The Art & Joy of Hand Drumming: Frame Drum, Improvisation & Middle Eastern Rhythms with Marla Leigh

October 14

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The Art & Joy of Hand Drumming

Enter the rich rhythmic world of the frame drum, where ancient tradition meets the art of improvisation.

Join internationally recognized percussionist, flautist, composer and educator Marla Leigh as she brings more than three decades of experience to this immersive exploration of technique, traditional rhythm and improvisation. A leading specialist in frame drum education, Marla combines technical clarity with creative freedom, giving participants the tools to build strong foundations while developing their own musical expression.

You’ll learn the foundational strokes of frame drum playing, develop clear tones and coordination, and explore the structure and musical language of Middle Eastern rhythms.

Foot bell patterns will add another layer, opening up playful polyrhythms between the hands and feet. Marla will also introduce solkattu, the South Indian practice of vocal percussion, and share creative tools for moving beyond memorized patterns into improvisation and making music in the moment.

Frame drums carry thousands of years of history across Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Mediterranean and beyond. This workshop offers a chance to connect with that rich tradition while discovering your own relationship with rhythm.

The focus will be on frame drum, though any hand drum is welcome. Open to all levels, with beginners warmly encouraged.

A limited number of drums will be available to borrow. Please bring your own frame drum or hand drum if you have one.

Participants will receive a workshop PDF and a $25 discount on Marla’s online course, Drum Your Soul Alive.

Marla Leigh

Marla Leigh is an internationally recognized frame drum specialist, percussionist, flautist and composer, as well as the founder of the Frame Drum Academy, one of the first online schools dedicated to frame drum education.

A musician since the age of three, Marla holds a BFA and MFA in Percussion from the California Institute of the Arts and has studied intensively with master teachers and frame drum pioneers. With more than three decades of teaching experience, her approach blends technical clarity with creative freedom, helping students develop confident musicianship and expressive artistry.

Her globally inspired compositions weave ancient instruments with contemporary textures and have extended from albums and concert stages to commissioned scores for film, documentary and ballet. She has also developed a signature line of frame drums in collaboration with Cooperman Drum Company.