Yshai Afterman Percussion School

Middle Eastern Percussion,
taught with depth.

Group lessons and private tuition in Darbuka, Lapstyle Frame Drum, Riqq, and Upright Frame Drum — built on a complete pedagogical system developed over decades. There is no equivalent for these instruments online.

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1,700+ Live group lessons taught since 2021
4 Instruments — Darbuka, Riqq, Lap Style & Upright Frame Drum
2010 Teaching online since — one of the longest-running in the field
Yshai Afterman
About Yshai

A method built on thousands of hours of practice and search

Inspired by my teachers and by years of deep practice, I spent a long time developing a method that leaves nothing out — technique, musical understanding, rhythmic phrasing, independence, and spirit. It is the method I wish I had when I was starting out.

Inspired by my teachers and by years of practice, I developed a step-by-step method that covers everything a student needs: technique, musical understanding, rhythmic phrasing, coordination — and most importantly, spirit.

"If you have a dream to play these instruments and are willing to put in the work — reach out and let's make it happen."
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Group Lessons

Four instruments, one rigorous method

Darbuka

Darbuka

The goblet drum at the rhythmic heart of Middle Eastern music. Found across Arabic, Turkish, and North African traditions, it is known for its sharp, resonant tone, its dazzling speed, and its central role in both ensemble playing and solo improvisation.

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Lap Style Frame Drum

Lapstyle Frame Drum

A large single-headed drum held across the lap, with deep roots in Persian, Turkish, and Arabic music. Its warm, round tone and extraordinary dynamic range make it one of the most meditative and expressive instruments in the percussion world.

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Riqq

Riqq

The classical tambourine of Arabic music — a rhythmic orchestra in one instrument. The skin, the jingles, and the frame each speak in their own voice: crisp tones, shimmering sustain, dry snaps, and cascading rolls. Few instruments offer this much colour and range in a single pair of hands.

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Upright Frame Drum

Upright Frame Drum

A frame drum played standing, held vertically rather than in the lap. Rooted in ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern traditions, it is a deeply versatile instrument — equally at home in meditative, trance-like playing and in rich, virtuosic expression.

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New groups open once a year per instrument. Register your interest →

The Teaching

Most percussion teaching can show you what to play. Very few teachers can show you how to think. What Yshai has built is a complete pedagogical system — not a collection of phrases, but a musical language that students genuinely internalise and make their own.

Students who come having studied with other programs often describe the same experience: that they are, in a real sense, starting again. Not because they haven't worked hard — but because the depth, structure, and musical thinking here are unlike anything else available for these instruments online.

2026

Upcoming Events

Masterclasses, open mics, and community gatherings — open to students and newcomers alike.

Community Open Mic
April 11
Community Event

Community Open Mic

A monthly gathering for the percussion community — come to perform, share, or simply enjoy the music.

Saturday, April 11, 2026
8:00 PM GMT+3 · Live on Zoom
Free to all students
Register for Open Mic
Pedram Khavarzamini
April 13
Masterclass

Pedram Khavarzamini

A rare online masterclass with one of the world's finest tombak players. Live Q&A included.

Sunday, April 13, 2026
8:00 PM GMT+3 · Live on Zoom
Paid · Students only
Register Now
Beyond the 1 — Masterclass with Yshai Afterman
April 25
Masterclass · Yshai Afterman

Beyond the 1

An online masterclass on rhythmic awareness for phrasing freedom. Open to all — students and newcomers alike.

Saturday, April 25, 2026
8:00 PM GMT+3 · Live on Zoom
Free to all students
Register — Free →
Summer Percussion Seminar Greece

July 31 – Aug 5  ·  Peloponnese, Greece  ·  In Person

Summer Percussion Seminar 2026

Five immersive days in the mountains of the Peloponnese — daily group lessons, individual practice, and evenings together at the Re-Green EcoCulture Center. Students only. Limited spots.

Learn more & apply
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2025–26 Masterclass Series

World-class masters,
exclusively for our students

As part of an ongoing effort to inspire and motivate his students, Yshai brings the world's top percussion masters for exclusive masterclasses — available to all group and private students.

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What Students Say
"I have been studying with him for almost 4 years now and I feel so lucky for the day I started. Beyond the fact that he is an amazing person and a gifted musician, he is truly the best teacher I have ever had — and I have been studying music my entire adult life. Anyone who starts will discover how organized and simple everything is. Yshai takes you step by step from the basics to the highest level. Thank me later."
Avshalom David — Israel Student · 4 years
"Yshai is one of the best teachers I have ever experienced. He has created a beautiful, comprehensive system for the development of skills and techniques — and through his teaching, empowers us to become better musicians, to learn to listen, to develop a feel and a keener sense of time, and the inspiration to improvise and compose."
Shirsten Lundblad — USA Student · Frame Drum
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Current Students

Percussion Community WhatsApp Group

A space for students of all years to share music, ask questions, and stay connected with each other. This group is for those who have already studied with Yshai — not a general enquiry channel.

Join the group