Middle Eastern Percussion Workshop with Gencer Savas
Istanbul percussionist Gencer Savas led a workshop on Middle Eastern frame and hand drums at Tapadum, covering technique, rhythm, and the cultural history behind the instruments.
On April 6, we hosted Istanbul-based percussionist Gencer Savas for a workshop on Middle Eastern percussion — an introduction to the instruments, their playing technique, and the cultural weight they carry in the region’s musical heritage.
Savas has spent roughly 25 years playing and recording with well-known Turkish and international musicians, released his own vinyl record on the Swiss label Lord of Funk Records, and performed for years with the street-music bands Siyasiyabend and Alatürk, both the subject of documentaries by TRT, the BBC, and Arte France. Beyond Turkish percussion, his interests range across Brazilian, Latin, African, and Indian rhythms, and he has taught at Istanbul’s Yeditepe University and released several independent music projects, including a mobile percussion-lesson app and his own touring drum shows.
Eight people joined the workshop in person, with over sixty more following along online.