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The Art of Frame Drumming

Glen Velez — the godfather of modern frame drumming — teaches his own method from the ground up: the sound vocabulary of the drum, vocalisation, finger snaps, hand independence and the rhythmic phrases behind his playing.

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Glen Velez with frame drum

Course Overview

A complete path into frame drumming with Glen Velez — 12 modules, 107 video lessons.

If you want to learn...

  • the sound vocabulary of the frame drum
  • second and third speed
  • vocalisation — singing the rhythm while you play it
  • support hand tak and hand independence
  • finger snaps
  • odd groupings — three strokes per beat and five beat phrases
  • putting it all together in a full composition

Then this course is perfect for you!

"The best instructional video I have ever seen""The best instructional video I have ever seen""The best instructional video I have ever seen""The best instructional video I have ever seen""The best instructional video I have ever seen"

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Description

Course Curriculum

12 modules · 107 video lessons · ongoing access

1. Frame Drum Basics

Introduction
1.1 Exercise 1
1.2 Exercise 2
1.3 Exercise 3
1.4 Exercise 4
1.5 Exercise 5
1.6 Exercise 6
1.7 Exercise 7

2. Second and Third Speed

Introduction
2.1 Exercise 1
2.2 Exercise 2
2.3 Exercise 3
2.4 Exercise 4
2.5 Exercise 5
2.6 Exercise 6
2.7 Exercise 7

3. Pa-Doum

Introduction
3.1 Exercise 1
3.2 Exercise 2
3.3 Exercise 3
3.4 Exercise 4
3.5 Exercise 5
3.6 Exercise 6
3.7 Exercise 7

4. Support Hand Tak

Introduction
4.1 Exercise 1
4.2 Exercise 2
4.3 Exercise 3
4.4 Exercise 4
4.5 Exercise 5
4.6 Exercise 6
4.7 Exercise 7
4.8 Exercise 8

5. KiTaDoum and KiTaTakaDoum

Introduction
5.1 Exercise 1.1
5.2 Exercise 1.2
5.3 Exercise 1.3
5.4 Exercise 2
5.5 Exercise 3
5.6 Exercise 4
5.7 Exercise 5
5.8 Exercise 6
5.9 Exercise 7
5.10 Exercise 8 - Going Double Time

6. Doum-Tak and Different Vocalisations

Introduction
6.1 Exercise 1
6.2 Exercise 2
6.3 Exercise 3
6.4 Exercise 4
6.5 Exercise 5
6.6 Exercise 6
6.7 Exercise 7

7. Vocalising Either Hand

Introduction
7.1 Exercise 1
7.2 Exercise 2
7.3 Exercise 3
7.4 Exercise 4
7.5 Exercise 5
7.6 Exercise 6
7.7 Exercise 7

8. Tisra - 3 Strokes per Beat

Introduction
8.1 Exercise 1
8.2 Exercise 2
8.3 Exercise 3
8.4 Exercise 4
8.5 Exercise 5

9. TaRiKiTaTaKa and NaKaTaRiKiTaTaKa

Introduction
9.1 Exercise 1
9.2 Exercise 2
9.3 Exercise 3
9.4 Exercise 4
9.5 Exercise 5
9.6 Exercise 6
9.7 Exercise 7
9.8 Exercise 8
9.9 Exercise 9
9.10 Exercise 10
9.11 Exercise 11
9.12 Exercise 12
9.13 Exercise 13 - Going Double Time

10. Snaps and Independence

Introduction
10.1 Snap Exercise 1
10.2 Snap Exercise 2
10.3 Snap Exercise 3
10.4 Snap Exercise 4
10.5 Snap Exercise 5
10.6 Snap Exercise 6
10.7 Snap Exercise 7
10.8 Snap Exercise 8
10.9 Snap Exercise 9
10.10 Snap Exercise 10
10.11 Snap Exercise 11
10.12 Independence Exercise 1
10.13 Independence Exercise 2
10.14 Independence Exercise 3
10.15 Independence Exercise 4
10.16 Independence Exercise 5
10.17 Independence Exercise 6

11. Composition

Composition

12. 5 Beat Phrases

Introduction
12.1 Exercise 1
12.2 Exercise 2
12.3 Exercise 3
12.4 Exercise 4
12.5 Exercise 5
12.6 Exercise 6
12.7 Exercise 7

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1. Best for Students who want to work with one specific course Students who want to explore the world of percussion and access the full learning library
2. Access Ongoing access to the purchased course. Access to all included courses on the platform while subscribed.
3. Learning Path One Self-contained course, good for focused study. Improve from level to level and explore across instruments, rhythms, techniques, and musical styles.
4. Flexibility Simple one-time purchase Focus on one path or switch between instruments whenever inspiration strikes.
5. Value Good value if you only ever want one course. Best value if you want more than one course, deeper progression, flexibility and access to future additions.
6. Community Every course purchase comes with 12 months of community access. Ongoing community access for the duration of the subscription.
7. Our recommendation: A good choice if you only want one very specific course. Recommended for most students — especially if you want to grow steadily on one instrument and have the freedom to explore more.
1. Benefit goes here As a learner, you will be guided from zero to hero step by step
2. Benefit goes here Our courses feature on-screen notations and come with notation booklets
3. Benefit goes here Connect with David and fellow students in our community
4. Benefit goes here Our teachers guide you on a wide variety of instruments: Cajon, Frame Drums, Darbuka, Tonbak, Congas, Djembe, Pandeiro, Udu and more
5. Benefit goes here Our teachers guide you on a wide variety of instruments: Cajon, Frame Drums, Darbuka, Tonbak, Congas, Djembe, Pandeiro, Udu and more
6. Benefit goes here Our teachers have spent decades studying traditional percussion styles and teaching students worldwide—on stage, in classrooms, and online.
1. Benefit goes here As a learner, you will be guided from zero to hero step by step
2. Benefit goes here Our courses feature on-screen notations and come with notation booklets
3. Benefit goes here Connect with David and fellow students in our community
4. Benefit goes here Our teachers guide you on a wide variety of instruments: Cajon, Frame Drums, Darbuka, Tonbak, Congas, Djembe, Pandeiro, Udu and more
5. Benefit goes here Our teachers guide you on a wide variety of instruments: Cajon, Frame Drums, Darbuka, Tonbak, Congas, Djembe, Pandeiro, Udu and more
6. Benefit goes here Our teachers have spent decades studying traditional percussion styles and teaching students worldwide—on stage, in classrooms, and online.

Your Instructor

Glen Velez is a Grammy-winning percussionist and the central figure of the modern frame drum movement.

Over five decades he drew the frame drum traditions of the Middle East, Ireland, Brazil and South India — riq, bendir, tar, bodhrán and pandeiro — into one contemporary approach to the instrument. He was a member of Steve Reich and Musicians and of the Paul Winter Consort, and has performed and recorded as a soloist worldwide.

His method is unmistakable: hands, steps and voice studied together, with the rhythm sung while it is played, so that a pattern lives in the whole body rather than only in the fingers.

Generations of frame drummers learned the instrument through his teaching — David Kuckhermann among them. In this course Glen teaches that method himself, from the first sounds on the drum through to a complete composition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about learning hand drumming online with us — from djembe and congas to darbuka, cajón, frame drums, and beyond.

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