Why Drummers Choose Practice Studios
Drum Practice Studios in Thanet
Looking for a private drum practice studio in Thanet? Boxed Up Studios and Storage offers affordable monthly studios where you can leave your drum kit permanently assembled and practise whenever you like.
Unlike a hourly drum rehearsal room, your studio is yours alone. Play an acoustic kit without worrying about disturbing neighbours, practise whenever inspiration strikes and keep all your equipment securely stored between sessions.
Cost for a Drum rehearsal studio in Thanet
£156.00 Inc VAT per month hires a Boxed Up music Studio. A 6m container that is heat insulated and powered with 240v. You are committed to two months minimum term and two weeks' notice period.
Why Drummers Choose Boxed Up Studios
- Your own private studio.
- No hourly booking charges.
- Leave your drum kit permanently assembled.
- Practise whenever you like.
- Powered studios with lighting.
- Add heating or a dehumidifier.
- Secure site with CCTV.
- Affordable monthly rental.
On This Page
- Why Drummers Choose Private Practice Studios
- What Are the Benefits of Boxed Up Drum Studios?
- Can You Practise Drums at Home Without Annoying the Neighbours?
- Is an Electronic Drum Kit as Good as an Acoustic Kit?
- How Loud Are Acoustic Drums?
- Can Neighbours Complain About Drum Noise?
- How Much Does It Cost to Soundproof a Drum Room?
- Can I Make a Soundproof Room?
- Why Rent a Private Drum Studio?
- Private Drum Studio vs Session Studio
- Where Can I Practise Drums in Thanet?
- Where Are There Drum Studios for Hire?
- Frequently Asked Questions
A growing number of musicians are using our studios, including drummers who wanted somewhere to practise without disturbing neighbours. Many tell us they practise more often because their drum kit is permanently set up and ready to play.
Why Drummers Choose Private Practice Studios
Acoustic drums typically produce between 100 and 120 dB, making them one of the loudest musical instruments. That is similar to standing close to an ambulance siren or a rock concert. It is therefore no surprise that neighbours can become disturbed by regular drum rehearsal.
Professionally soundproofing a room is expensive and often impractical. Renting a private practice studio in a location where noise is not an issue is a much simpler solution.
What Are the Benefits of Boxed Up Drum Studios?
- Play as loudly as you like.
- No worrying about neighbours.
- Leave your drum kit permanently assembled.
- No packing away after every practice session.
- Practise for 20 minutes or five hours.
- Store drums, cymbals, hardware and cases securely.
- Add lighting, heating or a dehumidifier.
- Record lessons, performances or social media videos.
- Secure site with CCTV.
- Affordable monthly rental.
Can You Practise Drums at Home Without Annoying the Neighbours?
Electronic drum kits can be an excellent solution for practising drums quietly and are popular for home practice. However, many drummers don't like them as the response is not the same as acoustic drum kit.
One of our drummers has said "If you are going to do drumming seriously you need an acoustic kit. Too many people learn on electronic kits, think they are good, move over to an acoustic kit and are disappointed by their performance, then give up. Drum mute pads are rubber pads that sit on top of existing drum heads and mesh drum heads that replace normal drum skins are much quieter than standard heads, but they feel different to an acoustic drum kit." He said “It takes years, sometimes a lifetime to learn the intricacies of how to hit a drum. With an electric drum kit you can stab it with a the end of a stick and it can sound good. You will never become accomplished drummer without playing on the correct kit.
If this is the case, it is why more of our containers are being converted to drumming studios.
Is an Electronic Drum Kit as Good as an Acoustic Kit?
Our drummers say no. Electronic drum kits have improved enormously, many drummers are of the opinion if you want to play seriously get some serious kit.
How Loud Are Acoustic Drums?
- Light practice: 90–100 dB
- Normal playing: 100–110 dB
- Hard playing with cymbal crashes: 110–120 dB
How Loud Is 110 dB?
