Stefanos - Percussion tutor - New York
1st lesson free
Stefanos - Percussion tutor - New York

Stefanos's profile, diploma and contact details have been verified by our experts

Stefanos

  • Rate £52
  • Response 1h
  • Students

    Number of students Stefanos has accompanied since arriving at Superprof

    7

    Number of students Stefanos has accompanied since arriving at Superprof

Stefanos - Percussion tutor - New York
  • 5 (4 reviews)

£52/hr

1st lesson free

Contact

1st lesson free

1st lesson free

  • Percussion
  • Djembe
  • Tambourine
  • Goblet drum
  • Bodhran Drum

Berklee graduate and professional percussionist teaches Middle Eastern and Mediterranean percussion from traditional foundations to creative fusion

  • Percussion
  • Djembe
  • Tambourine
  • Goblet drum
  • Bodhran Drum

Lesson location

Super Tutor

Stefanos is one of our best Percussion tutors. They have a high-quality profile, verified qualifications, a quick response time, and great reviews from students!

About Stefanos

Hi, I'm Stefanos Athinaios, a professional drummer/percussionist, composer and educator based in New York City. I graduated from Berklee College of Music, where my studies focused on Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Afro-Cuban and West African percussion as well as broader world music traditions alongside drum set. I also minored in Effortless Mastery, a program with an emphasis on playing with less tension, greater freedom and more presence. I've also had the privilege to learn with musicians like Jamey Haddad, Misirli Ahmet, Eguie Castrillo and Tigran Hamasyan.

I've been teaching for over a decade, working with more than 200 students of all ages and levels, from kids just starting out to advanced players and working professionals, including students with learning differences. I don't believe in "difficult students." Every student has their own way of learning, and part of my job is finding the approach that helps them connect. I've also led workshops and masterclasses for institutions including Berklee, Silkroad and El Sistema programs, focusing on rhythmic literacy, ensemble playing and cross-cultural approaches to rhythm.

As a performer, I've played festivals and jazz clubs worldwide, performed with orchestras and contributed to 200+ recordings for artists, film and TV. On many of these projects, I've also worked as a musical director, co-composer and arranger.

Learning these instruments isn't just about memorizing rhythms. Each tradition has its own sound, feel and function, and I want to help you play in a way that feels authentic, both to you and to where it comes from, whether you're accompanying a dance, improvising or bringing these sounds into your own music. Most importantly, I want you to have fun in the process!

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About the lesson

  • All Levels
  • English
  • Greek

All languages in which the lesson is available :

English

Greek

Lessons are built around your instrument, your current level and what you want to be able to do, whether that's playing traditional music authentically, improvising or bringing these sounds into contemporary or original work.

We usually start with fundamentals and technique, since everything else is built on that foundation. From there, we build rhythmic vocabulary while learning how each rhythm actually functions inside real music, not just as an abstract pattern.

Depending on your interests, we can work on:
* Grip, basic strokes and tone on a range of percussion instruments from around the world, including darbuka, riq, frame drums, tapan/davul, djembe, cajón and more
* Traditional rhythmic vocabulary and phrasing
* Odd meters and asymmetric rhythms (5/8, 7/8, 9/8)
* Ear training and learning rhythms by listening
* Accompaniment, ensemble playing and improvisation
* Combining these traditions with drum set and electronic percussion
* Adapting traditional rhythms to contemporary, fusion and original music

An important part of my approach is that I don’t treat these traditions as separate worlds. My own work blends different musical cultures with drum set and electronic elements, and my experience teaching drum set helps me show you how those musical ideas can work on a full kit or within a multi-percussion setup.

A 7/8 groove should eventually feel like a musical phrase, not seven beats you’re counting in your head. I focus on developing that internal sense of the rhythm, not just understanding the math. A rhythm or phrase you learn by hearing, stomping and internalizing tends to stick with you more securely than one you only read off a page, so alongside notation, we spend real time listening and playing back what you hear.

Beginners build a solid foundation in technique, tone and basic rhythmic vocabulary first. Intermediate and advanced students can go deeper into ornamentation, improvisation and ensemble playing while developing their own voice within the traditions they study. All students, regardless of age or level, get hands-on experience applying what they learn in a real musical context.

I provide notation, recordings and play-alongs as needed, so you always know exactly what to practice and why.

If you're not sure exactly where to start, send me a message with what draws you to these instruments or traditions, and we'll figure out the right starting point together.

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Rates

Rate

  • £52

Pack prices

  • 5h: £243
  • 10h: £449

free lessons

The first free lesson with Stefanos will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

  • 30mins

online

  • £45/h

Details

- I also offer between-lesson support for brief questions about practice or lesson material.

- Discounted 5- and 10-lesson packages are available for students who want to commit to regular lessons.

- A travel fee may apply to lessons at the student’s location, depending on distance, and will always be agreed in advance.

Stefanos's Video

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Verified degree

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levels

All Levels

All languages in which the lesson is available

English

Greek

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free lessons

The first free lesson with Stefanos will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

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