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Student's testimonials
Photo by Zohar Ron
Frederic Viennot, Japan
"Yshai is an amazing artist and teacher !!!! he’s sharing so much during each lessons ; it has been such an inspirational journey since we started almost 2 years ago the riqq group ! highly recommended !!"
Reza Habibi - Egloff, Iran
Studying with Yshai has been the turning point in my music career! He has opened up my spirit and understanding to a whole new dimension in music and rhythms. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to get to know him and study with him. His love and dedication for music and teaching have always inspired me.
Yshai is a rare combination of a master percussionist and a great teacher, which is really hard to find. Whether you are a beginner or already have some experience in music and you are serious and dedicated to practice, i highly recommend Yshai's lesson !!!
Dan Anghelache, UK
“Yshai is one of the most dedicated teachers that I have ever had. I started studying the riqq as a beginner in 2022 and Yshai has offered me a clear, step-by-step pathway to improve my skills. His teaching methods, together with a disciplined approach to practicing, equips you best for the journey into studying this beautiful instrument."
James Allen, USA
I studied frame drum with Yshai. I have been a professional musician for 35 years and have studied with numerous great teachers and I am also a teacher. My teachers have all been inspiring and knowledgeable but what sets Yshai apart is his ability to show you what is possible when you don’t believe it yourself. It is one thing where you know you can learn x skills through practice and study but it is an entirely different thing when your teacher gives you vision that you did not previously have. His relentless pushing and cajoling gave me vision and skills I did not know I was capable of. He will teach you to find your own voice, which is a priceless thing. I urge you to study with this master teacher.
Miranda Rondeau, USA
I've enjoyed studying with you very much. You are an amazing generous masterful teacher. I've learned an immense amount in such a short time. The first months my mind was blown open in a good way with rhythmic possibilities. Each time new things you share just is expansive and exciting. I'm so grateful for the skills I've learned with you and look forward to integrating them more in my playing. Your classes have been a significant highlight in my frame drum journey!! So my gratitude to you for opening more possibilities for me around drumming!
Tomer Segal, Israel
"Yshai is a great teacher! He leads his students on a methodical path full of inspiration. Studying with him took me a few meaningful steps forward both technically and musically. Go for it!"
Cindy Weitzman, USA
"Yshai embodies the rarest combination of being a master drummer and a genuinely caring pedagogue. His thoughtful approach to each lesson strikes a perfect balance between technique work and fun solo pieces, tailored to enhance our progress while always maintaining a strong connection to the music. As a visual learner, I greatly appreciate the recorded lessons, which have been incredibly helpful. The weekly group classes are eagerly anticipated, and I find myself excited to practice the new skills, learn the latest solo, and tackle the composition challenges where I get to explore and discover my own musical ideas. Studying with Yshai has been the most enjoyable and effective learning experience I have ever had, and I am deeply grateful for the transformative impact it has had on my musical journey."
Mike List, USA
"Yshai is the real deal. He has a very systematic approach to technique, independence, and musicality that makes it accessible for beginners and challenging for experienced players."
Tiago Manuel, Portugal
"Yshai is, by far, the most accurate and dedicated teacher that I have known!
He not only focuses on the technique but also shares his concept to understand music deeply.
His self created method is very well designed with a strong base of exercises and compositions.
World class musician with a high standard pedagogical method.
I strongly recommend him!"
Nadav Friedman, Israel
"Yshai is the way to dream big and really mastering these instruments. His system is methodical, original and inspiring. A true master musician and educator!"
Sebastian Kuhnert, Germany
"Yshai's lessons are, speaking from a student's and also from a university lecturer's and tutor's perspective, very well prepared, logically structured and they also bring pleasure.
Although I have almost lost the thread the last few months due to personal circumstances, I stay on the ball because Yshai's lessons are irreplaceable. Without exaggerating, his lessons are likely to be the best and most didactically sophisticated in the whole world."
Nurşen Bayburan, Turkey
"Afterman has a beautiful language for his rhythm. A fluent language with its own alphabet and grammar.
Whether you know the musical notes or not, it's impossible not to understand Afterman's grammar and rhythm math.
After the alphabet, you learn to read and write. Then building sentences, then being able to write paragraphs.
