Definition
A percussion instrument is defined as an
instrument made of sonorous material. A vibration produces
sounds of definite or indefinite pitch when shaken or struck.
The pitch is determined in many different ways. It is done
through the tautness of the stretched material for indefinite
pitch instruments. The pitch is determined by the size of
the objects in definite pitch instruments. Notes are produced
by striking the instrument in certain places.
History
Drums are found in nearly every culture
in the world and have existed since before 6000 B.C. They've
had ceremonial, sacred, and symbolic associations.
The first type of percussion instrument
was simply anything hit together to produce sound. Drums
evolved from this and are known to have existed from around
6000 BC. They were used by all major civilizations throughout
the world.
Percussion instruments have strong ceremonial,
sacred, or symbolic associations almost everywhere. Certain
drums symbolise and protect tribal royalty in much of Africa.
They were also used to transmit messages over long distances.
They also played a major role in medieval
and Renaissance Europe. The snare drum and its relatives
were used in the infantry to send coded instructions to
the soldiers. |
| Drumming is something
everyone can do, and requires no musical training. You don't
need any specialist or expensive instrument either - anything
goes.
Our collection of instruments includes: Ocean drum, bongos,
djembes, gong, pandeiros (tambourines), kalimbas (thumb
pianos), dholak, pancake and monkey drums, vibratone, afouche
cabasa, glockenspiel, buffalo drum, tambour, bodhran, cymbals,
maracas, rainsticks, cowbell, woodblocks, agogo, castanets,
tulip woodblock, triangle, bells, claves, finger cymbals,
rhythm thang, shakers, dustbin and lid, hammer handles,
broom handles etc - all those can be used for percussive
groups.
Anything and everything goes for a hand drum - it's possible
to improvise with virtually anything.
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