Congratulations on choosing to play percussion! Percussionists play some of the most dynamic and exciting pieces of a musical performance. Percussion instruments range from enormous bass drums to tiny finger cymbals, but the three most common percussion instruments in beginning school bands and orchestras are the snare drum, bells, and xylophone.
As a music student, or a parent of a music student, you will want to know some basics about your percussion instrument as soon as you start playing.
Keyboard (Mallet) Percussion
The keyboard percussion family (also called the mallet percussion family) includes orchestral bells, and chimes. Each instrument is arranged chromatically in two rows similar to a piano keyboard. Because of the different materials used, each of these five instruments has its own unique sound. The two most common keyboard percussion instruments are the bells and xylophone.
Bells
Also called the Glockenspiel, orchestral bells are made from metal and produce a bright, charming sound. The instrument is played with hard-rubber mallets, or sometimes brass or plastic mallets.
Xylophone
The xylophone is a percussion instrument with wooden bars. Each bar is a different length, so they play different notes when struck. A full-sized xylophone will have resonators to help make each note last longer. However, most students use a desktop xylophone which is smaller and more portable, and therefore much more convenient.
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Video Introduction to Keyboard Percussions
Watch this video introduction by Alfred Music to keyboard percussions. Alfred Music is the publisher of the popular Sound Innovations method book series, designed to help young students learn to play.
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Snare Drum
Parts of the Snare Drum & Stand
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Setting Up the Snare Drum
- Use the base screw (or wingnut) to loosen and tighten the legs on the stand. Open the stand wide enough to create a stable base for the instrument.
- Carefully place the drum on top of the stand, referred to as the “cradle.”
- Once securely in the cradle, tighten the wingnut at the bottom of the cradle until the stand has been tightened around the drum.
- Adjust the height of the stand to waist-high.
- Hold the drum as you adjust the angle of the stand. The drum should be parallel to the floor.
Below is a clip from Alfred Music, showing you these steps in more detail.
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Related Articles
- Percussion Techniques: How to Hold Your Drumsticks or Mallets
- 7 Tips for Practicing
- Practice Tips for Young Musicians
Have questions? Need advice? West Music is here for you! Give our school orchestra experts a call at 800-373-2000.
Adapted from Alfred Music’s Sound Innovations for Concert Band 1: Percussion.
Special thanks to our partners at Alfred Music for providing us smartmusic® videos and additional materials.
