Choose a percussion instrument to play

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Choose a percussion instrument to play

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

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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: