My Drum School Admission

School Enquiry

Q: Is MDS a music school providing education for other instruments besides drumming?

Unfortunately not.

My Drum School's founding was based on the need for drum education in Singapore. We pride ourselves in being the first music school in Singapore to specialise in drum education.

Q: Where is MDS located, and what are the operating hours?

We are proud to have 2 centres in Singapore; Lavender and Ang Mo Kio.

The Lavender Centre is at Blk 25 Jalan Berseh, #01-148.
The Ang Mo Kio Centre is at Jubilee Square, 61 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, #03-08.

We have state-of-the-art drum studios, recording equipment, drum machines, and other high-quality equipment.

We are open from 10.00am to 10.00pm Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 10.00pm on Saturdays.
We are closed on Sunday and Public Holidays.
Click here for more details and directions to MDS.

Email us for further information or contact our office at (65) 6396-6261 or SMS us at (65) 9821-5939 (SMS only).

Q: Do you provide some sort of certifications?

Australia & New Zealand Cultural Arts (ANZCA)
We are in partnership with ANZCA drum examinations and is the official drum centre in Singapore.

First, we conduct our own, non certified, in-house examinations at MDS to allow students to advance to the next level in their educational progress.

Second, we do have an option for students to take the formal drum examinations with ANZCA, which conducts their examinations at our school facility in July (1st week) and November (3rd week).

For more information about ANZCA, check their website.

Enrolment Enquiry

Q: How much does it cost to enrol in a programme?

We offer individual and group classes. The fees of our programmes range from S$120 to S$260 depending on the duration of each session. Each payment entitles the student to 4 sessions. Further information about our fees is available here.

Payment is to be made through cash or cheque on the first session.

Q: How much do I have to pay on the first session?

The following payment has to be made on the 1st session:

1) $35 Registration Fees (Non-refundable)
2) $30 Student Deposit
(Fully-refundable upon 4 weeks' advanced notice of withdrawal from individual class)
3) Course Fees for the first 4 sessions

The following materials are compulsory and can be purchased through MDS:
a) A pair of drum sticks ($8 per pair)
b) A drum practice pad ($42)

Q: How long is one session?

Each individual session lasts for either 30 minutes or 45 minutes. Group sessions lasts for 60 minutes. For Junior Courses, one parent may be allowed to sit-in for the first 10 minutes of the first few sessions to allow the child to settle down. Sessions for Junior Courses may be shorter depending on the attention of the child.

Please also see our Fee Structure.

Q: How long is a semester programme?

Each semester programme consists of a few levels.

The duration for each level varies from 24 to 32 weeks (about 6 to 8 months).

Q: Can missed lessons be make-up?

We generally do not allow our students to postpone their individual lessons unnecessarily.

To book a make-up class for missed lesson, 5 guidelines follow:

(i) Notification must be done at least 48 hours in advance.
(ii) Make-up slots are subjected to availability during working hours.
(iii) Students are only entitled to make-up for the lesson within the week of missed lesson.
(iv) Scheduling a make-up 1 week in advance is possible and encouraged.
(v) Students with circumstantial reasons like hospitalization, bereavement, reservists, or major examinations, will not be required to make-up classes for a maximum of 2 weeks.

An unsuccessful make-up lesson will be considered as an absent lesson and will be charged accordingly. We appreciate your kind understanding for this matter.

Q: How do I apply or enrol in a programme at MDS?

Please read our Admission Information.

Q: If I am paying by a cheque, whom do I address it to?

Please make cheques payable to "My Drum School". Cash payment is preferred however. We will accept NETS payment in Feb 2012

Course Enquiry

Q: How often are the drum courses conducted?

Students will be scheduled weekly sessions in order to facilitate effective learning at MDS. We also offer group classes for students at Beginner and Intermediate Courses.

We do have students who come for a series of intensive sessions given their limited schedule. Do contact us and we will work something out with you. Such cases invovled: Holiday visit to Singapore, Summer Vacation, Waiting to be enlisted, Waiting for results.

