Often when we think of percussion, we think of "the drums." Percussion is much more than that! Percussion includes every instrument in the band that is played by "hitting." Students who become percussionists will eventually be expected to learn how to play every percussion instrument, including various types of keyboard instruments (bells, chimes, vibraphone, xylophone, etc.), battery instruments (snare drum, tom-toms, bass drum, etc.), and other "toy" instruments (suspended cymbal, crash cymbals, wood blocks, triangle, ratchet, etc.). Beginning percussionists will learn the bells and the snare drum techniques simultaneously. Because percussionists are responsible for so many instruments, it is imperative that all percussionists have at least three years of piano experience before starting band.
You might be a great percussionist if:
You might be a great percussionist if:
- You have been playing the piano for at least three years (required), and you already know the notes of
- You are great at multitasking
- You have a good sense of pulse, and can replicate rhythms that your band teacher performs for you
- You can pretty easily execute a multiple bounce stroke with minimal instruction
In this video, percussionist Kevin Bobo plays a piece on the marimba that tells a story about riding a bike. See if you can identify which part is uphill and which part is downhill.
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This percussion ensemble is performing a piece called "Stained Glass," by David Gillingham. Take a look at the mallet percussion in the front and the battery and toy percussion in the back.
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Financial Information
While the initial investment in percussion is in the middle of the range of instruments available to percussionists, students who continue can accrue many costs. It is quite common for a percussionist to own a beginning bell/snare kit, several practice pads, dozens of pairs of sticks and mallets, a drum set, and various other percussion "toys." The more involved a percussionist gets in the craft, the more expensive it can become. It is fairly difficult to obtain a music scholarship in percussion.