What goes on at Planet Drum?

We chat to Katy Russell from Planet Drum about Trinity College qualifications and drumming and percussion workshops. 

What goes on at Planet Drum?

Tell us about Planet Drum

Established in 1996, Planet Drum has now become a major focal point for drum kit and percussion education in the United Kingdom. We have over 20 years experience giving one-to-one and group drum lessons.

Over the years we have hosted and sponsored drumming concerts and educational events for music venues including the South Bank Centre, the Roundhouse, Earl's Court, the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall and Somerset House, and for media companies including the BBC, Sky and ITV.

What happens at Planet Drum? 

b2300617b99969c448912b82b834c201ca77fe65.jpgOur courses equip our students with solid performance skills, covering key areas of technique, reading, general musicianship. Private tuition is complemented with band practice sessions. Our students can take the optional Trinity exams right here in our studios. We also run Team Building Drumming Workshops.

What do you offer to young people?

Our programme offers young people the ability to make playing music fun and easy, teaching them how to keep time, count beats and play as an ensemble. Our lessons inspire students musically and install confidence into our younger students. We host a variety of workshops at the school including band practices, percussion workshops, and improvisation workshops. 

Band practice:

Playing music together and creating a group’s unique sound and identity is an exciting and rewarding way to develop your skills as a musician. The inclusive band practice workshops are an excellent opportunity for Planet Drum students to rehearse for our summer and winter concerts.

Percussion Workshops:

Exciting and fun workshop incorporating traditional percussion instruments and rhythms with contemporary drum kit grooves.
Drummers and percussionists of all levels will benefit from this workshop, by attaining a broader understanding of the language of rhythm and by developing their ability to play in a multi-percussionist set up. Students perform in front of a live audience twice a year. 

Improvisation Workshops:

59fd58baa7c90b3baf10d7245a7dcb88770b490c.JPGImprovisation is a performance that is not practised or planned, in particular, it is a piece of music that is created spontaneously. In this new workshop, we are putting these skills into practice by playing alongside one another and cultivating new ideas as we go! Improvisation is at the heart of great musicianship. This is a great chance for students of all abilities to jam and learn the art of improvisation. It is a lot of fun and we encourage students to bring their own ideas to the table.

What activities are most popular for young people and why? 

Learning drum kit is the most popular lesson at Planet Drum alongside taking part in the workshops. This is because it gives a chance for the students to practice what they have learned in lessons in a group environment, thriving off other musicians and students with varied abilities! 

Could you give an example of a recent project you have run, and the impact it had?

This is the film of our percussion workshop show. It put a smile on everyone’s face!

Do you run Arts Award or offer a Trinity College qualification?  

We are North London's Main Trinity College London’s Rock and Pop exam centre.

Do you publish any online resources that young people doing Arts Award or Trinity College qualifications could use? 

We have a YouTube channel featuring many masterclasses, tutorials and films of concerts at Planet Drum. 

Where can people find out more about the work you do?

At www.theplanetdrum.co.uk or our Facebook and Instagram pages!

More music content

For more music content check out our Doing a Trinity Music Qualification Voicebox.

Author

Nici West

Nici West Voice Team

Nici is the an editor for Voice. She loves all things books, theatre, music, art, visiting other countries, anything creative, and sometimes attempts to make YouTube videos. Alongside Voice she writes and edits through her own pursuits.You can occasionally find her running marathons dressed as a black dog.

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