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LESSON 1: Drums of the Western World

                                                                        The Musical Instruments

The Percussion Family

Timpani or Kettledrums
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The Timpani or Kettledrums are percussion family instruments, made of copper. A pedal at the bottom allows the player to change the pitch of the drum. Timpani are usually played in groups of 2, 3,4 or more drums. These drums are found in the percussion section of the orchestra.

Snare Drum
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The snare drum is a two-headed drum with wires stretched across the bottom head. These wires, or snares, rattle as the drum is struck, giving the snare drum a crisp bright sound. Snare drums are found in orchestras and marching bands. It is also the most important part of the drum kit, and is most known for its use in all types of popular music.  

Cymbals  
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Cymbals are bronze discs that are either crashed together or struck with a stick. Cymbals come in all sizes, from tiny finger cymbals to large crash cymbals used in orchestras and marching bands. Cymbals are also used on the drum kit, mounted on stands. In the orchestra, cymbals were used to create the sound of excitement, power or fear.

Gong or Tam Tam  
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The Gong, or Tam Tam, is actually a large cymbal made of bronze, struck with a soft mallet. Its long lasting sound can be heard in the orchestra. Gongs were used in the Orient, and its unforgettable sound in the orchestra creates a sound of fear. 

Congas  
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Conga drums are very popular in Latin music, but can be heard is all kinds of contemporary music. Made of wood or fiberglass, the congas have a calf-skin head on the top, and the bottom is open. Congas are played in sets of two or three, with each conga being different sizes for different pitches.

 

Drum Kit  
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The Drum Kit is used in just about every kind of popular music, from jazz to rock. It is played by one person. The most important drums in the drum kit are a Bass drum, the largest, and a snare drum, the smallest. The other drums are called Tom Toms. Cymbals are mounted on stands. The Bass drum is played with a foot pedal.

 

 

This page was created with by J. Wilkas
Director of Instrumental Music at West Side Middle School