Lesson 16: Intro to Instruments part V: Percussion

Reading sheet music is like reading a foreign language. There are rules and patterns that must be followed for the music to sound pleasing to the ear and so the musician can interpret the music correctly in order to perform it.

Before we get to the music, we must first know how to write it correctly, understand the notes, and know how to organize it.

To learn about how to correctly label a note, head to: http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-is-c4.html

To learn about clefs, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2012/12/lesson-2-staffs-clefs-and-lines-oh-my.html

To learn about the major scale and whole and half steps, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-3-major-and-minor-scale.html

To learn about key signatures, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-4-key-signatures.html

To learn about notes and their rhythms in simple meter, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-5-notes-and-rhythm-part-i.html

To learn about simple time signatures, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-6-simple-time-signatures.html

To learn about rests in simple time, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-7-rests.html

To learn about ties and slurs, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-8-ties-and-slurs.html

To learn about dotted notes and rests: head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-9-dotty-good-time.html

To learn about compound time, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/01/lesson-10-notes-and-rhythms-part-ii.html

To learn about the basics of sound, head to:http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/02/lesson-11-science-behind-sound.html

To learn about string instruments, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/02/lesson-12-intro-to-instruments-part-i.html

To learn about keyboard instruments, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/02/lesson-13-intro-to-instruments-part-ii.html

To learn about woodwind instruments, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/02/lesson-14-intro-to-instruments-part-iii.html

To learn about brass instruments, head to:
http://nomusicbflat.blogspot.com/2013/02/lesson-14-intro-to-instruments-part-iv.html

This is the last of five installments about instruments. We will finally learn about percussion.
Percussion consists of two different types of instruments: melodic and rhythmic. Melodic percussion instruments can play different pitches where rhythmic can only play one pitch.

Percussion instruments are played with mallets, a stick with a head at the end made of metal, wood, plastic or soft material like yarn or string. These heads create different timbers (characteristics of sound) when playing an instrument. Drumsticks are a little bit different because the ends are filled into smaller heads and are made of the same continuous piece of wood as the stick of the mallet. The end of the stick/mallet without the head is referred to as the butt of the stick, and can also be used to play the instrument for a different effect (or just to beat time on another object, such as a stand, podium, or person.... JK, JK [maybe]).

Keyboard percussion includes marimbas, vibraphones, xylophones, and bell sets. These all have bars made of either wood or metal that are in a keyboard configuration (like a piano). These bars are struck with mallets and the pitch is determined by the length of the bar and by the length of the pipe underneath; the longer they both are, the lower the pitch. Vibraphones also have a motor that, if powered,  can cause the instrument to have vibrato, or a wavering within the sound that creates interest within held-out notes [and can also hide tuning issues!!!!!] .

This is a marimba. It's range is from C2 to C7.

This is a bell set, it's range is from F5 to C8.
Rhythmic percussion instruments fall into one of two categories: drums and auxiliary. Drums have a membraneous head that is struck with either mallets or sticks.

This is a bass drum in concert band form. It is struck with a big padded mallet. It has a low, booming sound that can sometimes be felt if it is loud enough and you are close enough. It keeps time alot during concert pieces by playing quarter or half notes.

This is a snare drum. It is struck with drumsticks. It often keeps time when marching and is known for having complicated and complex rhythms. It has a sizzling sound.

 

Timpani (and yes, the word is the same singular and plural) are the only drum that can change pitch. It is still considered a drum because it can only play one pitch at a time and it is struck to be played with mallets. They come in different sizes and can be tuned to specific notes [although in my experience is quite difficult unless you have perfect pitch, ESPECIALLY in the middle of a performance in the cold of marching band season]. They are usually grouped as four or five different sizes for a performance. As a collective, they can play a range from D2 to F#5.

Auxiliary can be almost any [inanimate!!!!!!!] object that, when  struck, makes a noise.

These are cymbals. When smashed together, they make quite a crash. They are used mainly for emphasis of important parts within the music [or for giving someone a headache by playing them right nest to their head!!!].

Other common examples include: wood blocks, cowbell[ YOU NEED MORE OF IT!!!!!!!, sorry, the music geek in me couldn't resist! ], triangle, and chimes.

This concludes our 5-part series (YAY!!!!)