard-Trained Teacher
Learn drums and percussion at K&M Music School with a Juilliard-trained instructor and over 25 years of international teaching experience. Private lessons for children ages 6 and up, teens, and adults — drum set, rudiments, reading rhythm, and real songs from week one. Rated 5 stars on Google with 77 reviews.
Serving Sorrento Valley, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, UTC, Mira Mesa, and nearby San Diego areas.
Call or Text: (858) 588-3938
Why San Diego Families Choose K&M for Drums
Juilliard-Trained Teacher
Lessons led by Anthony d'Conde, a percussionist and conductor with a Juilliard Master's degree and over 25 years of international teaching experience.
Real Music, Not Just Noise
Structured curriculum covering rudiments, rhythm reading, and real songs. Students perform 3–4 times per year on our recital stage.
No Drum Kit Needed
Beginners can practice at home on a quiet practice pad — under $30. No need to buy a full drum kit until your child is committed and ready.
Anthony d'Conde — Juilliard Percussionist & Conductor
Anthony d'Conde holds Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Music Performance from The Juilliard School, where he also studied conducting and composition. He has performed with the San Diego Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Shanghai Philharmonic, and served as Principal Timpani of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra.
As a teacher, Anthony has trained students who now study at Juilliard, Curtis, Manhattan School of Music, Yale, Berklee, and the Paris Conservatory. He founded the Percussion Department at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music and was the first foreign professor in Mainland China certified to teach postgraduate percussion.
At K&M he teaches drum set, percussion, timpani, music theory, ear training, and composition — for students from young beginners through pre-college and conservatory-bound musicians.
Your Learning Track
Beginner Track
Practice Pad, Rudiments, First Beats
- ✓Ages 6–9: Stick grip, basic rudiments on a practice pad, reading quarter and eighth notes, and the first simple beat on a drum kit.
- ✓Ages 9–14: Snare, bass, and hi-hat coordination. Reading rhythm notation. Basic rock, pop, and Latin grooves.
- ✓Adults: No prior experience required. We work at a steady, pressure-free pace with clear weekly goals.
- ✓Practice setup: A quiet practice pad ($25–35) is all you need at home for the first months. We help you choose the right one.
Intermediate & Advanced
Drum Kit, Genres & Performance
- ✓Technique: Advanced rudiments, four-way coordination, dynamic control, and brush technique.
- ✓Genres: Rock, jazz, funk, Latin, blues, and classical percussion — with reading and improvisation.
- ✓Music theory: Rhythm sight-reading, time signatures, and ear training integrated into every lesson.
- ✓Optional paths: Timpani, mallet percussion, school honor band auditions, and conservatory prep available.
Private Drum Lessons — What We Cover
Every student gets a fully personalized lesson plan. No cookie-cutter approach — we adjust pace, repertoire, and technique goals to the individual.
Stick Technique
Correct grip, controlled rebound, and balanced strokes from the very first lesson. Bad habits are much harder to fix later.
Reading Rhythm
Real notation from week one — quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, time signatures, and sight-reading at progressive tempos.
Drum Kit Coordination
Snare, bass, hi-hat, and toms working together. We build four-limb independence step by step using clear, achievable exercises.
Real Songs & Styles
Students always work toward a performance goal — rock, jazz, Latin, classical percussion. Real music, not just exercises.
What to Expect — First 12 Weeks
Weeks 1–4
Stick grip and basic strokes. Reading quarter and eighth notes. First single-stroke and double-stroke rudiments on the practice pad.
Weeks 5–8
First beat on the drum kit — snare, bass, and hi-hat together. Reading sixteenth notes. Adding short fills between phrases.
Weeks 9–12
A complete song with verse and chorus drum part. Steady tempo with a metronome. Ready for first recital performance.
Goal: one complete song on the drum kit + clean stick technique by Week 12.
Drum Lessons for Every Age
Young Children (Ages 6–9)
Short engaging lessons starting on a practice pad. We build stick technique, listening skills, and steady rhythm before moving onto the full drum kit.
Kids & Teens (Ages 9–17)
Full drum kit instruction with structured curriculum. Rock, jazz, Latin, and classical percussion. School band and honor ensemble audition prep available.
Adults (All Levels)
Complete beginners and returning players both welcome. Flexible scheduling, patient pacing, and the styles you actually want to play — rock, jazz, funk, or Latin.
Drum Lesson FAQs
Ready to Start Drum Lessons?
Free trial lesson. 50% off your first month. All ages and skill levels welcome.
Private drum and percussion lessons in San Diego for children, teens, and adults — taught by a Juilliard-trained percussionist.
K&M Music School • 5703 Oberlin Dr, San Diego, CA 92121 • Last updated: April 2026