Please see our Programmes at MDS for more information on the courses we are offering.

Q: Does MDS offer other corporate services?

We are proud to say that we do cater programmes for organisations as well.

We have conducted group sessions with top companies like Colgate Singapore, Accor Services, etc. We organise team building, management bonding sessions, recording, jamming and other group activities all in the name of fun.
Check out their videos here!

Email us for further information or contact our office at (65) 6396-6261 or SMS us at (65) 9821-5939 (SMS only).

Q: How do I know if I can play the drums?

Learning how to play the drums is actually much easier than most people believe. In fact, if you can count to four - you have what it takes to play a simple rock groove. It is about being able to coordinate and multi-task well.

Can you swim? Can you drive? Can you type quickly? You can drum!

Moreover, drumming is one of the easiest instruments to learn when it comes to reading music notations.
Don't be afraid of the theory part! It is our job to ensure that you understand and master them well.

Q: Am I too "old" to learn?

What is "old"? We are not too "old" to try a new dish, or to learn a new sport, or even to take up a new role at work. The truth is, the older we are, the more mature we get. We should be able to understand math better than a child. We should be able to analyse better, innovate better and be more disciplined when it comes to practising!

However, the reason why children tend to be better at drumming is because they have time to practise, and they love it!

That's the main question to ask. Are you too "old" to find time to practise? At MDS, we have students that are in their 50s and they are progressing well from level to level. Even James Pang, our founder, started drumming at a late age of 17 years old!

So fret not. Get started today!

Q: Do I have to purchase a drum set in order to learn?

Having a drum set would be beneficial for practising. However, we generally do not encourage our junior and beginner students to purchase drum sets until they are able to control and develop proper sticking techniques.

At MDS, we educate our students to practise effectively even without a drum set. Techniques like coordination, sticking, tempo, rhythm control, grooves, rudiments do not require a drum set at all. The student is only required to purchase a pair of drumsticks and a practice pad.

Please see our Drum Store for promotions if you are interested!

Q: I want to purchase a drum set. Do you sell drums? Any discounts?

Yes we do sell drums. My Drum School is an authorised dealer of Mapex Drums and Roland Electronic Drums in Singapore.
Mapex USA have one of the best reviews when it comes to hand-made drumsets. We have special discounts for students and Facebook fans. So do join us on Facebook to get your discounts. We can actually get you the lowest price in the market.

Give us a call for further information at our main office number (65) 6396-6261.
Please see our Drum Store for more promotions!

Other Enquiry

Q: Is it too difficult for my child of 7 years old to learn drumming?

Most often it is easier to teach the children than teenagers, though some believe that children do not learn music as easily and that you need to spend much time to teach them. In fact, this is our problem as teachers if we are not able to communicate with them and understand their world.

At MDS, we have vast experience in dealing with young children through our programmes with Pat’s Schoolhouse. Our Junior Courses are designed to bring fun and fundamentals to the children, educating them how to count beats, understand rhythm, keep time and get tuned in to playing basic drum beats.

Q: Why can't I just learn drumming by reading materials myself?

Receiving lessons is a great way to boost your learning. Having a professional to be able to examine your bad habits, and point out your mistakes is something you cannot get from videos and online web sites.

The first attempt at a new skill is most important because you are forging a new pathway. Every time you let yourself practise something incorrectly, you are getting better at practising it incorrectly.

Q: Is it true that drumming is therapeutic?

Yes. Drumming is therapeutic and is an expressive outlet that coordinates the physical, mental, emotional (and spiritual) aspects of a person. Researches have shown that drumming reduces stress, frustration, anxiety, and worry. Hitting a drum keeps us in the present moment, thereby eliminating anxiety about the future and worry about the past.

At MDS, our Beginner Courses are a good platform to help you get started on this journey. This course develops your understanding of essential drumming concepts and builds the foundations of excellence in your drum playing.

Learn drumming the right way!

Frequently Asked Questions | Admission Information | Fee Structure