[creativity 371] What Piano Players Should Know About Percussion Instruments

[Yvonne Chow]

Percussion instruments include the snare drum (and all drums in
general), cymbals, tympanis (sometimes called kettle drums as they are
shaped as such), and exotic instruments such as the guiro, claves, and
maracas. These instruments, and the way they are played, go a long way
in determining the feel and style of the music. Where a rock band
might have a set of drums (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals), Latin
musicians used a number of different instruments to create music.
Though most don't think of it in this way, the piano is a percussion
instrument. The tones are made by hammers striking strings, causing
them to vibrate. Seeing the inner workings of a piano, and how
forcefully the hammers hit the strings, shows why it is considered a
percussion instrument.
Music written for a percussionist is quite different than for the
pianist. Percussion notation is divided into two types: pitched and
non-pitched, the difference being the instruments used. For example,
drums (which can be tuned) and cymbals (which cannot).
The notation for pitched percussion is similar to piano music in that
notes are placed on the various places on a staff. And similar symbols
are used to show volume and attack.
The notation for non-pitched percussion instruments is less formal. A
clef with two vertical lines is often used and it appears on a five-
line staff similar to piano music. But some percussionist use their
own way of noting which instrument is played and when.
Drum tablature (drum tab), used for a drum set (bass drum, snare, hi
hat, cymbals, toms) uses the following symbols: CC: Crash Cymbal, HH:
Hi-Hat, Rd: Ride-Cymbal, SN: Snare-drum, LT: Low-Tom, HT: High-Tom,
FT: Floor-Tom, B: Bass-Drum, Hf: Hi-Hat-w/foot. This tablature can
become quite complex as four or more instruments are often played at
the same time.
Outside of orchestral and band music, most percussionists do not use
any kind of tablature or notation. What they play is entirely up to
them and at their discretion (and drawing entirely on their own
techniques). However, most strive to create a style and sound that
works well with the music, and the musicians they are playing with.
And there are definite rules as to when certain percussion instruments
are used. A rock drummer may play with a lot of force and intensity,
where a jazz drummer plays with more touch and finesse. The best
percussionists (drummers) can play a wide variety of music and styles.
For the pianist to play effectively with a percussionist, they have to
be able to break down each measure into quarter note (beats), eighth
notes, sixteenth notes, even thirty-second beats to be able to
communicate with the percussionist. The pianist also needs to
understand how and when different percussion instruments are used and
for what style of music.
The biggest challenge, of course, is for the pianist to play
accurately and precisely. Some pianists may have never worked with a
percussionist and may not be capable of playing with the precision
required. That being said, working with a percussionist can be a great
training tool.

Make Beats on Computer Fast and Easy: http://www.sonicepro.tk/

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