A 6 WEEK ONLINE COURSE
Exploring Rhythm, Trance & the Ancient Art of the Frame Drum
Led by Glen Velez - one of the world's foremost masters of rhythm.
SATURDAYS | OCTOBER 10 - NOVEMBER 14, 2026
12PM NYC | 9AM California | 5PM London | 7PM Istanbul
ABOUT THE COURSE
The drum is among the oldest instruments of human civilization — older than writing, older than recorded history. Across every culture and tradition, it has been used not only to make music, but to enter another state of being. To pray. To heal. To remember.
Rhythms of the Mystics is an invitation into that living tradition.
Over six sessions, four-time Grammy Award winner and founding father of the modern frame drum movement Glen Velez guides us through the ancient art of frame drumming — integrating rhythm language, shakers, vocal toning, and synchronized movement as tools for deepening our connection to inner stillness, sacred presence, and embodied awareness.
No previous drumming or musical experience is necessary.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
6 live sessions (90 minutes each) on Zoom led by Glen Velez
Practice audio files for working with rhythm language and open tones between sessions
Session recordings available to revisit at any time
Community connection — space for questions, reflections, and cross-cultural dialogue
YOUR GUIDE
Glen Velez is the founding father of the modern frame drum movement — a four-time Grammy Award winner regarded as a legendary figure among musicians worldwide. Over fifty years, he has mastered frame drum traditions from across the globe — the Arabic riq, Irish bodhrán, North African bendir, Brazilian pandeiro — synthesizing techniques from South Indian, Central Asian, Arab, Persian, Brazilian, and Italian traditions into a unified language all his own. He teaches at the Mannes School of Music and conducts masterclasses at The Juilliard School, and has shared the stage with Zakir Hussain, Steve Reich, Pat Metheny, and Coleman Barks.
THE CURRICULUM
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We begin with rhythm language — short syllables that imitate the sounds of the drum — and the most fundamental technique in frame drumming: the resonant open tone. Through stepping and clapping, we awaken our awareness of synchronization as a transformative force.
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We take up the caxixi, a Brazilian basket shaker used across healing traditions. Through shaking, we begin to localize sensation in the body, sensitize ourselves to left and right, and attune to the four directions as an inner map.
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The voice enters as our deepest instrument. Through slowly shifting vowel sounds and vocal long tones, we deepen the breath, quiet the analytical mind, and begin to access the expanded states that rhythm makes possible.
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From the ancient temples of Mesopotamia and Egypt to the healing circles of medieval Islamic Andalusia, Southern Italy, and the Americas. We explore how rhythm carries memory, identity, and the sacred across millennia.
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In our final session, Glen guides us through an extended rhythmic journey — integrating everything we've cultivated into a full embodied experience of trance, presence, and inner listening. We close in community reflection and shared silence.
REGISTRATION
Sessions occur every Saturday from October 10 - November 14, 2026
12PM NYC | 9AM California | 5PM London | 7PM Istanbul
Sliding Scale Pricing (USD)
$399 — Standard
For those who can pay fair value for their experience.
$299 — Supported
For those with limited financial access, supplemented by the community.
Monthly installments available. Registration closes Oct 16
All sales final. No refunds will be issued.
Join us for Rhythms of the Mystics and discover the oldest technology of inner transformation, alive in the palm of your hands.
FAQs
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A six-week online series exploring the frame drum as a pathway into trance, presence, and inner journey. Each session is led by Glen Velez, with a surprise guest teacher joining midway through the series.
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You'll need two items: a frame drum and a pair of shakers.
Frame Drum
Glen recommends the 14" tunable Cooperman Tar drum, which he specially designed for his rhythm and trance work. It's available through Glen's website. More affordable, non-tunable versions are also available online here if you're looking for a budget-friendly option.Shakers
You'll need two shakers. Glen recommends the Caxixi — small, handmade Brazilian-style basket shakers, also available through Glen's website and specially designed for this work. Any two small shakers will work if you already have them. -
No. The series is designed to be accessible from the very beginning. If you can clap, step, and speak, you can drum.
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Your purchase grants access to all six recordings from our previous live cohort, song audio files and lyrics / translations
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All sessions will be recorded and available to registered participants within 48 hours.
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Echos of Devotion is offered by the LILA Devotional Arts Non-Profit, dedicated to cross-cultural dialogue, sacred music, and community gatherings that honor the universal language of devotion.