Percussion

Many people think of drums when they hear the word percussion, but percussion is actually a category of instruments that includes cymbals, xylophones, marimbas, timpani, and a wide variety of small rhythm instruments.  Percussion generally means any instrument that makes its sound by being struck.

Percussion instruments can be very exciting, as are the snare drums in a marching or parade band, but they can also be subtle and sophisticated as the triangle and wood block in many ballads and concert band pieces.

Percussion instruments provide the rhythm in almost all music, but they can also provide melody and harmony as with xylophones, bells, Caribbean steel drums, etc.

 Percussion instruments aren't difficult to learn but a good percussionist has many of them to develop skills on.  In one performance a percussionist might play snare drum in one piece,  timpani in a second, chimes in another, then switch between cymbals, wood block, and shaker for the last.  In addition marimba and xylophone require learning not just rhythms but also melody and even multi-note harmonies.

Both girls and boys play percussion.