Yshai Afterman · Online Course

The Complete Upright Frame Drum Course

"Heart open, eyes shut, she sings."

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Upright frame drum
The Complete Curriculum

3 pillars. 10 levels.
One musician.

The upright frame drum is one of the oldest and most powerful drums in the Middle Eastern and world music tradition — played standing, held vertically, with a completely different physical relationship to the instrument than any other frame drum. What you are looking at is a comprehensive curriculum built around that unique technique: stroke vocabulary, body mechanics, positional freedom, rhythmic development, and musical expression — from first contact to full command.

The same building block method that runs through all Yshai Afterman courses is applied here in full. Every technique is introduced in musical context. Every level is a complete step forward.

—Levels
—Stages
—Compositions
∞Yours forever

The Journey

I
Level I · Stage 1

Foundations

— lessons1 composition
A. Introduction to the instrument B. Grip + basic strokes C. Numbers — building blocks 1–2–3–4 D. Dynamics: loud notes vs ghost notes E. The 4 building blocks of groove F. Composing: 3 rhythms using this method G. Traditional rhythms H. How to practice
I
Level I · Stage 2

Groupings, Taks & the Pa

— lessons1 composition
A. Complete the groupings up to 8 B. Traditional rhythms ending with 8th note taks C. Basic phrasing over a groove: ghost notes + strong notes D. Composition E. Traditional rhythms ending with 16th note taks — mix between endings F. Introducing the Pa stroke G. Traditional rhythms with Pa
II
Level II · Stage 1

Rhythmic Scale, Ghost Notes & Custom Ornaments

— lessons1 composition
A. Counting songs — preparing the traditional rhythms playlist B. The rhythmic scale: basic numbers over the metronome C. Numbers divided into 2 groups D. Basic numbers with Pa E. Traditional rhythms — every ghost becomes 2 × 16th taks F. Custom ornaments — based on E G. Composition H. The 4 dynamic variations for numbers divided into 2 groups I. Basic phrasing level 2: 2nd group doubled
II
Level II · Stage 2

Warm-Up, Foot Bell & 4-Finger Roll

— lessons1 composition
A. Numbers in 2 groups over the metronome: the warm-up exercise B. The foot bell path — first step applied C. The 4-finger roll D. Traditional rhythms ending with 16th note 4-finger roll E. Basic phrasing level 3: both groups doubled F. Composition G. Traditional rhythms with 16th note ghost notes H. Numbers in 2 groups with Pa
III
Level III · Stage 1

4-Finger Roll in Context, the Pe Stroke & Left Hand Independence

— lessons1 composition
A. Foot bell path — next step B. Traditional rhythms — every ghost note is a 4-finger roll C. Custom ornaments — based on B D. Composition E. The Pe stroke F. Traditional rhythms ending with 8th note Pa–Pe G. Ghost notes: basic numbers from Dom to left hand Pe
III
Level III · Stage 2

Roll Variations, Pe Stroke in Context & 8-Finger Roll

— lessons1 composition
A. Foot bell path — next step B. 4-finger roll variations in 5 beats C. Traditional rhythms — every ghost note is 16th note Pa–Pe D. Ghost notes: numbers in 2 groups — 1st group Dom, 2nd group Pe E. The 8-finger roll F. 8-beat traditional rhythms followed by an 8-finger roll G. Composition: 16th note phrases ending with 2, 4, and 6 Pa–Pe
IV–X
Levels IV–X

Curriculum in development

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The course is currently in development. Get in touch to be notified when it launches, or to ask about private lessons in the meantime.

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