Instruments of the OrchestraPercussion Instruments

Percussion

Percussion instruments are played by striking them in some way

Tuned percussion instruments can produce pitch (you can play a tune on them)

Untuned percussion instruments do not produce a pitch

Tuned Percussion The Xylophone has wooden bars that you hit with a mallet. Underneath the wooden bars are metal tubes. The Marimba is also part of the Xylophone family – it has lower and broader sounds.

A Glockenspiel looks like a small xylophone but it has steel bars instead of wood

More tuned percussion…The Piano has a keyboard with 88 keys. When you press a key it moves a little hammer that hits a string.

The Celesta looks like a mini upright piano. It has between 49 – 65 keys. When you press the key it moves a little hammer that hits a metal bar.

And even more tuned Percussion!

Chimes are metal tubes hung from a metal frame. They are struck with a mallet.

Timpani (kettledrums) are large metal pots with drumheads, made from calfskin or plastic, stretched over their tops.

Timpani are tuned and the note can be changed by stretching or loosening the drumheads, usually by pressing a pedal.

You play timpani by hitting the drumheads with felt-tipped mallets or wooden sticks.

Timpani Concerto

Untuned Percussion

Bass Drum

Tambourine

Triangle

Cymbals

Snare drum

Gong

Maracas

….and the list goes on!

Lightning Round!