The percussion family is the largest in the orchestra. Percussion
instruments include any instrument that makes a sound when it is hit,
shaken, or scraped. It's not easy to be a percussionist because it takes
a lot of practice to hit an instrument with the right amount of
strength, in the right place and at the right time. Some percussion
instruments are tuned and can sound different notes, like the xylophone,
timpani or piano, and some are untuned with no definite pitch, like the
bass drum, cymbals or castanets. Percussion instruments keep the
rhythm, make special sounds and add excitement and color. Unlike most of
the other players in the orchestra, a percussionist will usually play
many different instruments in one piece of music. The most common
percussion instruments in the orchestra include the timpani, xylophone,
cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, maracas, gongs,
chimes, celesta, and piano.
