Chenda classes in Hyderabad for a 9 year old who came back from Kerala wanting to learn

amber_diary_22521 May 2026

We spent two weeks at my parents' place this month, and our son spent most of it at the temple watching his cousins practise the chenda. He has come home tapping rhythms on every table, and he has asked, very seriously, whether he can learn. I would like to encourage it, but I don't know where to start here. We live in West Marredpally, and both of us work, so weekends are what we have. Does anyone know of chenda or other Kerala percussion classes for children in Hyderabad, and what practice at home looks like in a flat?

6 comments

banyan_moon_578421 May 2026
No idea about chenda specifically. Our daughter wanted a dhol after a cousin's wedding, so we borrowed one for a month before buying anything. She lasted three weeks 😄 Not saying your son will, just that borrowing first saved us some money.
coral_balcony_561521 May 2026
the whole building will learn along with him. ask whether the teacher starts them on a practice block first, a lot of drum teachers do.
lilac_bookmark_215021 May 2026
Before signing up, ask what the weekly practice expectation is. Half an hour a day at home is a very different commitment from one class on Sunday, and you'd want to know which one he's agreeing to.
moss_paper_78221 May 2026
Have you tried the Malayali associations in the city? They tend to run cultural classes for children on weekends.
- cedar_compass_486522 May 2026
  one of the theatre nurses at my hospital takes her son to a sunday class through an association, somewhere on the secunderabad side. can ask her which one
fern_moon_962021 May 2026
The music teacher at my school likes children to start percussion around 8 or 9, once they can hold a count. Sounds like he's at a good age for it.
lilac_compass_674922 May 2026
Ask about ear protection before anything else. A chenda in a small room is loud, and nobody mentions it at the first class.