- Definition
A percussion instrument is anything you hit, shake, or scrape to make a sound, like a drum or a maraca. Some can play specific notes (like a piano), while others just make sounds without a tune.
A drum is a percussion instrument because you hit it with your hands or with sticks to make a sound.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A percussion instrument is like making music by tapping on your desk with a pencil or shaking a box of crayons.
Ask your child: What things around the house could you tap or shake to make a rhythm?
Common mix-up: Kids often think percussion instruments are just drums. Percussion includes anything you hit, shake, or scrape to make a sound, even instruments that play melodies like a xylophone.
Examples
- Shaking maracas or scraping a guiro are other ways to play percussion instruments.
- A xylophone is a pitched percussion instrument because you can play a melody on it.
percussion instrument is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
