Finding drum lessons in French-speaking Switzerland

Chapters

• Playing the drums in Geneva
• Becoming a drummer in the canton of Vaud
• Becoming a pro with the sticks in Fribourg
• Taking drum lessons in Neuchâtel
• Hitting the bass drum in the Nyon district

"For a more rock sound, hit the drums harder!" Keith Moon

With close to 400 music schools, Switzerland is a great place for culture.

When asked, most Swiss people say they like pop music, but almost every musical style has its followers.

While piano lessons and guitar lessons usually top the list of the most requested instruments in music schools, the drums hold their own: with 8,200 players in Switzerland, the drums are the sixth most played instrument.

Percussion is where music began. The drum kit, however, only developed over the 20th century, to end up as the rhythmic backbone of the contemporary music we all listen to every day.

Whatever the style, jazz, rock, funk, reggae, pop or even hip-hop beatmaking, the drums set the tempo. The instrument stands out for the coordination it demands: feet and hands have to work completely independently.

So beyond the musical side, drumming is an excellent remedy for body and mind. An acoustic kit takes up a fair amount of room, but there are alternatives, such as the electronic drum kit, which makes no noise and can be played with headphones. You will find more in our article taking drum lessons (in French).

The remaining question is what goal to set for your learning. Becoming a professional musician or playing for fun, learning for yourself or to join a band: these are the points that will shape your path. To find out more, read our article on playing an instrument for pleasure (in French).

At a school or a conservatoire, with a private teacher or online, there are many ways to learn.

We help you see things more clearly. Here is a quick tour of what is on offer in French-speaking Switzerland.

Playing the drums in Geneva

To choose your gear, ask a professional! Our partner Boullard Musique in Morges is the undisputed specialist and will advise you best, with over 1,000 m² of showroom.

If rhythm is calling you, you will find plenty of places for a first drum lesson in Calvin's city.

Making the cymbals ring at a music school in Geneva

Music schools teach all levels, welcoming beginners as well as experienced students looking to improve.

The schools in Geneva where you can learn the drums are:

• Groove Studio Genève
• MS Drums
• Drums&Co
• Drum.ch
• École des musiques actuelles
• Conservatoire de Genève

Learning the drums with an association in Geneva

An association offers lessons aimed at certain groups of people. For that reason, its prices are often lower than those of professional schools.

Among the associations in the city of peace:

• Percuvision
• Association pour la Promotion de la Culture de la Jeunesse Meyrinoise

Studying the drums at the Geneva Conservatoire

The Conservatoire is a cultural centre where you can become a professional musician. It is also a place of musical discovery, for adults and children alike.

It is open to all kinds of percussion, including timpani, bongos, xylophone and of course the drum kit, which forms the common core.

Becoming a drummer in the canton of Vaud

Live performance is the ultimate goal of many musicians.

In individual, semi-private or group lessons, you will find the way of learning that suits you best to learn the drums in Lausanne.

Picking up the sticks at a music school in Lausanne

Schools usually let you choose between private, semi-private and group lessons. It all depends on the kind of lesson you want, friendly or focused on intensive work.

The schools in Lausanne are:

• Apolline
• École de Musique de Lausanne (EML)
• Rytmik
• Slaeck Kaven School
• École-Club Migros
• Haute École de Musique (HEMU)
• Conservatoire de Lausanne
• École de jazz et de musique actuelle (EJMA)

Learning the drums with an association in Lausanne

Although their legal status differs, associations offer the same teaching as music schools. You can opt for individual or group lessons.

• Belmont Rock School et Conservatoire
• BRSC presents itself as an association of musicians who share music.

As a drum school, the association offers a "discovery" programme for anyone who would like to get started with sticks and a snare drum.

Studying the drums at the Lausanne Conservatoire

With professional facilities and equipment, the Conservatoire aims to spot young talent and train young musicians to become the virtuosos of tomorrow.

Music theory and practice are taught together and both are compulsory. The setting is strict and demanding. It does not suit everyone.

