History of Percussion Essay

Instruments used to portray these various styles of music were often drums of all shapes and sizes, rattles, and often tambourines or bells with other percussion instruments. The drums were constructed by using such materials as clay, iron, wood or aluminum with heads of buckskin, chamois, or rubber. These drums were typically played with a single drumstick, holding a steady pattern of four beats. Also, in addition to these instruments there were wind instruments.

Drums have existed for a very long time. Some say they even date back to 6000 BC. It is no wonder then, that they have been used for a variety of situations and have evolved to create a wide range of different types. This being said, all drums, or 'membranophones' (the technical classification), consist of at least one drum-head or drum skin. This is stretched over a shell and beaten either by hand or instrument to produce its sound. Most commonly it is used as a musical instrument as a part of the percussion group, to be used in rituals or entertainment such as modern day's rock bands. Throughout the world, drums have been created from many materials, including wood, metal, plastic and even clay.

The position of drum major is a vital role in the entire team of a marching band. As the 2017 drum majors we promise that we will have the band in mind when making decisions and when developing the best show possible. As a group we know that we posses the necessary qualities of a drum major.

Slaveholders actually outlawed these drums at one point because they were a way of communication for the slaves. These "talking-drums" could be heard from miles around, so the slaves were forced to hide these instruments or to develop new ones.

People looking up Precortesian or people that already know, song, dance, and religion are involved. The instruments that are used are the Huehuetl which is the upright drum. You have the Tlapitzalli being the flute, Ayacachtli known as rattle. The last two being the Chicahuaztli know for rasp and Chalchayotes which are ankle rattles. Percortesian music had different categories it was put in such as for civic festivals, religious festivals, profane or secular, and religious chants. It also was also used in acts such as magic, or hunting or totemic. Precortesian music having variety of categories, it also was used in different music such as: folk music, imitative music, personal music (love or death songs), intimate music, or erotic music.

Simon Tong’s short story, ‘’The Beat of a Different Drum’’ explores the journey of a young boy immigrating from Hong Kong to Australia with a lack of knowledge of the Australian culture and tradition. Through the ambiguous understanding of his unwelcoming classmates, he is victimized to the extent that he feels both violated and humiliated, emphasised by the fact that he is unable to express his feelings in English. These feelings result in him becoming increasingly insecure and irritated as he has become confused and alienated. The rich vocabulary and literary techniques enabled Simon’s short story to become more relatable to the audience by exploring the common adolescent crisis of ‘’Being Different’’.

Africans took stuff from the home lade to remind them of where they lived. The africans made drums to use on plantations so they could always remember where they came from. These drums were banned do to they could sent messages with the drums. The only instrument they were allowed to have banjo’s.

Although Native Americans are known for their voice being a vital instrument, most rituals, songs, and dances are accompanied by an assortment of instruments such as, drums, rattles, flutes. Every instrument has it is own meaning and a purpose. In this section, the significance of these instruments as well as their structure and functionality is explored.

that is normally played with one stick while the hand that holds the drum is used to mute which helps accentuate some beats and muffle others. The agogo acts as the melodic instrument even though there are only two notes that can be played. The agogo is an idiophone that resembles two different sized cow bells attached together.

Work songs were another influential form of musical expression in the lives of slaves, and these songs were sung by a field of hands in order to coordinate and pace their work, and slave owners expected their slaves to sing. In fact, many slave-masters discovered that drums could be used as a secret means of communication. Many of the slave owners were concerned that this secret means of communication could eventually lead to a slave uprising. As a result, drums were banned, but the enslaved Africans substituted “hand clapping” in the place of drums in order to reproduce the complex rhythms of African drumming.

Music in Ancient Greece was well integrated in their society, it played a large role in various ceremonies from marriages to funerals, as well as entertainment like plays or epic poetry. Although it is believed that music was invented in Africa over 55,000 years ago, music really began and took shape in Ancient Greece. Even the word music came from the Greek word muses who were believed to be the daughters of Zeus and were the patron Goddesses of creativity. There are many references to music in ancient Greece, from drawings on pottery of people playing, as well as literary works that even describe how the instruments sounded. Speaking of instruments, in addition to the voice being used as one, there are several instruments that are known to have existed in Ancient Greece, a few different string instruments including a lyre, a kithara (which is believed to be the ancient equivalent of a guitar), and a barbitos, which is a taller version of a lyre. They also had several wind type instruments including and aulos, pan pipes, a hydraulis (which eventually led to the modern day organ), as well as a salpinx, which was an ancient type of trumpet with a bone mouthpiece that was the origin of the many brass instruments that we know of today. Finally, we also know of several percussion instruments that were used by the ancient Greeks, these include a tympanum, which was like a tambourine, a crotala, and a koudounia. Music was actually one of the main teachings, along with gymnastics

While these bells were mostly used for the ruling class to display their status and inscribe their histories during the Spring and Autumn period, Zheng bells reflect how Music itself was a fundamental part of upper-class societal relationships. As the upper social classes gained wealth and class distinction from their agricultural civilians through taxes, most of these taxes were transferred for the religious rites and rituals to ensure the peace and prosperity of the people. However, as these religious rites and rituals progressed, the upper class began using musical performances (from the tax payer’s pocket) for private entertainment and enjoyment. [Is there a source for this last point?]

If we see a film about a jungle, normally the soundtrack is composed of instruments like bongos or shakers. This is because we instantly associate this sort of music with jungles and indigenous tribes.

The Guitar is a stringed musical instrument with six or twelve strings that is played by either plucking or strumming the strings. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. If an individual were asked to identify a guitar most people would answer the question correctly more so than they would if they were asked about another instrument. When people think about famous guitarists, they more than likely think of famous rock and roll guitarists and do not think about the many other famous guitarists in other musical genres such as jazz or country. The guitar is a well-known instrument that influences many musical genres including Country.

     As a kid I always wanted to play the drums. When I was three years old my godmother gave me my first drum. It was a blue plastic remo drum that I love and I still have. It has white stripes that go vertically and it has two black remo pin strip drum heads. Drumheads are the surface, which you strike with a drumstick to produce a sound. The drum came with a pair of cheap plastic remo brand drumsticks. That I hardly use became if I do, I would probably break the drumsticks.