Want to take your drumming to the next level?
ICMP offers a selection of industry-aligned drum courses across many different levels for drummers looking to make the move into a long-term career in the music business.
ICMP has been developing and delivering contemporary music education for over 30 years – longer than any other music school in the UK, and we’re committed to providing our students with a first-rate drum-specialist education. We take pride in our small class sizes, high number of contact hours in the classroom, bespoke approach to student engagement, regular face to face support, and vibrant use of technology in the classroom – initiatives you just won’t find to the same extent at any other music industry education provider.
Our personalised learning approach means we really get to know you as a drummer. We’ll provide you with an individual educational experience, and will work with you to nurture your musical talent, delve into your future ambitions, and provide ongoing opportunities for live performances, auditioning, recording, touring and career development. And you’ll significantly improve your drumming and performance skills too.
We understand that each student will have different career aspirations and your view of ‘success’ will be individual, so we encourage you to follow your own unique path. At ICMP, your future is in your hands, and you’ll graduate feeling encouraged and inspired, with the self-confidence, skills, connections and head start you need to drive your career as drummer forward.
Taking a Drums degree course at ICMP makes financial sense too, with the fees for ICMP music degrees and masters in music significantly less than those at many traditional universities, and, also much lower than other UK music education providers - making studying music at ICMP in London great value as well as great fun.
So why not immerse yourself and study drums in London at ICMP? It’s the ultimate space to learn, question and discover your place in the music industry.
ICMP Drum Courses
Those wishing to study music via a three-year drum degree programme can choose from a BA (Hons) Creative Musicianship or a BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance course.
There’s also a choice of one-year drum courses, including the Cert HE Popular Music Performance (Drums) and the CertHE Creative Musicianship.
Postgraduate drum students can take the one-year Masters (MMus) in Popular Music Performance to develop their drumming and musicianship skills to the highest level possible.
ICMP Drum Lessons
Regardless of your drum course or study level, as a drummer at ICMP you’ll cover a broad spectrum of styles, techniques and music industry education, from developing competent music reading, musicianship and theory skills and appreciating how the music business operates, to composing, arranging and recording songs, and becoming competent in the use of industry-standard music technology.
You’ll become part of the broader ICMP drum community and will be challenged to build your technical expertise, play to professional standards and make meaningful contributions to the bands and working situations you find yourself in. You may also be asked to master some of the additional skills that the modern drummer player needs in today’s working music environment, such as building advanced drum techniques, developing your stylistic awareness across a wide range of styles, and becoming an adaptable, creative and modern session drummer and educator. Depending on the drum course you choose, you may also study percussion, electronic drums and triggering, and backing vocals.
You’ll complete your drumming studies using a wide range of industry-standard equipment, including Tama, Mapex and DW drum kits; cymbals by Paiste and Zildjian and triggers and pads by Roland and Yamaha.
Creating opportunities through innovative professional partnerships
At ICMP, we work tirelessly to seek out new partnerships that connect our students and alumni to today’s flourishing professional music scene, plugging ICMP into the heart of the industry. Throughout the year we open our doors to labels, publishers, booking agents, A&R and artist managers, all with the express intent of building our students’ connections. Alongside welcoming industry professionals onsite, we also actively partner with companies and organisations throughout London and the wider music industry. These partnerships offer ICMP drum school students unique and exclusive opportunities to engage with the music industry, building their networks amongst some of the industry’s biggest names.
ICMP Industry Drum Tutors
ICMP’s highly esteemed drum teaching faculty is made up of experienced drummers, accomplished academics, qualified teachers and respected industry practitioners. They’ve shaped the face of the music business and are ready to give generous amounts of their time to help energise and inspire you. They’re highly focused on what works now in today’s music industry, and keen to pass their knowledge of the ever-changing music business landscape, and all things drum, onto you. Above all, they’ll work hard to build and sustain a creative and entrepreneurial community which will identify emerging talent and, ultimately, support you and your classmates as the next generation of skilled professional drummers within the music industry.
ICMP’s International Reach
ICMP is the most international music education provider in the UK, and you’ll be studying and interacting with students from all around the globe. This diversity of international culture and musical styles forms a very unique musical tribe, making for stimulating classroom discussion, thought-provoking learning experiences and exciting worldwide networking opportunities.
On top of this, ICMP has a truly global outlook as a music industry education provider, partnering with a range of prestigious academic institutes around the world, including the University of Southern California, ATLA in Paris, Los Angeles College of Music, the London School of Fashion, the Vienna Music Institute, and Rockacademie in the Netherlands.
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