Percussion and drums bring energy, rhythm, and excitement to music unlike any other instrument family. From drum set and hand percussion to mallet instruments and orchestral percussion, students develop coordination, timing, focus, creativity, and confidence while learning the foundations of rhythm and musicianship.
Students may explore a wide variety of percussion instruments including:
- Drum Set: A combination of drums and cymbals commonly used in rock, pop, jazz, and contemporary music styles. Students learn coordination, grooves, fills, and rhythm patterns.
- Snare Drum: A sharp, crisp-sounding drum often used in school band, marching band, orchestra, and drumline settings. Great for developing stick control and rhythm reading.
- Bass Drum: The large, low-pitched drum that provides the foundational pulse in many styles of music, from marching band to modern drum set playing.
- Toms: Cylindrical drums used on a drum set to create fills, movement, and dynamic rhythmic patterns.
- Cymbals: Metal percussion instruments that add accents, texture, and energy to music. Students may learn crash cymbals, ride cymbals, hi-hats, and suspended cymbals.
- Bongos: A pair of small hand drums commonly used in Latin and world music that help students develop hand technique and rhythmic precision.
- Congas: Tall hand drums with deep, rich tones often featured in Latin, jazz, pop, and worship music.
- Cajón: A box-shaped percussion instrument played by hand while seated, commonly used in acoustic and contemporary music settings.
- Tambourine: A handheld percussion instrument that combines rhythm and movement while strengthening timing and coordination.
- Marimba: A large wooden mallet instrument with warm tones, often featured in concert percussion and solo performance settings.
- Xylophone: A bright-sounding mallet instrument used in concert band, orchestra, and percussion ensemble music.
- Vibraphone – A metal-bar mallet instrument known for its smooth, resonant sound and often used in jazz and contemporary percussion.
- Timpani: Large pitched drums commonly used in orchestras and advanced percussion ensembles that teach listening and pitch control.
- Auxiliary Percussion: Includes instruments such as triangles, shakers, woodblocks, claves, and other small percussion instruments used to add texture and color to music.
Because percussion appears in nearly every style of music, students have the opportunity to explore genres such as rock, pop, jazz, marching band, orchestral music, musical theater, Latin percussion, worship music, and more. Lessons are tailored to each student’s age, interests, and experience level, creating an engaging and supportive environment where students can grow at their own pace while playing music they genuinely enjoy.