Music in the Capital with Doha’s Music Schools

Music is extraordinarily emotive. It has the power to affect our emotions, stimulating us to feel happy and excited right through to sad and melancholy. It can trigger a plethora of memories and nostalgic feelings, transporting us to different times and places; it can help us to focus, increase our drive and motivation, inspire, relax or energise us and allow us to deal with and express difficult emotions. And, not least, get our feet tapping and bodies moving as we succumb to the urge music creates to dance! It’s no wonder that so many of us not only want to listen to music but also to learn to play or create our own music!

Music is extraordinarily emotive. It has the power to affect our emotions, stimulating us to feel happy and excited right through to sad and melancholy. It can trigger a plethora of memories and nostalgic feelings, transporting us to different times and places; it can help us to focus, increase our drive and motivation, inspire, relax or energise us and allow us to deal with and express difficult emotions. And, not least, get our feet tapping and bodies moving as we succumb to the urge music creates to dance! It's no wonder that so many of us not only want to listen to music but also to learn to play or create our own music! 

Learning to play music gives us all the benefits of listening to songs and melodies but also offers us a few more advantages. It helps increase our memory capacity, aids mental development (especially in children), builds creativity, and teaches us discipline and patience. It helps us to express and manage emotions, reduces anxiety and stress, boosts confidence, and is a great social and bonding activity. Not to mention, playing music is fun and gives us a great sense of achievement when we develop our skills.

With all of the above in mind, if you want to start a musical hobby or improve on the skills you've already learned, Doha has a raft of schools to help you make the most out of music and the many benefits it imparts. So, where to begin?

Doha’s Music Schools

Doha has plenty of music schools that offer lessons and courses. However, we’ve whittled down our favourites to include the following three:

Jamm Studios Doha

Image: Facebook

Established: 2019 in Qatar (founded in 2012 in the UK)

Music Classes: Drums, Guitar, Piano, Vocal

Jamm Studios is a UK-based music school with premises at The Pearl. The school offers one-to-one or group tuition in drums, guitar, piano and vocals in eight modern, soundproofed studios, each given a funky, welcoming atmosphere with a painted musical mural on one wall. The modern studios are outfitted with the latest music technology and equipment, and lessons are taught by experienced industry professionals. Sessions are available for beginners to advanced-level students and follow an in-house syllabus designed to set and achieve individual goals and build confidence. Grading is also possible. 

We love the friendly, encouraging vibe at Jamm, the inspiring masterclass sessions and workshops, and the free advice on buying the right instrument for each individual. And speaking of free, we also love the free trial lesson for new starters, the free lesson for referring a friend and the discounted membership for consecutive subscription purchases! 

For a tour of the studios and a discussion on your goals for learning an instrument, register your interest in classes by contacting Jamm Studios online or via their What's App number below. Follow Jamm’s social media for more information.

Details:

Location: 22 La Croisette, Marina Way 22, Porto Arabia, The Pearl

(nearest Metro, Legtaifiya on the Red Line)

Class Timings: Lessons are taught in 30-minute sessions. 

Class timings are subject to availability.

Costs: Non Jamm Studio members pay QAR 600 a six-week block of lessons (one 30- minute lesson per week)

Membership packages cost:

Jamm Pass – QAR 1000 per month + QAR 120 per six-week block of lessons. Membership benefits include one 30-minute lesson per week, use of Jamm’s practice studios for two hours per month, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before a lesson.

Jamm Pro – QAR 1300 per month + QAR 420 per six-week block of lessons.

Membership benefits include one 30-minute lesson per week, unlimited use of Jamm’s practice studios, free lesson cancellation, learn any instrument, and a free instrument with two-month advance payment.

Telephone: +974 5533 9806

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://jammstudiosqatar.com/

Instagram: @jammstudiosdoha

Facebook: @JammStudiosDoha

IAID Performing Arts

Image: Facebook

Established: 2001

Music Classes: Ukulele, Acoustic Guitar, Classic Piano, Electronic Keyboard, Vocals for kids, teens and adults, plus Pre-School Music

IAID Performing Arts Academy offers courses in dance, music and art at its studios in Doha and Al Wukair. The academy’s music lessons in the ukulele, acoustic guitar, classic piano, electronic keyboard, and vocals are all graded courses, certified by the London College of Music (LCM), University of West London (UK), with graded exams to award progressive mastery. Music courses, purchased monthly, generally based on two weekly lessons, operate on progressive curriculums, from beginners to advanced, graded levels, and are offered to children from 7-18 years and adults. However, vocal and pre-music lessons are available for 5-7 years and 3-6 years, respectively, to teach the basics of each and prepare students for the more advanced courses (based on one lesson per week). All students are required to undertake a skills test before admission to ensure that they are streamed into the correct grade for their level of interest and aptitude. Once assessed, kids are entered into the right grade by their instructor.  

