Drum Lessons in Louisiana

What drum lessons cost across Louisiana, and how to find the right teacher.

Marc Levesque updated 11/13/26 - 18 min read

Drum lesson prices across Louisiana
Meet teachers
How drum learning works in Louisiana
Auditions and events in Louisiana
Starting at any age
Finding the right teacher
Drum in Louisiana
Area by area
A little drum history in Louisiana
Frequently Asked Questions

Drum lesson prices across Louisiana

A one-hour drum lesson in Louisiana typically costs $58 to $82, and a half hour $32 to $45. Prices change noticeably from town to town. The New Orleans area runs highest, up to $94 an hour.

Every town has two guides: a drum lessons guide, with local schools, events and places to play, and a costs guide, with that town's prices in detail.

Find your town

Town	30 minutes	One hour	Guides
New Orleans area
New Orleans	$32–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Metairie	$33–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Kenner	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Marrero	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Laplace	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Terrytown	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
Chalmette	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Harvey	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Gretna	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Estelle	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Luling	$32–$47	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
River Ridge	$32–$51	$60–$92	Lessons Costs
Woodmere	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Destrehan	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Waggaman	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Belle Chasse	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Timberlane	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
Baton Rouge area
Baton Rouge	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Prairieville	$32–$46	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
Central	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Zachary	$32–$45	$58–$83	Lessons Costs
Shenandoah	$32–$47	$59–$86	Lessons Costs
Gonzales	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Baker	$32–$46	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
Gardere	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Shreveport area
Shreveport	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Bossier City	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Lafayette area
Lafayette	$31–$44	$57–$80	Lessons Costs
Youngsville	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
Broussard	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Carencro	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Crowley	$31–$44	$57–$80	Lessons Costs
Abbeville	$31–$44	$57–$80	Lessons Costs
Mandeville area
Mandeville	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Slidell	$32–$50	$59–$92	Lessons Costs
Covington	$32–$50	$59–$91	Lessons Costs
Houma area
Houma	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Bayou Cane	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Thibodaux	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Bayou Blue	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Lake Charles area
Lake Charles	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Sulphur	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Moss Bluff	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Monroe area
Monroe	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Claiborne	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
West Monroe	$31–$43	$56–$78	Lessons Costs
Alexandria area
Alexandria	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Pineville	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Other Louisiana towns
Bogalusa	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Hammond	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Minden	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Morgan City	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
Natchitoches	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
New Iberia	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
Opelousas	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
Ruston	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs

Meet a Drum Teacher in Louisiana Before Weekly Lessons

The free first lesson is a low-pressure way to meet the teacher, try live online drum instruction, and decide whether weekly lessons feel right for you or your child in Louisiana.

Try a free 45-minute drum lesson from home
Check whether a pad, electronic kit, or acoustic setup is enough
Get real-time feedback on timing, grip, and coordination
Continue weekly only if the teacher feels like the right fit

60+ Instructors

70,000+ Lessons taught

4.9/5 Average lesson rating

Find Your Next Drum Instructor in Louisiana

Browse drum teachers, compare fit and availability, and start with a free trial before choosing weekly lessons in Louisiana.

Instrument

Day & Time

Student Age

Student Skill Level

2 drums instructors available in the next 5 days

Colin Rosso

Top Rated 5.0

Bachelor’s in DrumsGreat with All AgesStudent Favorite

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults

✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 8 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Louisiana via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$50~~ / 45 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Colin

Eric Weidman

Bachelor’s in DrumsGreat with BeginnersWarm & EncouragingPopular

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults

✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 20 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Louisiana via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$50~~ / 45 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Eric

How drum learning works in Louisiana

How does drum fit school music in Louisiana?

School percussion usually enters through band rather than a separate drum class, and the starting grade differs by district. Students can begin band in fifth grade at Tchefuncte Middle School in St. Tammany Parish and Copper Mill Elementary in Zachary; Bluff Middle School in Ascension Parish starts beginners in sixth grade, as does Caddo Middle Magnet in Caddo Parish. Lawtell Elementary in St. Landry Parish welcomes band students in grades four through eight. That means private drum study can build reading and coordination before a school ensemble begins.

