Dante Agostini, a name synonymous with drum education. An unparalleled method consisting of more than 30 books. The Dante Agostini school is based in Paris. It was founded in 1965 by Dante Agostini himself, with the help of Kenny Clarke, making it the first drum school in Europe. Claude Nougaro, Archie Shepp, Art Taylor, Max Roach, Sam Woodyard, Elvin Jones, Benny Vasseur, Eddy Louiss have visited and honored the name of this school with their presence.

The Agostini Method Curriculum

Since 2024, I have had the honor of representing the Agostini School in Thessaloniki through the establishment of a local branch. In collaboration with the Athens school and the central institution in Paris, I offer the opportunity for anyone interested to follow the official curriculum, which is unified across all Agostini schools.

The Agostini Method Curriculum Structure

The curriculum is divided into levels: Initiation Stage, Preparatory Stage, Elementary Stage, Middle Stage, and Superior Stage. At the end of each academic year, an examination plan is provided by the central school in Paris. Each student is evaluated by a committee of certified instructors in order to officially validate their level. The full course of study culminates in the awarding of the final diploma for the Superior level.

Initiation Dante Agostini

Initiation Stage (Le cycle Initiation): I1, I2 This level is completed over two years. It serves as an introduction to the method and is designed for younger students.

Preparatory Stage (Le cycle Préparatoire): P1, P2, P3, P4 This level spans four years and is aimed at beginners of all ages. It enables students to grasp the fundamentals of various rhythms and musical styles such as rock, Latin, and jazz. The technique taught throughout this stage is more than sufficient to allow students to participate in a variety of musical ensembles.

Elementary Stage (Le cycle Élémentaire): E1, E2, E3 This level is completed over three years. It allows students to deepen their understanding of what they learned in the previous stage and refine their instrumental technique. The goal of this cycle is to enable students to perform more demanding musical pieces and exercises.

Middle Stage (Le cycle Moyen): M1, M2 This level spans two years. It encourages students to explore and develop the concept of improvisation—both in solo performance and in shaping their own musical identity. Through this process, they enhance their technical skills as well as their creative musical ideas.

Superior Stage (Le cycle Supérieur)

This is the final level of the Agostini School. Students are certified through final examinations that mark the completion of the full curriculum. The final diploma must bear the signatures of the central Agostini School in Paris and its director, Jacques-François Juskowiak, in order to be valid. After completing their studies, students may optionally pursue an additional advanced level offered by the central schools in Paris and Bordeaux: the Excellence Prize (Le prix Excellence).