Afterman
Percussion
Conservatory

A Comprehensive Method for the
Art of Middle Eastern Percussion

Without knowledge, spirit is a hollow wind. Without spirit, knowledge is a barren tree.

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1,700+ Live lessons taught across 25+ countries
4 Instruments taught
2010 Teaching online since
Free Masterclass

Understanding Rhythmic Terminology

Not sure what eighth notes and triplets actually mean? This 53-minute masterclass breaks down the naming system behind rhythmic values — what the names mean, and the rules that follow.

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4 Drums. One Method.

Darbuka, lap style frame drum, riqq, and upright frame drum — four instruments taught through one unified method. Every group follows a structured path: from fundamentals to musicianship, with original compositions, notation, and recorded lessons building week by week.

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Group Lessons

Choose your instrument, start your path

Darbuka
Goblet Drum

Darbuka

The goblet drum at the rhythmic heart of Middle Eastern music. Known for its sharp, resonant tone, dazzling speed, and its central role in ensemble playing and solo improvisation.

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Lap Style Frame Drum
Frame Drum

Lap Style Frame Drum

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

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Riqq
Tambourine

Riqq

The classical tambourine of Arabic music — a rhythmic orchestra in one instrument. Crisp tones, shimmering sustain, dry snaps, and cascading rolls. Few instruments offer this much colour in a single pair of hands.

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Upright Frame Drum
Frame Drum

Upright Frame Drum

A frame drum played standing, held vertically. Rooted in ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern traditions — 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 programs teach you phrases to copy. Here, you learn to understand the rhythmic language itself — so you can compose, improvise, and make the music genuinely your own.

Students who arrive having studied elsewhere often describe the same experience: that they are, in a real sense, starting again. Not because they hadn't worked hard — but because the depth, structure, and personal guidance here take them somewhere they didn't know they could go.

2026

Upcoming Events

Masterclasses, open mics, and community gatherings.

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 community members.

Saturday, April 25, 2026
8:00 PM GMT+3 · Live on Zoom
Free to all students
Registration Soon
Percussion Community Open Mic
May 9
Community Event

Community Open Mic

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

Saturday, May 9, 2026
8:00 PM GMT+3 · Live on Zoom
Free to all students
Register — Free →
Giridhar Udupa
May 11
Guest Masterclass Series

Giridhar Udupa

A masterclass with the renowned Indian ghatam player — one of the most celebrated percussion artists in the world of Carnatic music.

Monday, May 11, 2026
8:00 PM GMT+3 · Live on Zoom
$35 · Community only
Registration Soon
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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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Students in Action

See what students actually play

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Darbuka

Original composition in 5/8 — Bala PD

Lap Style

Student-Composed Piece

Upright

Malfuf Solo

A Global Community

You're not learning alone

"What starts as online lessons becomes something bigger — friendships, creative partnerships, and a shared language that crosses borders."

Students from around the world study here, and many have been part of this community for years. Every group session is a room full of different backgrounds and countries, united by the same instruments and the same method.

Weekly live classes mean you play alongside other students at your level — you hear each other, learn from each other, and push each other forward. This isn't a course you finish. It's a practice and a community you grow with over time.

Beyond the lessons, students share recordings, give each other feedback, and meet at events. Some of the strongest musical friendships start here.

What Students Say
"I started learning to play the frame drum 4 months ago, arriving with no past experience in percussions. Yshai's very systematic and clear approach has enabled me to develop confidence and thoroughly enjoy these months."
Yoni Yeruham — Israel Frame Drum
"I started studying with Yshai years ago, when my knowledge of darbuka, frame drum and riqq were next to zero. His methods and compositions have allowed me to find my connection with these instruments like never before. These days, I am able to apply what I have learnt to playing as part of an instrumental trio."
Eugene Toh — Singapore Darbuka, Frame Drum & Riqq
"Once in a lifetime, you may study with a master. Yshai is that master. His teaching goes far beyond technique — it transforms the way you hear, think about, and relate to music."
Tamara Kolton — USA Lapstyle & Upright Frame Drum
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