Whether you are a author, write a story. Whether you use the sentence of the words be a poet. Whether you want to be an announcer, read what is written well. it's entirely up to you.
Afterman is the right master to learn the grammar of rhythm. The rest is up to you."
Chris Hokamp, Ireland
"I have been studying in Yshai's Darbuka and Riqq groups for almost two(!) years now.
I can say without exaggeration that this is the most efficient and effective musical education I have ever participated in.
Yshai's system is extremely well thought through and well organized, and Yshai is a truly gifted and inspirational teacher and musician. He has also mastered his online teaching setup, and everything just works. I would highly recommend these courses to percussionists at any level who are committed to practicing.
if you put in the work and follow the systems your mind will be blown!"
Shawn Hennessey, USA
"I've been a professional percussionist for 20 years and have studied with some serious masters in many styles.
Yshai's method has opened my ears to a whole new world of rhythm.
I've been studying with Yshai now for almost 2 years in frame drum, riqq and darbuka.
His group moves at a quick pace and I always feel inspired to practice more after every class.
Yshai refines your technique, expands your independence, and composes musically rhythmic etudes for each class.
The icing on the cake... he writes out the parts, records each lesson, and makes mini videos of each topic discussed so you have it forever!
Cherry on top ... he's a great guy. He's funny, kind, inspiring, and thinks deeply about rhythm and music.
Do yourself a favor, and enroll in one of his classes."
Laura Lilenthal, UK
"Yshai has a systematic approach.
Each lesson builds on the previous and each lesson is packed with knowledge; technically, musically and philosophically.
Each lesson links to the previous fluidly, nothing is random or fragmented.
If you are serious about learning then this is definitely the course to do.
For me (as a former martial artist) Yshai is a martial artist of percussion"
Alex Young, USA
"Yshai is an amazing teacher, classes are very detail with endless digestible warms-ups, exercises and solos in the groups classes, you’ll never go hungry.
I couldn’t be happier with my time spent studying with Yshai expertise, you can feel his passion for teaching and love for music.
Thank you for the opportunity to study!"
Kadija Photiades, Canada
"For anyone who wants to take a deep dive, with well thought out methodical classes that will take you on a wonderful journey, I highly recommend studying with Yshai Afterman. I often feel elated and excited by his teachings. Give yourself this gift."
Idan Tal, Israel
"The opportunity to learn from Yshai Afterman is an irreplaceable gift, Yshai's method makes the world of rhythm So logical and approachable What remains to be done is to hold on tight and enjoy the beauty of knowledge."
Anthony Bisch, France
"Meeting Yshai and his teaching has been like a new door opening in my life. His pedagogy and his love for music are a great source of inspiration and make me want to go as far as I can along the path he so generously proposes. Thank you Yshai, I'm very grateful! "
Yuri Davidovich, Russia
"Engaging and effortless, working with Yshai is a delightful experience. The methodology is highly structured and intuitively understandable, aimed at ensuring natural progress in practice."
Cole Nasman, USA
"Yshai is a great teacher with a system in place to help students reach their goals. The way information is presented and the tools that accompany each lesson set you up to accomplish the tasks for the week but also open the door to go deeper. If you are looking to study an instrument in great detail, this is the place to do it!"
Valerie Louys, France
"I’m Valerie, I live in Paris. I studied Darbuka for two years and lap style since last year.
I’m very impressed by the method, by all the tips we get to practice, to create and to understand music better and better. Notations, recordings and generally speaking, the organization of the lesson are so clear and helpful.
From week to week, I always know what to do. Precise goals help me to stay focused. But we also get a great material for a deeper learning, according to each one needs and possibilities.
Very important talks happen during the lessons - they mean a lot and sometimes I feel like they changed things deeply. I’m not a professional musician, and so I need to learn not only the instrument itself, but also how to build a healthy practice, how to approach art and feel that it is part of my life, even in a very modest way.
Yshai remembers exactly every step of the process, what is to learn an instrument and he shares everything of his own experience that can help. It’s so precious and exciting to share all of that with other students."