A typical acoustic drum kit played enthusiastically can be as loud as a rock concert or an ambulance siren heard nearby. Even short practice sessions can easily be heard through adjoining walls, particularly in terraced and semi-detached houses.
Can Neighbours Complain About Drum Noise?
Yes. In the UK, neighbours can complain about drum playing, even during the day.
Councils consider whether the noise amounts to a statutory nuisance. Factors include:
- How loud the drumming is.
- How long it continues.
- How often it occurs.
- The time of day.
- Its effect on neighbouring properties.
Is It Illegal to Play Drums at Home?
It is not automatically illegal to play drums at home, but it can become a problem if the noise regularly disturbs neighbours or is judged to be a statutory nuisance.
Can I Play Drums in My House?
Yes, but acoustic drums are very loud. If your playing regularly affects neighbouring homes, complaints may be made to the council.
Can the Council Stop Me Playing Drums?
Yes. If the council decides the noise is a statutory nuisance, it can issue an abatement notice requiring you to reduce or stop the noise.
How Much Does It Cost to Soundproof a Room for Drums?
Properly soundproofing a room for acoustic drums involves far more than sticking foam panels to the walls. Foam reduces echo within the room but does very little to stop sound escaping.
Effective soundproofing usually requires a room within a room, including independent walls and ceilings, thick mineral wool insulation, floating floors, multiple layers of acoustic plasterboard, specialist doors and careful ventilation design.
We have seen quotations of around £10,000 to soundproof a room of approximately 3 × 3 metres, and even then complete sound isolation can be difficult to achieve.
Can I Make a Soundproof Room?
Why Foam Panels Alone Do Not Soundproof a Room
To block sound, you need mass. Materials like: Lead, Concrete blocks, or dense rubber. A panel that sandwiches dense material either side of a soft material is best. These can be made into panels and a wall can be made. The above panel has a soft panel covered in a fabric to absorb the sound reducing echoes. This deadens the sound in the room. It makes it safer for the drummers ears. It is why many ear fenders use sponge in the ear cups. The sound will pass through the soft panel and is slowed down by the sheet of plaster board because it is dense.
However it will vibrate so this is dampened by the rubber. Vibrations will still travel and will be further blocked by another sheet of plasterboard. 100mm of rock wool is used to absorb vibrations until they reach the same sandwich of plasterboard and rubber the other side.
We have shown another layer of soft panel as this design was presented for a government tender for a security sound proof wall.
This is a considerable undertaking to stop sound emission.
The spec was to stop 50 dB a normal conversation. Acoustic drums can exceed 110 dB, so it is unlikely this would be adequate for complete blockage.
Ignoring the expense, the weight could also be an issue upstairs.
Why Rent a Private Drum Studio Instead?
A private drum studio allows you to enjoy the benefits of an acoustic drum kit without the expense of major building work or the worry of disturbing neighbours. Your kit remains set up and ready to play whenever inspiration strikes.
People do what is easiest. If it is easy to walk into your own drum rehearsal space and start playing, you are more likely to practise regularly.
Private Drum Studio vs Session Drum Studio
Hiring a Private Drum Practice Studio
Advantages:
- Play a full acoustic drum kit at any time.
- No complaints from neighbours or family.
- Leave your drum kit permanently set up.
- More productive practice without interruptions.
- Space for double bass pedals, larger kits and percussion.
- Store drums, cymbals and hardware securely.
- Record videos or online lessons.
- Heating, lighting and power available.
- No need to convert or soundproof a room at home.
- Separate music from home life, improving focus.
- Ideal for preparing for gigs or exams.
Disadvantages:
- Monthly rental cost.
- The studio may need fitting out with insulation, lighting, decoration or acoustic treatment.
- Not enough room for full band practice.
- Less social contact than a shared rehearsal studio.
Hiring a Session Drum Studio
Advantages:
- No initial setup costs.
