Berlin Frame Drum School

program

Frame drum courses

Join the frame drum community, develop your musicality and indulge in the rhythmic flow! Besides individual lessons I offer drum circles, group classes and intensive workshops.

If you are interested in updates on my program, let’s stay in touch: write me an email to borys.drums@gmail.com to sign up for a newsletter.

Frame drum retreat in Poland

Swidwowiec, Poland | 04-06.04.2025

For the sixth time in a beautiful village of Swidwowiec (2h from Berlin) we will study modern frame drums and indulge in a musical flow, get energized with morning yoga sessions, and relax with evening concerts of Tibetan bowls and gongs. Workshop open to all levels.

Introduction to frame drums

Berlin | 1 & 22.02.2025 / 12:00-15:00

This workshop is an introduction to modern frame drum technique, open to participants of any level – including those that never picked up a musical instrument before! We will explore the basics of modern lap-style frame drum (according to the approach of Zohar Fresco) and take time to play together. You will get to know different traditional rhythms from the East Mediterranean, learn how to create new grooves, and exercise rhythmicality in the movement.

Frame drum course | part 1

Berlin | weekly meetings from 19.03.2025

10-weeks course to build solid basics in the lapstyle frame drum technique.

Ahwash ⴰⵃⵡⴰⵛ workshops in Morocco

Late winter/early spring every year

Ahwach (Ahwach / ⴰⵃⵡⴰⵛ / أحواش) is a diverse Amazigh tradition of chanted poetry in a form of collective dance-singing, typical for Moroccan Atlas Mountains and the surrounding areas. It’s based on very simple, balanced movements and call-and-response patterns, which makes this practice particularly available to people of different cultures and bodies. Since 2022 together with Hicham Ounamir, a traditional musician and song-writter, we have been organizing Ahwash workshops in his village Amazer, combined with my in-depth rhythmical practices.

Dum circles

Irregular meetings for all levels

Open classes dedicated to playing together, group improvisation, embodying groove and music. We start with a technical part (warm-up, some new input). Then we learn a groove, which later gets developed into longer phrases and provides a basis for improvisations. When playing together we address the question of balance: between holding the space, giving the space, and taking the space. An important lesson for both for a musician and a human. :)

The classes happen irregularly, usually at least twice a month.

If you are interested in joining, please send me a message! borys.drums@gmail.com

Frame Drum Essentials Course

New edition: to be announced!

Methods – not exercises! In this 20-hour course you will learn most important techniques of modern frame drumming and get tools to improve on your own. The lessons will be recorded and available to participants.

on-going group classes

Write me for more information.

In-person: Intermediate group in Berlin. Every Friday / 18:30-20:00
In-person: Beginners' group in Berlin. Wednesdays / 18:30-20:00
Online intermediate level group. Every Saturday, 12:30-13:30 Berlin Time

individual lessons: in-person & on-line

I give individual lessons for students of every level - both in-person and on-line. The lessons are adjusted to the needs of student - whether it's professional goals, hobby, meditative practice, self-development or boosting rhythmic skills. There is no such thing as 'lack of the sense of the rhythm' or 'lack of musicality'. Everyone has capabilities to practice music in their daily life.

I teach contemporary techniques for lap-style frame drum (known also as mazhar / mizhar / bendir), upper-style frame drum (in some places known as tar, bendir, tof, daf), riq (also written riqq).

pricing for individual lessons

1-hour lesson: €50
4 hours in a month: €160

studying together with friends

You can sign up for a lessons together with your friends. The price for a meeting will depend on the amount of people. Contact me for the details!

online lessons

I teach through Zoom. Each lesson is fully recorded and available to the student along with various materials, sheets, and exercises tailored to the level.