Percussion instruments are the oldest family of instruments and were originally used to accompany dance and emphasize rhythm. Percussionists produce music by striking objects. The timpani, or kettledrum, is played by striking the animal skin or plastic head with mallets, which causes the air inside the kettle to vibrate and produce a low, deep sound. The bass drum produces a very loud sound and is struck with mallets on both sides. The snare drum gets its unique buzzing sound from snares or wires stretched across the bottom of the drum. The xylophone is a series of tuned wooden bars played with mallets. Cymbals are metal plates that are struck together or with mallets to

1. Elements: Instruments
Percussion
Music Appreciation
Unit 2

2. Percussion
• Percussion instruments are probably the oldest
family of instruments and were first used to
accompany dance and emphasize rhythm.
• Percussionists make music by hitting or striking
objects either together or to another. A
percussion instrument is anything that is hit,
beat, pounded, whacked, thumbed or struck.

3. Timpani
• The timpani, also known as the kettledrum is played
by striking the head (a thin membrane made of
animal skin or plastic) with two mallets.
• The air then vibrates inside a kettle and produces a
low deep thumpy sound.
• A timpani can be tuned by tightening or loosening the
top or head of the instrument.
• The tuning is controlled by foot pedals below the
instrument and when depressed they tighten the
head.
• http://www.musicappreciation.com/tympanikettledru
m.mp3

4. Bass Drum
• The drum you see used in marching bands and on
football fields being carried over the shoulder of
the player is called the bass drum.
• It is a very loud drum and is usually struck with
mallets from both side’s top and bottom. When
the bass drum is used in rock groups the right
foot usually controls a pedal that strikes the drum
from just one side.
• http://www.musicappreciation.com/bassdrum.m
p3

5. Snare Drum
• What gives snare drums their unique sound are
the snares or wires stretched tightly across the
bottom of the drum.
• As the skin of the drum vibrates the snares buzz
against the bottom part of the drum, which is
made of the same material as the head.
• The snare drum is a favorite instrument of the
rock group as well as the marching band.
• http://www.musicappreciation.com/snaredrum.
mp3

6. Xylophone
• The xylophone is set up as a series of tuned wooden
bars arranged like a piano keyboard.
• It is played with mallets using different material for
different affects.
• Similar to the xylophone but tuned lower is the
marimba.
• The xylophone can be heard in the Bugs Bunnie “Merry
Melodies” theme song and when heard in certain
situations will always bring a smile to the listeners ears.
• http://www.musicappreciation.com/xylophone.mp3

7. Cymbals
• Metal plates either struck together as a pair or
with a drumstick or mallet.
• Cymbals are used to create climactic moments in
symphonic works.
• A cymbal crash can be deafening letting the
listener know that an important section of the
music has occurred.
• Smaller cymbals produce a higher pitched sound,
and bigger ones produce lower pitched sounds.
• http://www.musicappreciation.com/cymbal.mp3

8. Other Percussion
• Triangle
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTIOKPqgF0Y
• Tambourine
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLGmB91ysas
• Castanets
– http://www.musicappreciation.com/castanet.mp3
• Whip
– http://www.musicappreciation.com/whip.mp3
• Gong
– http://www.musicappreciation.com/gong.mp3