Here are some of the percussion instruments we have available for you to play through the Rochdale Music Service. If you wish to learn an alternative percussion instrument, get in touch and we'll try to accommodate you.
What are percussion instruments?
Percussion instruments make up the biggest instrumental family as anything that makes a noise when it is shaken, hit or scraped can qualify as a percussion instrument.
Percussion instruments are found in the vast majority of bands, groups and ensembles. Unlike other musicians, percussionists usually play several instruments within the same piece. Percussionists must keep time and carry the beat of the music. They are also used to and add texture to the music.
Play tuned percussion
Tuned percussion instruments are those which have been pitched to particular notes, and are usually set out like a piano keyboard. It is possible to play very beautiful and also very fast and complex melodies and harmonies on these instruments.
Tuned percussion instruments include:
- Glockenspiel
- Marimba
- Timpani
- Tubular bells
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Book your music lessons .
Book your music exam
Which Rochdale ensembles can I join?
- Junior Big Band
- Rhythm Patrol
- The Beatlets
- Rock School
- Sinfonia
- Elementary Brass
- Junior Brass
- Intermediate Brass
- Youth Brass
- Training Wind
- Youth Wind
- Community Wind
- Little Folk
- That's All Folk
Join one of our music ensembles
How does the xylophone sound?
Listen to the xylophone video on YouTube (24secs)
Play untuned percussion
An untuned percussion instrument is one which is not pitched to any particular note. There are literally hundreds of untuned percussion instruments – anything you can hit, shake or scrape can be a percussion instrument.
Untuned percussion instruments include:
- All drums
- Cajon
- Cymbals
- Drum kit
- Gong
- Triangle
- A wide range of other hand held instruments that can be hit or scraped.
Book your music lessons .
Book your music exam
Which Rochdale ensembles can I join?
- Junior Big Band
- Rhythm Patrol
- The Beatlets
- Rock School
- Sinfonia
- Elementary Brass
- Junior Brass
- Intermediate Brass
- Youth Brass
- Training Wind
- Youth Wind
- Community Wind
- Little Folk
- That's All Folk
Join one of our music ensembles
How does the drum kit sound?
Listen to the drum kit video on YouTube (22secs)