In relation to musical performance,
percussion and drums can be defined broadly as an instrument that produces sound
by the striking of a head with a mallet or shake. The surface of a drum could be
made of animal hide, wood, metal, or anything that produces sound. The mallet or
beater which is used to produce the sound could be anything including a human
hand. Drums also include a variety of instruments that make sounds similar to a
piano; such as xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, etc. For percussion instruments
that must be shaken, most are made up of contained beads or metal. The most
famous percussion instrument, the snare, also has beads with adjustable tension
along with metal disks for additional sound.
Percussion instruments go back thousands of
years to around 6000 B.C. when it’s believed that they were the first musical
instruments ever invented. During this time, Africans used drums to send signals
as a form of communication. Also during this time China and Europe used drums
for religious ceremonies and military. When drums were first invented, they were
made out of natural materials such as animal hides. Since drum sticks were not
around then, people would simply just use their hands. From there going forward,
drums have evolved by the people and cultures that made them and the styles of
music they were designed to play. Today, advancements are still being made in
what was once a very simple instrument. There is a wide variety of drums, which
vary depending on their purpose. With musicians implementing new technology,
drums are getting more and more complex throughout the
years.
percussion and drums can be defined broadly as an instrument that produces sound
by the striking of a head with a mallet or shake. The surface of a drum could be
made of animal hide, wood, metal, or anything that produces sound. The mallet or
beater which is used to produce the sound could be anything including a human
hand. Drums also include a variety of instruments that make sounds similar to a
piano; such as xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, etc. For percussion instruments
that must be shaken, most are made up of contained beads or metal. The most
famous percussion instrument, the snare, also has beads with adjustable tension
along with metal disks for additional sound.
Percussion instruments go back thousands of
years to around 6000 B.C. when it’s believed that they were the first musical
instruments ever invented. During this time, Africans used drums to send signals
as a form of communication. Also during this time China and Europe used drums
for religious ceremonies and military. When drums were first invented, they were
made out of natural materials such as animal hides. Since drum sticks were not
around then, people would simply just use their hands. From there going forward,
drums have evolved by the people and cultures that made them and the styles of
music they were designed to play. Today, advancements are still being made in
what was once a very simple instrument. There is a wide variety of drums, which
vary depending on their purpose. With musicians implementing new technology,
drums are getting more and more complex throughout the
years.