Percussion instruments are all part of the same family of instruments. They all make sound by the action of being struck, scraped, or shaken. They’re often used to keep rhythm or make a piece of music more exciting.

See below for a list of kinds of percussion instruments and a brief description of each included here. Many you’ll know but some may be unfamiliar!

Xylophone
This instrument is made of wooden bars that are struck by a mallet. Each is a different size to make a different note!

Woodblock
This is a simple instrument which is made of wood. It’s like a type of drum, as you strike it and this  creates a sharp and hollow sound.

Triangle
This famous instrument is a small metal rod which is bent into the shape of a triangle, with a small gap. It’s held on a string, and a note is played when you strike it with a metal beater.

Timpani/Kettle Drum
This is a large, pitched drum that has a kettle-shaped body. A drumhead is stretched over the top, and it’s sounded by striking this with a mallet.

Tambourine
This ancient instrument is small and handheld. It is made up of a round frame, which has small metal jingles within it that sound when the tambourine is shaken or struck.

Snare Drum
This is part of the drum family. It has a tensioned drumhead and stiff wires at its base, which means that when it’s struck it produces a sharp and crisp sound.

Sleigh Bells
This instrument is a set of bells attached to a handle for easy holding and shaking. When shaken, it produces a classic jingling sound. 

Piano
This famous and versatile instrument is made up of a keyboard that when pressed, strikes hammers against a set of strings which produces its sound.

Organ
This instrument is another which uses a keyboard to be played. However when pressed this forces air through a set of pipes, with each pipe producing a different note.

Harpsichord
This instrument is very similar to the piano. However when the keyboard is pressed, different notes are produced by the strings within being plucked instead of struck.

Gong/Tamtam
This is an instrument that originated in Southeast Asia. They’re a large, mostly flat, metal disc that produces a sound by being struck with a mallet.

Glockenspiel
This instrument is made up of differently pitched metal bars that are arranged like a keyboard. It’s played by being hit with a mallet.

Cymbals
These are large, round, flat metal discs that often come in pairs which are struck together to make a sound. Either this or they are struck with a drumstick.

Conga Drums
These tall, narrow barrel-shaped drums originated in Cuba. They are often played in sets of two and are struck with the hands to create sound.

Claves
These are two short wooden sticks that are played together by striking them against one another. They produce a sharp clicking sound.

Chimes
This instrument is made up of a frame which contains a set of metal tubes hung within. They’re struck with a mallet to create a clear, bell-like sound.

Castanets
Typically held with one in each hand and played as a pair, this is a hollowed out instrument which is struck together within the hand to produce a clicking sound.

Bongo Drums
These are small, high pitched and open bottomed drums. They can be played alone, or typically as a pair, and are struck with the hands to create sound.

Bass Drum
This is a very large and low pitched drum that is usually struck with a pair of felt-headed beaters or mallets. This large drum instrument produces a deep and resonating sound.

There are so many benefits to kids being educated about music and musical instruments. If given the chance, playing one is even better! It benefits their listening skills, their fine motor coordination, their focus, and gives them a creative form of self expression.

Have a go incorporating this resource into your next lesson or play time and see what you might learn!