Here it is not only about drum lessons, but about learning percussion in the broad sense, through a multitude of instruments, for a complete approach to rhythm.

Becoming a pro with the sticks in the canton of Fribourg

Playing requires complete independent control of hands and feet. This is called independence.

Making music also means opening up to the great variety of musical styles. Playing the drums in Fribourg will lead you to many artistic discoveries.

Getting started on the drums at a music school in Fribourg

A music school provides a rich and varied musical education. Even if your learning is limited to the drums, sooner or later you will come across every style of music, as well as rhythmic theory, and you will meet other instruments along the way.

The schools in the city of Fribourg:

• École de Musique Farka
• Drum's cool Let's groove
• Sylvie Ayer
• Musica Viva Fribourg
• École-Club Migros
• Les Écoles de Musique Club

Becoming a professional drummer at the Fribourg Conservatoire

While the Conservatoire aims at a complete musical education dedicated to training professional musicians, it remains open from early childhood, from the age of 4. To learn the drums at the Conservatoire, you must be at least 10. No prior musical knowledge is required, however.

Private drum lessons on the banks of the Sarine

If you want to learn the drums at home, without going to a music school or another venue, you can hire a private teacher. Private lessons at home are convenient in terms of organisation and logistics, but they require no less commitment than other lessons. You will find teachers on private tutoring platforms such as Superprof (superprof.ch), trouveruncours (trouveruncours.ch) or Apprentus (apprentus.ch).

Taking drum lessons in the canton of Neuchâtel

Playing with a band gives the drums their full meaning. Playing an instrument takes real discipline if you want to progress quickly. Fortunately, you can also learn at home by studying the drums online from Neuchâtel.

Learning rhythm at a music school in Neuchâtel

You should set your goals from the very start of your artistic training. Progressing step by step lets you enjoy yourself at every stage. Intensive practice can help you improve in a short time. To find out more, look at the following schools:

• La boîte à frap'
• Musicalia
• SMC
• Haute École de Musique Genève-Neuchâtel
• École-Club Migros

Taking drum lessons at the Neuchâtel Conservatoire

The CMNE operates at cantonal level across the whole territory. It provides a musical education to the people of Neuchâtel, children and adults. You can follow a course based solely on jazz drumming, or another that includes other types of percussion. Different musical styles are covered so that the student can play in a classical ensemble as well as in a brass band or a pop group.

Learning the drums online on the shores of Lake Geneva

If you want to learn at home without the stress of formal music study, you can learn the drums online. Besides the tutorials available on YouTube, several websites offer free teaching resources. That way you can learn the basics of your instrument. There are also paid websites where you can get in touch with tutors and watch educational videos.

• Batterie en ligne
• IMusic School
• Rufus Drums

Hitting the bass drum in the Nyon district

Playing the drums also opens the door to other types of percussion, such as the djembe. A music teacher is someone who knows how to take each student's wishes into account. Don't hesitate to contact a drum teacher in Nyon.

Playing the drums at a music school in Nyon

Learning music, and the drums in particular, leads to the discovery of various instruments. Besides the drum kit, you can learn the congas, the cymbals or the djembe.

The percussion schools available in Nyon are:

• Go N' Play
• École de Musique Nyon
• École-Club Migros

Learning the drums with an association in Vaud

Learning music is more or less easy depending on your age. A child's memory is at its best before the age of 12. Giving your child an early musical education also opens up great opportunities for their future studies.

The associations in Nyon are:

• La Bulle d'Air
• Atelier 38

Becoming a drummer with the Conservatoire de l'Ouest vaudois (COV)

The Conservatoire is a popular place because it welcomes students of all ages and all levels. The courses on offer aim to build the foundations of higher education in music and musicianship. At the Conservatoire de l'Ouest vaudois you can discover contemporary music, notably in rock, blues and jazz workshops. You can learn to play the drums in these workshops, playing in a group setting and handling a variety of musical styles.

Beginner or advanced, you now know that every kind of teaching support is available to you. At home, online, at the conservatoire or at a music school: all that's left is to sit down behind the kit!

Looking for a drum teacher?