Children's music lessons in London
Drums, piano, guitar, singing, music production and more: tailored 25-minute lessons for kids from age 6, in our Holloway Road studios in Islington.
If your child wants to learn an instrument, and you'd like the experience to be fun, Planet drum is built for them. We've been teaching children since 1997, and today they come to our Islington studios from Highbury, Holloway, Finsbury Park, Camden and across North London. Our children's memberships use shorter 25-minute lessons designed around how young brains actually concentrate, with patient, DBS-checked tutors who know how to keep a lesson moving when energy dips. The result: kids who actually want to come back next week.
A lesson your child will look forward to
Your child gets a proper instrument, a patient tutor, and a lesson built around what keeps them wanting to come back.
What we teach
Every instrument we offer adults, we also teach to children:
Drums
Our signature instrument: sound-treated studios with full kits in every room, so your child plays a proper kit from day one
Piano & keyboard
Classical foundations or pop/rock, depending on what they love. No piano at home? A simple keyboard is fine to start, and we'll advise you on what to buy when the time comes.
Guitar, bass & ukulele
Acoustic, electric, and classical guitars; ukulele is a brilliant first instrument from age 6
Singing
Vocal coaching for kids, including pop, musical theatre and contemporary
Congas & percussion
Hand drumming from age 8 (depending on physical size, as they need to comfortably sit at the drum)
Music production
Logic, Ableton, or BandLab: for tech-curious kids who want to make tracks
Songwriting
For kids who would rather make up their own songs
Creative musicianship
Theory, ear training, and the underlying musical skills that help everything else click
Not sure which instrument suits your child? Bring them in for a taster and we'll help you decide.
See a concert for yourself
Highlights from our children's concert, June 2026.
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From what age?
We take children from age 6 for most instruments. Some six-year-olds are ready for drums or ukulele; others might do better starting with creative musicianship or singing and moving onto a kit a year later. We'll have an honest conversation with you after the taster.
If your child is younger than 6, we recommend waiting six months and revisiting: formal weekly lessons before then rarely stick.
How the children's membership works
Lesson length
25 minutes (ideal attention span for ages 6–12; older kids often move up to 50-minute slots)
Price
£27 per lesson, billed monthly via direct debit
Frequency
Weekly during term time and school holidays, meaning your slot is yours all year
One-to-one
Every lesson is private, with the same tutor each week
Practice slot
At least one free off-peak practice room slot per month, included
Concert rehearsals
Included with every membership (advertised in the weekly student newsletter so families can book when slots open)
Full details on our Memberships page.
After-school and weekend slots
Most parents want lessons that don't clash with school. We teach:
2pm to 9pm
after-school slots fill fastest, so book early
10am to 6pm
prime weekend spaces
10am to 6pm
excellent for family routines
If you have specific time constraints (multiple siblings, sports clubs, the eternal homework juggle), tell us when you book and we'll do our best to fit you in.
Our tutors and why DBS matters
Our tutors are working musicians with real teaching experience, not just performers picking up extra income, and they know how to break things down for a 6-year-old without it feeling like school. They all hold a current DBS check and have years of experience teaching children.
Parents are welcome to sit in on the taster lesson. For ongoing lessons, we ask parents to wait in our reception area, where you're always close by while your child settles in. You can read our safeguarding policy in full.
Two siblings? Learning with a friend?
If you've got two kids learning the same instrument (or a child and a parent), our Shared / Learn Together membership from £32.50 per person per lesson can work out cheaper than two separate slots. It's also more fun for the kids. Get in touch and we'll talk through whether it's a good fit for their levels.
Exams, concerts and "what's it actually leading to?"
Children's lessons here aren't just about ticking off scales. As your child progresses, they can:
Graded Music Exams
Sit Trinity Rock & Pop or Rockschool graded exams in our studios: we're Trinity's main Rock & Pop centre in London. See our Music Exams page for the full picture.
Live Student Concerts
Perform in our twice-yearly student concerts (June and Christmas) at real venues with proper sound, backed by our in-house band. A healthy challenge that's brilliant for confidence, and genuinely thrilling!
Customised Repertoire
Learn the actual songs they love, as we'll happily build lessons around whatever's in their headphones, alongside the foundational stuff.
The taster lesson: bring your child first
The best way to know if Planet drum will work for your child is to bring them in. The taster is a real 25-minute lesson with the tutor they'd have weekly. Your child leaves having played something, you leave knowing whether they clicked with the tutor, and there's zero pressure to sign up after.
Where we are
We're in The Crypt of St Mary Magdalene Church on Holloway Road, N7 8LT, just a 4-minute walk from Highbury & Islington station (Victoria line, Overground, GN). Easy from anywhere on the Victoria line, the North London Line, or the 43 / 271 / 263 buses.