Reading Comprehension · Music Education
Percussion Family Instruments Lesson
A printable music worksheet introducing the percussion family — instruments that create sound by being struck, shaken, or scraped.
Subject
Reading
Grade Level
Grades 3–7
Resource Type
Worksheet
Skill Focus
Music Education — Percussion Instruments
The Percussion Family
Instruments in the percussion family create sound when they are hit, shaken, or struck by anything that causes vibration. Percussion instruments are among the oldest in the world. They include both pitched instruments (which produce specific notes) and unpitched instruments (which produce sounds but not specific pitches).
The snare drum is a cylindrical drum made of metal or wood with a skin stretched across the top and bottom. Cords called snares are stretched across the bottom skin, giving the snare drum its distinctive crisp, rattling sound when struck. It is found in nearly every type of music and is a cornerstone of orchestras, concert bands, and drum kits.
The tambourine is a small frame drum with metal discs (called jingles) mounted around its edge. It can be struck, shaken, or rubbed to produce sound. The tambourine is used in orchestras, folk music, and popular music around the world.
Timpani, Cymbals, and Xylophone
The timpani, also called kettledrums, are large bowl-shaped drums that produce specific pitches. A pedal mechanism allows the player to change the tension of the drum skin, adjusting the pitch. Timpani are essential instruments in the orchestra, often providing dramatic accent and rhythmic support.
The cymbals are round metal discs that produce a shimmering crash or a sustained shimmer when struck together or hit with a stick. They add accent, color, and excitement to music. Crash cymbals, ride cymbals, and hi-hats are common types used in orchestras and drum kits.
The xylophone is a pitched percussion instrument with wooden bars arranged like the keys of a piano. The player strikes the bars with mallets to produce bright, crisp tones. Similar instruments include the marimba (with resonators under each bar for a warmer sound) and the glockenspiel (with metal bars).
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