The Conservatory Percussion Weekend: 3 Free Days of Middle Eastern Percussion, Live

The Three Days

One weekend, three doors in

Each day stands on its own. Come to one, or come to all three. Everything is live, and everything is free.

All sessions begin 6:00 PM GMT+3. That's 11 AM New York · 4 PM London · 5 PM Berlin · 8:30 PM Mumbai · 11 PM Hong Kong / Beijing. Each lesson runs about 50 minutes with time for your questions, so there's a short break between the Saturday sessions.

Friday · Aug 14

Your First Groove

An open lesson for everyone, on any drum you have, or just your hands and a tabletop. You'll learn the system that lets you compose, develop, and understand infinite grooves. No experience needed; this is where the whole method begins.

Already did the Groove Builder Challenge? Bring the groove you built. Drop it in the chat, and I'll pick a few to develop and transform live.

6:00 PM GMT+3 · ~50 min

Saturday · Aug 15

Meet the Three Drums

A relaxed introduction to each instrument, back to back. Come for the one that calls you, or stay for all three and feel the difference before you choose.

Darbuka6:00 PM
Riqq7:00 PM
Frame drum8:00 PM

Sunday · Aug 16

The Deep Dive & Student Panel

A deeper session on what this study really is: musicianship over technique, the three pillars of the method, and the vision behind the teaching. Then a few of my students join live to share their own path, and I'll open the door to the September percussion groups.

6:00 PM GMT+3

Who It's For

For anyone drawn to the drum

Whether you've never held a drum or you've been playing for years, the weekend meets you where the method begins, and shows you where it can go.

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Total beginners

No experience needed. Friday's open lesson meets you at the very beginning, on any drum, or your hands.

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Undecided which drum

Saturday lets you feel darbuka, riqq and frame drum side by side, and find the one that's yours.

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Returning players

Feel the method and the teaching first-hand before the September percussion groups begin.

Your Teacher

Yshai Afterman

Founder of the Afterman Percussion Conservatory and a leading online teacher of Middle Eastern percussion since 2010. Former Head of the Percussion Department at Maqamat, the School of Eastern Music. His students span more than twenty-five countries, and the Conservatory Percussion Weekend is the clearest way to feel how he teaches before the September percussion groups begin.

Three days, live, together. Then a structured, long-term path in darbuka, riqq, or frame drum, for those who want to go deeper.

Where It Leads

The Weekend opens the September percussion groups

The Weekend is a free taste of the Conservatory itself. In September I open three new online groups, one for each instrument: weekly live lessons with me, kept small, building step by step from the first strokes toward real musicianship. Come play first, then decide if the path is yours.

Each group meets live on Zoom once a week for 90 minutes, with every lesson recorded. Tuition is $155 a month, billed monthly, cancel anytime.

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Darbuka

Also known as doumbek or tabla: one of the most popular percussion instruments in the world. Technique, rhythmic phrasing, coordination, and, most importantly, spirit.
Wednesdays 6:00 PM GMT+3 · starts September 2
About the darbuka group →

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Riqq

The Egyptian tambourine: the only tambourine with both playable jingles and skin. Diverse, rich, and complex; it asks for precision, independence, and a deep feel for the rhythm.
Tuesdays 5:00 PM GMT+3 · starts September 1
About the riqq group →

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Lapstyle Frame Drum

The most popular frame drum playing style: the lap position gives you full control of the drumhead with both hands, from first steps to deep methodical study.
Mondays 6:00 PM GMT+3 · starts September 7
About the frame drum group →

Reserve Your Seat

Save your place: free

Seats on the live sessions are limited. Leave your name and email and I'll send you the Zoom link, plus a reminder before we begin.

Your seat is reserved 🎉

I'll email you the Zoom link and a reminder before we begin. See you on August 14.

In the meantime, if you already have a drum, or you're wondering which one to start with, message me here. I read every one myself.

One more thing, if you'd like: are you thinking about the September percussion groups?

New online groups in darbuka, riqq and frame drum, live weekly from September. See the groups →

Can't make every session live? Reserve anyway. I'll send you the replay for a few days afterward. Live is where the questions and the student panel happen, so come if you can.

The weekend leads into the September percussion groups: small, live, by instrument. Come play with us first; there's no commitment in reserving your seat.