Percussion
Instruments
Timothy Miles Bionson
Mark Peter Bausing
Clint D’art Vincent Diamos
John Joseph Diamola
Sean Kyle Ceniza
Taisho Avenido
TIMPANI
Timpani look like big polished bowls or upside-
down teakettles, which is why they're also
called kettledrums. They are big copper pots
with drumheads made of calfskin or plastic
stretched over their tops. Timpani are tuned
instruments, which means they can play
different notes.
Timpani look like big polished bowls or
upside-down teakettles, which is why
they're also called kettledrums. They are big
copper pots with drumheads made of
calfskin or plastic stretched over their tops.
Timpani are tuned instruments, which
means they can play different notes.
XYLOPHONE
The xylophone is a musical
instrument in the percussion family
that consists of wooden bars struck
by mallets. Like the glockenspiel,
the xylophone essentially consists
of a set of tuned keys arranged in
the fashion of the keyboard of a
[Link] can change the quality of
the pitch by using different kinds of
mallets (hard or soft), and by hitting
the wooden bars in different ways.
CYMBALS
Cymbals are the biggest noisemakers
of the orchestra. They are two large
metal discs, usually made of spun
bronze. Cymbals, which are untuned,
come in a range of sizes, from quite
small to very large. The larger the
cymbal, the lower the sound they
make. Cymbals can be used for
drama and excitement, to accent the
rhythm or create delicate sound
effects.
TRIANGLE
A Triangle yourself at one time or
another. It's a small metal bar that's
bent into the shape of a triangle
and makes a ringing sound when
you hit it. There are many sizes of
triangles and each one sounds a
different pitch. You play the triangle
by holding it on a string and striking
it with a metal beater. The size and
thickness of the beater can change
the sound the triangle makes.
SNARE DRUM
The snare drum is a smallish drum
made of wood or brass with
drumheads made of calfskin or
plastic stretched over both ends of a
hollow cylinder. It has a set of wire-
wrapped strings stretched across the
bottom head (the snare), which give
the snare drum its unique "rattling"
sound when the drum is hit. A small
switch on the side of the drum allows
the player to turn the snare on or off
depending on the requirements of the
piece.
BASS BRUM
The bass drum, like the double
bass, is the biggest member of the
percussion family and therefore
makes the lowest sounds. The bass
drum is built like a very large snare
drum, although without the snare; it
is also an untuned instrument. You
play the bass drum by hitting either
drumhead with sticks that have large
soft heads, often covered with
sheepskin or felt. It can produce a
lot of different sounds from roaring
thunder to the softest whispers.
TAMBOURINE
A tambourine is a small drum with
metal jingles set into the edges.
Both the drumhead and the jingles
are untuned. To play it, you hold it
in one hand and tap, shake or hit
it, usually against your other hand.
MARACAS
Maracas come from Mexico.
They are rattles, often made
from gourds (a kind of squash),
filled with dried seeds, beads or
even tiny ball bearings that
make them rattle. Maracas can
also be made of wood or
plastic; the sound they make
depends on what they're made
of. To play them, you hold them
in your hands and shake.
GONGS
The Gong, also known as the
tamtam, is a very large metal
plate that hangs suspended
from a metal pipe. It looks
similar to a cymbal and is also
untuned, but is much larger
and has a raised center. To
play it, you hit the center with
a soft mallet. Depending on
how hard you hit it, you can
make a deafening crash or the
softest flicker of sound.
CHIMES
Chimes are metal tubes of
different lengths that are hung
from a metal frame. When you
strike the tubes with a mallet, they
sound like the ringing bells of a
church. Each chime sounds a
different pitch.
CELESTA
The celesta or celeste, also called a
bell-piano, is a struck idiophone
operated by a keyboard. It looks
similar to an upright piano, albeit
with smaller keys and a much
smaller cabinet, or a large wooden
music box.
PIANO
Piano is a percussion or a string
instrument. You play it by hitting its
88 black and white keys with your
fingers, which suggests it belongs
in the percussion family. However,
the keys lift hammers inside the
piano that strike strings (indeed,
the piano has more strings than
any other string instrument), which
produce its distinctive sound.
