World Percussion Fundamentals
The foundation course. Cajon, djembe, frame drums, darbuka, riq, udu, tombak, congas, bongos, pandeiro and calabash, all taught as one connected family of drums rather than a dozen isolated instruments.
Course Overview
Twelve instruments, one shared language of rhythm. 17 modules and more than 300 video lessons.
If you want to learn...
- core technique that transfers across every hand drum
- cajon and cajon kit, with jingle stick and cabasa
- frame drum in three positions: freehand, lapstyle and upright
- djembe, darbuka, riq, udu, tombak, calabash, congas and bongos
- ghost notes, finger rolls, snaps and floating hand
- essential rhythms from the Middle East, Africa, Iran and Cuba
- jam tracks to play along with, solo and in ensemble
Then this course is perfect for you!
"David is one of the best teachers of any skill I have ever met!"
Tim Ferris
Take a Look Inside
1. Introduction1 lesson
2. Universal Percussion Concepts16 lessons
3. Cajon21 lessons
4. Cajon Kit17 lessons
5. Djembe26 lessons
6. Frame Drum Freehand17 lessons
7. Frame Drum Lapstyle22 lessons
8. Frame Drum Upright21 lessons
9. Darbuka17 lessons
10. Riq19 lessons
11. Calabash21 lessons
12. Udu22 lessons
13. Tombak26 lessons
14. Congas26 lessons
15. Bongos20 lessons
16. Pandeiro11 lessons
17. Jam Tracks13 lessons
Get Started Now
Individual Course
€199 €149
Pay once for ongoing course access
WPA membership
€29 €19 /month
Unlimited courses & community access, billed quarterly
Your Instructor
David Kuckhermann is a Grammy-nominated percussionist, educator, and founder of World Percussion Academy and Handpan Dojo.
For over 30 years, he has taught students around the world through live workshops, masterclasses, and online courses, helping countless students build a deeper connection with rhythm and percussion.
His musical journey includes studies with renowned teachers such as Glen Velez, Behnam Samani, Ramesh Shotham, and Ustad Fayaz Khan, as well as international performances with artists including Dead Can Dance, Lisa Gerrard, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Pera Ensemble, and Voix de Bulgares.
In his teaching, David combines deep knowledge of many percussion traditions with clear, structured methods and his own creative concepts, making world percussion accessible for beginners and advanced players alike.
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.