- Pay only for the sessions you book.
- More social contact with other musicians.
Disadvantages:
- Ongoing session costs.
- Time spent travelling to and from the studio.
- Equipment may need transporting.
- Limited access if the studio is shared or booked by the hour.
- Set-up time can reduce your actual practice time.
- You cannot simply walk in and practise whenever you feel like it.
This is why more Boxed Up Studios containers are being used as private drum practice studios.
Where Can I Practise Drums in Thanet?
If you are looking for a private drum studio to practise in Thanet, Boxed Up Studios and Storage offers affordable monthly studios where you can practise on your own schedule. Your studio is available whenever you need it, with no hourly booking charges and no need to dismantle your drum kit after every session.
Where Can I Hire a Drum Practice Studio in Thanet?
For long term hire rather than session hire, Boxed Up Studios and Storage in Broadstairs Kent have 6m shipping containers that are insulated for temperature and powered with 240v. A growing community of drummers and other musicians are adding sound insulation and turning them into music studios. Studios are suitable for drum practice, recording, teaching and storing equipment between sessions. A regular comment is "This is the best set up I have ever had."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use a Container to Practise Drums?
Yes, but it needs to be heat insulated and sound insulated to block emitted sound and to absorb the internal sound. Playing a set of drums already generating 110dB in a steel box would be dangerous for the ears. The harmful effects of sound can be amplified by reverberation or echo. This needs to be absorbed. The sound quality will be improved if the reverberation is dampened. Many of our container studios are used for teaching and recording.
Why Does a Container Need to Be Heat Insulated for a Music Studio?
Extreme seasonal temperatures would make it unpleasant to practise in. An important reason is dampness and humidity. If kit is left in a damp environment for long periods the mild steel components will go rusty. This will also start to corrode poor quality chrome and plating. Electronics will degrade and fabrics will go mouldy.
Learn more: Do Storage Containers get too Hot?
How Can I Practise Drums Without Annoying Neighbours?
You can use drum mute pads, mesh heads, low-volume cymbals, practice pads or an electronic drum kit. All of these reduce volume, but they also involve compromises. A private drum studio is one of the few ways to practise on a normal acoustic kit without disturbing neighbours.
How Do I Play Drums Quietly at Home?
Yes, but it is a compromise. The quietest home options are practice pads, mesh heads, rubber mute pads and electronic drums. These are useful for practice, but they do not fully reproduce the sound and feel of an acoustic drum kit. For more information, see the earlier section:
Can You Practise Drums at Home Without Annoying the Neighbours?
Where Can I Practise Acoustic Drums?
You can practise acoustic drums in a hired rehearsal room, music room or suitably soundproofed building. For regular practice, a hired personal drum studio gives you more freedom because your kit can be left set up. This makes more productive use of your time and takes the stress out of generating excessive volume. What you cannot do is practise drums generating 110dB of volume in a built up area without expecting complaints.
Can I Leave My Drum Kit in the Studio?
Yes. Your studio is your own private space, so your drum kit can remain assembled between practice sessions.
Can I Practise Every Day?
Yes. Unlike hourly rehearsal rooms, your studio is available whenever you need it. From 6:00 to 22:00, 365 days a year.
Can I Record Drum Videos?
Yes. Many drummers add lighting and equipment to record performances, lessons and social media content.
Can I Fit Shelves and Storage?
Yes. Most customers personalise their studios with shelving, seating and storage for cymbals, hardware and accessories. As long as the container can be returned in the state it is initially hired, the walls and ceiling can be used to hang from. However, they are not suitable for heavy loads, so independent supports are necessary for shelves to support kit.
Looking for a Drum Practice Studio in Thanet?
Boxed Up Studios and Storage offers affordable monthly drum practice studios where you can leave your drum kit permanently assembled and practise whenever you choose.
Contact us to discuss availability and to have a look around. See how you can fit out a studio to suit your own requirements.