Ana Otero, Spain
Yshai is a remarkable musician and an equally impressive teacher. His unwavering commitment and generous spirit are truly praiseworthy. As someone with a background in Flamenco Dancing, I was familiar with rhythm on an instinctual level, but understanding and articulating its theoretical aspects were beyond my grasp. Yshai has profoundly deepened my understanding of rhythm. Thanks to his instruction, I am now able to comprehend and describe musical concepts effectively—something I had previously struggled with. Yshai provides abundant materials and notes, and his classes always leave me eager to practice. He masterfully blends discipline and creativity, weaving together emotion, logic, and inspiration. He doesn't just teach drumming; he teaches artistry.
Before meeting Yshai, I attended various workshops without finding the structured progression I needed. Yshai has provided that stability, method, and solid foundation essential for my growth. Above all, he is a humble, wise, and genuinely kind person, making him a remarkable mentor and guide in the music world.
Mor Demer, Germany
"Yshai's teaching is highly generous.
A practice where curiosity and rigorous discipline, light-hearted and professional approach meet, perhaps serious fun.
The lessons follow his didactic method, a transmission of technique, tools, modes of listening while giving a frame for progression.
Yshai is a bit like a driving instructor for time-travel vehicles, later the keys stay with me to hit the road.
A frame with which I am enabled to develop a cheerful spirit of acquiring a new mastery.
It is a great pleasure to explore the infinite dynamic relationships with this primal instrument drum"
Kriss Zamrano, USA
"I'm grateful I met Yshai. His method has helped me understand and improve my playing greatly. I appreciate his encouragement and willingness to give individualized feedback. The concepts and techniques he shares open up possibilities to keep on expanding. I have learned a lot more than just playing an instrument. Lessons for life!"
Raul Atraides, Spain
"Not all the great percussion Masters offer online classes, but fortunately Yshai is one of them.
In the last year I started online group classes in Tar (frame drum Upright position) and Darbuka. The classes are very high quality, Afterman is a very methodical teacher, with very clear objectives and a very precise and enjoyable methodology.
His technique is impeccable and in the classes he presents you with good exercises and compositions to achieve a better understanding of all the meters, besides including coordination exercises to integrate hands and feet in your practice.
Of course nothing is free, you have to practice, and a lot, but if you do you will see that your level increases day by day and your understanding of percussion will reach levels you never imagined.
If you are a percussion teacher (me) you will find a lot of new tools to teach your students and level up their practice.
I am very fortunate to learn with one of the best and most complete percussionists in the world"
Yoni Yeruham, Israel
“I started learning to play the frame drum as part of Yishai's online class 4 months ago, arriving with no past experience on percussions.
Yshai's very systematic and clear approach has enabled me to develop confidence and thoroughly enjoy these months to date.
All lessons are recorded, as well as short videos, music sheets, and clear instructions for weekly practices that are sent to each pupil after each class.
Yshai's approach is extremely professional and motivating, which has enabled me to really look forward to lessons.
I would strongly recommend for anyone to start.”
Bohdan Imiela, Poland
"Yshai's teaching skills stand up to his playing skills. He has created a methodic system that, even in group lessons, helps each student grow according to his needs and goals"
Claudia Bolleurs, Netherlands
I'm studying with Yshai on the upright style. What I love about his way of teaching is the incremental way. You learn something every week and you're challenged. So it really feels you're learning and getting better. You also learn to create your own rhythms, which is great. But the steps are in such a way that it's doable and suddenly you can do things you couldn't before.
Shirsten Lundblad, USA
Yshai is one of the best teachers I have ever experienced. Not only has he created a beautiful comprehensive system for the development of skills and techniques, but also 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 to compose. He provides incredible support, sending us videos of our classes and the new techniques we are exploring, along with the pdfs and recap of the content of each lesson, and is always open to questions and offering feedback. He also has been successful in getting me to practice consistently, and that’s no small thing
Igal Tartakovsky, Israel
"I've really been enjoying the past 5 months learning upright frame with Yshaithe plan is so well-built, every lesson is built on top of the other and the progress is unbelievable + the lessons are super fun! strong recommendation!"
Eugene Toh, Singapore
"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, and I always have loads of fun practising for lessons. As a result, I have truly fallen in love with the artistry of playing these instruments. These days, I am able to apply what I have learnt to playing as part of an instrumental trio. I am deeply grateful for all the knowledge he has so selflessly imparted."