When school music starts in Louisiana districts

St. Tammany Parish Public SchoolsBand at tchefuncte middle school5th grade

Ascension Parish School BoardBluff middle school band6th grade

Iberia Parish School DistrictBand6th grade

St. Bernard Parish Public School DistrictChalmette elementary instrumental band5th grade

Zachary Community School DistrictBand and orchestra5th grade

St. Landry Parish School DistrictLawtell elementary band4th grade

Who runs what for Louisiana drummers?

Louisiana’s student route is led by the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA), which runs district assessments and All-State auditions, while the Louisiana Bandmasters Association (LBA) offers middle- and high-school band opportunities, including All-Star honor bands. For drummers, LMEA’s district rounds lead toward state selection, while school participation and a sponsoring music educator shape eligibility. The Louisiana High School Rally Association (LHSRA) adds a separate route: students need a Superior rating at a District Rally or an LMEA contest to enter its state music events.

Who runs what in Louisiana

Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA)

Runs: Runs district assessments and All-State auditions and ensembles.
For: School-age musicians with eligible school or sponsor support.

Louisiana Bandmasters Association (LBA)

Runs: Offers middle- and high-school band opportunities, including All-Star honor bands.
For: Middle- and high-school band students.

Louisiana High School Rally Association (LHSRA)

Runs: Runs state music events for students earning Superior ratings.
For: Students with a qualifying District Rally or LMEA rating.

Auditions and events in Louisiana

How does a drummer reach Louisiana's top student honors?

Louisiana percussionists aiming for student honors begin with the district round of LMEA All-State Band auditions. Districts can recommend up to eight middle-school percussionists for the state round; high-school percussionists who advance submit recordings for state adjudication and band placement. High-school students must be in grades 9–12 at an accredited Louisiana school and participate in its ensemble program, with a qualified music educator able to certify eligible students where a school has no ensemble. Completing both high-school band rounds also makes a student eligible for consideration for All-State Percussion Ensemble. Auditions take place in fall, with All-State events in January; middle-school results and registration follow in November and December.

The drum route in Louisiana, step by step

District auditionPercussionists begin in fall district rounds; high-school students advance through district selection.
State roundSelected students complete the state audition round; middle-school results follow in November.
All-State placementHigh-school recordings are adjudicated for band placement; completing both rounds permits consideration for All-State Percussion Ensemble.
All-State eventsSelected musicians attend the January All-State events.

The Louisiana drum year

AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJul

Multi-District Honor OrchestraLouisiana Music Educators AssociationStart the piece May to Aug

Start the piece May to AugNov 19–21

State Solo and Small Ensemble AssessmentEntry fee: $25 per solo; $20 per ensemble memberStart the piece Sep to Dec

Start the piece Sep to DecMar to Apr

Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

LMEA high-school percussion auditions call for three major scales in the current required order, a four-mallet exercise, the year's rudiments, and full cuts of snare, melodic percussion, and timpani etudes. Sight-reading is scored on snare and melodic parts, so polished memorization alone is not enough. District solo and small-ensemble performances have a six-minute limit, and memorization is optional. At the state solo assessment, high-school percussionists choose a Texas PML level one or two selection; when a solo includes piano accompaniment, the accompaniment must be performed. A focused weekly lesson routine can prepare an event piece over three to six months.

What else is there to enter?

LMEA's Solo and Small Ensemble Assessments suit students who want feedback on a prepared performance without pursuing an All-State chair; district events lead to the state assessment in spring. The Hammond Jazz Band offers another ensemble goal for students interested in jazz performance. For a young percussionist who would rather play with others than prepare a solo, ensemble experience provides a meaningful performance aim.

Drum events in Louisiana, 2026–27

State Solo and Small Ensemble Assessment