Burnet High School, Mr. Goodman, Music Appreciation, notes for test 2

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