Liz Shaw, USA
I have studied three drum styles with Yshai—the riq, frame drum upright, and frame drum lap style. Yshai is an amazing musician and teacher who is passionate about helping others learn and improve their skills. I look forward to class each week. His teaching method is meticulous and well-planned, taking you through everything step by step. The weekly homework assignments help me focus my practice and improve. I also enjoy hearing his musings during class on topics such as practice, inspiration, presence, performance, and much more. I have taken some wonderful short online programs with other teachers previously, but I eventually reached a point where I wanted to go beyond what those programs could offer. If you are wanting to dive deeply into the art of drumming, Yshai is one of the best teachers to study with!
Sass Hoori, UK
"I have been studying with Yshai: Frame Drum, Riq and Darbuka over 3 years. The lessons are very well structured and methodical so that each step in the progress is achievable, taking the student gradually from beginner to advanced in a smooth way. Lesson notes and videos are clear and allow the student to understand the material well and practice efficiently.
Yshai’s ability to analyse and explain technique, movement and rhythmical concepts is clearly at todays highest level. If you are serious about study I highly recommend the lessons"
Ellen Shapiro, USA
Everybody knows me as the perpetual percussion student. I've taken group lessons from some of the top people, but there is nobody like Yshai. I was blown away at his lapstyle class at Frame Drums Italia, and came back the next year for more. Now, no travel is needed to immerse yourself in his extraordinary step-by-step methodology. All you have to do is show up at your computer or iPad for 1.5 hours at the same time every week, practice diligently, send videos, occasionally demonstrate your homework or solo in class, and get detailed feedback from him. Although they're group classes on Zoom, they feel like one-on-one in person. I started with his riqq class and am now doing upright frame drum. Wish I could do all four.
Bala subramanian, India
"To find a great musician and a teacher together is as close to finding a pearl in the Ocean and I was so lucky find this gem of a person.
His teaching methodologies and curriculum is so disciplined and organised that you could always catch-up over time but certainly requires dedication :)
Coming to solos which he composes spontaneously for every class are so soulful and intellectual . These would not only satisfy the needs of a musical nerd but also would let a cave man dance happily :)
There are also some insights which he talks about music but those principles i apply to my day to day life and yeah there are some quick witted jokes too which keeps the atmosphere so lively. I was fortunate to learn from him and if you are ready to invest time and be dedicated years down the lane i promise you would be a maestro and your music would speak for itself"
Armando Fiore, Italy
Searching since a lot of time a way to study the frame drums, one day i found Yshai and his online courses. I was always skeptical about online lessons, but now i can say without any doubt that the Yshai's method works great!
He's a deep musician and crystal clear methodical teacher. Starting from the fundamentals, Yshai grows your learning and skills day by day and every lesson is a new brick on the top of the previous one, building a rock-solid technique and rhythmic awareness. I'm so glad to be his student.
Diana Omasheva, Kazakhstan
I have been learning Darbuka with Yshai since September’23. When I started, I already had about a year of experience playing and learning the instrument. Because of this, I wasn't intimidated by the idea of online lessons—I thought my previous offline learning experience would help. And it did, but I also ended up completely retraining my technique, which now allows me to do things I couldn't do before. It turned out that video lessons, which can be rewatched as many times as needed, offer more than a single live lesson ever could.
But the most important thing is the structure and plan of the lessons, which have completely reassured me. I now understand how to practice systematically, and I have stopped being interested in all those one-time seminars and master classes. I feel confident that if I consistently follow the guidance given in the lessons, I will succeed. Yes, it will take time, and I'm okay with that. I now have a sense of confidence that everything will work out eventually; it all depends on me, and Ishay has provided the roadmap to follow. I'm happy I decided to enroll in this course.
Thank you!
Lorraine Grix, USA
I have been taking online Upright Frame Drum classes with Yhai for six months and I highly recommend him as a teacher.
His organizational skills and methodical teaching style have made the practice easy to follow and quite rewarding.
I am very pleased with the progress I have made in such a short time and am looking forward to what the next six months brings.
Avon Lai, Taiwan
Usually great instrument player may not necessarily be good at teaching, but Yshai is that guy!!!
I am so lucky to have discovered Yshai and joined Yshai's rhythm course. Professional, informative and systematic learning, how lucky I am to be able to go from beginner to advanced. Thank you Yshai for establishing the teaching system and being willing to share your expertise.❤️
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