Born into a musician family in Istanbul, Hakan Kaya began his musical journey at an early age, growing up within the rich, multicultural rhythm tradition of Anatolian folk music. His first formal rhythm and percussion training came from respected masters İzzet Kızıl and Şenol Cümbüşlü, where he built a strong foundation in traditional percussion techniques.

At the age of 16, Hakan traveled to Varanasi, India, where he studied Indian rhythms and Tabla under the guidance of Ran Kumar Mishra. This period became a turning point in his musical life. Immersed in both the musical and spiritual depth of Indian rhythm traditions, he gained a unique perspective that allowed him to observe, understand, and later synthesize the complementary rhythmic cultures of Turkey and India.

For many years, Hakan Kaya has performed with prominent musicians and shared his knowledge through teaching. He has instructed students from all around the world in Darbuka, Riq, Frame Drum, and Def, both at his Rhythm Atelier in Istanbul and through international workshops.

In 2013, Hakan Kaya became the first Turkish percussionist to release an instructional darbuka DVD, marking an important milestone in sharing Turkish darbuka techniques with a global audience.

Today, his teaching combines tradition, technical clarity, musical expression, and cultural depth—shaped by decades of performance, study, and hands-on experience.