IAID Performing Arts is one of our favourite music schools for its easy-going, friendly, family-style atmosphere, progressive curriculums, fun workshops and events. Plus, the academy often offers excellent discounts on fees, such as free registration fees (usually a one-off payment of QAR 300 per course). 

To sign up for a skills test and organise the correct grade music classes, book online or contact IAID via their What’s App number below. Follow IAID on social media for more information.

Details:

Location: Al Hilal Street, D Ring Road, Nuaija, Doha

Halat Al Asirir Street, Al Meshaf Road, Al Wukair

(nearest Metro, Al Wakrah on the Red Line)

Class Timings: Music classes, with morning, afternoon and evening sessions, are available from Sunday to Thursday (1 pm – 9 pm), and on Saturday (9 am - 12 pm, 3 pm – 9 pm) offered. However, allotted days and times are dependent on the assessed grade.

Costs: Ukulele: QAR 750 per month (x 2 sessions per week)

Acoustic Guitar: QAR 800 per month (x 2 sessions per week)

Classic Piano: QAR 900 per month (x 2 sessions per week)

Electronic Keyboard: QAR 800 per month (x 2 sessions per week)

Western Vocals: QAR 900 per month (x 2 sessions per week)

Pre-School of Music (3-6 years): QAR 750 per month

I Sing (5-7 years): QAR 800 per month

Telephone: +974 4432 0974 (D Ring Road branch)

+974 4427 1155 (Al Wukair branch)

Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Website: https://www.iaidonline.org/

Instagram: @iaid.performingarts

Facebook: @iaid.performingarts

Music & Arts Atelier

Image: Facebook

Established: 2017

Music Classes: Piano, Acoustic, Electric and Bass Guitar, Drums, Djembe and Conga Hand Drums, Violin, Oud, Flute, Clarinet and Saxophone. Plus, Vocal, Music Production and DJ classes.

Music & Arts Atelier offers a one-stop-shop for classes in music, dance, arts and fitness. The studios provide music instruction at all levels for a variety of instruments, including piano, guitar, drums, hand drums, various wind instruments and the Arabian Oud (a pear-shaped wooden instrument with 11-13 strings, similar to a lute). The studios also offer vocal coaching courses, courses in music production and DJ lessons. Generally, classes are once a week, one-to-one with an instructor, and last 30 minutes for children aged 6-13 years and 50 minutes for over 14s. Most sessions require budding musicians to bring their own instruments, with the obvious exception of piano and drum classes, music production and DJ lessons. Classes are held in modern soundproof studios with expert and professional instructors.

We love Music & Arts Atelier’s welcoming ambience, including the array of musical paraphernalia adorning the walls throughout. But the main reason Atelier is one of our recommended music school choices is for the extensive range of courses, especially given the opportunities to learn the more unusual instruments such as the Oud, Djembe and Conga, and the chance to create, record and edit music in music production lessons. Plus, we also love a freebie, and the school offers a trial lesson for new starters gratis!

To sign up for classes, register online or contact Music & Arts Atelier via their What’s App number below. Follow Atelier on social media for more information.

Details:

Location: The Gate Mall, Maysaloun Street, West Bay, Doha

(nearest Metro, DECC on the Red Line)

Class Timings: Classes are available Sunday to Saturday, with days and timings dependent on which session(s) you are signed up to and availability.

Costs: Generally, classes are booked as one, three or six-month packages, either for the 30-minute or the 50-minute sessions (once per week). Only the music production and DJ lessons are booked in 12-week packages, for one 1-hour session per week.

Piano, Acoustic, Electric and Bass Guitar:

30-minute lesson – QAR 600, 1 month, 4 sessions; QAR 1600, 3 months, 12 sessions; QAR 3200, 6 months, 24 sessions

50-minute lesson – QAR 850, 1 month, 4 sessions; QAR 2150, 3 months, 12 sessions; QAR 4100, 6 months, 24 sessions

Drums, Djembe and Conga, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone and Vocal:

30-minute lesson – QAR 700, 1 month, 4 sessions; QAR 1800, 3 months, 12 sessions; QAR 3600, 6 months, 24 sessions

50-minute lesson – QAR 1000, 1 month, 4 sessions; QAR 2600, 3 months, 12 sessions; QAR 5200, 6 months, 24 sessions

Violin:

30-minute lesson – QAR 850, 1 month, 4 sessions

50-minute lesson – QAR 1500, 1 month, 4 sessions

Oud:

30-minute lesson – QAR 750, 1 month, 4 sessions; QAR 1850, 3 months, 12 sessions; QAR 3700, 6 months, 24 sessions

50-minute lesson – QAR 1100, 1 month, 4 sessions; QAR 2650, 3 months, 12 sessions; QAR 5300, 6 months, 24 sessions

Music Production and DJ Lessons:

1-hour lesson – QAR 3500, 12 weeks, 12 sessions

Telephone: +974 3300 3839

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://atelierqatar.com/

Instagram: @musicandartsatelier

Facebook: @atelierqatar

Main image: Shutterstock/all-about-people