A person that plays percussion. Percussion is a section of a band that that keeps
time or
beat, but can also help carry the melody. A percussion instrument is defined as any instrument that is striked or hit. A percussionist is a
drummer in a band that can play many different striking and hitting instruments of rhythmic and melodic natures proficiently. A percussionist does not have to be able to play every instrument available all over the world or be perfect at each instrument, but should be proficient enough in a good number of isntruments. How good a percussionist is is not measured by how many instruments they can name or play with mediocracy but by how many instruments they can play well. Most importantly, a percussionist not only can read the beats as most percussionists and drummers are stereotypically said to read, but a true percussionist also reads music. Such as scales and triads and notations and octaves. No percussion can name all of the percussion instruments out in the world because the numbers are exceedingly high. Some examples of percussion instruments are as follows but are definately not limited to the following. Marimba, Vibraphone, Xylaphone, Bells, Chimes, Wind Chimes, Snare Drum,
Bass, Drum, Tenor drums, Timpanis, Cymbals, Temple Blocks, Guiros, Gongs, Congas, Bongos, Timbales, Toms, Cabasas(Also known as Afuches), Ching Choks, Claves, Caxixis, Rain Sticks, Shakers, Maracas, Ganzas, Kokirikos, Shekeres, Acheres, Guatacas, Barbells, Tambourines, Cuica, Talking Drums(that's actually the name of a drum), Repiniques, Pandieros, Caixas, Malacachetas, Steel Drums, Djembes, Cajons, Darbukas, Doumbeks, and Cowbells.
I dragged that list on for a long
time just to give you an idea of how many instruments can called upon as a percussion, and jsut how hard it would be to name them all. And that list is still not a limit to all the instruments out there, and all those instruments listed and the others each have their own technique to be played with, and their own sound.
Also and finally, there are other special effects or coloring instruments such as whistles, that are considered a percussion instrument but do not strike or hit. It is not technically a percussion instrument but is used all the time by percussionist. Another disclaimer is about pianos,
bass guitars, and electric or acoustic guitars. A piano by
definition is a percussion instrument because inside the piano, there are metal beaters hitting different lengthed bars to make notes, making it a percussion instrument, even though you press the keys to make the function occur. Keyboards are not always technically a percussion instrument because not all keyboards use a striking method, but they are consider percussion instruments anyawy because they are so closely related to the piano.
Bass guitars, and Electric nad Acoustic guitars, even though they are in rhythm sections of the band, they are not percussion instruments because they do not strike or hit.
A percussionist is not to be confused with a
drummer. Knowing what a percussionist is now, a
drummer is someone that only plays the drumset or can only read beats or rhythms and not music.
Percussion instruments are used in concert bands, symphonies, percussion ensembles, marching bands, and in churches and rituals.
Percussionist can play for a hobbie, for a living, a side job, or a even a
charity.
People are not musicians or percussionist because they can't get a job or make
money or couldn't go to
college, but because they have a gift, and those with the gift will continue to use their gift to the fullest ability, and play the instrument they play because it is difficult and takes a special skill that not many
people in the world can master.
