- Definition
Pitched percussion instruments are musical instruments you hit that can play different notes, like a xylophone or a piano.
A xylophone is a pitched percussion instrument because you can play a melody by striking its different-sized bars.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A pitched percussion instrument is like a toy xylophone where tapping different bars plays different notes of a song.
Ask your child: How can you make a simple melody on a xylophone?
Common mix-up: Kids may think all percussion instruments just make one sound for rhythm, like a drum. Pitched percussion instruments can play melodies because they produce a range of different notes.
Examples
- A piano is a pitched percussion instrument because hammers strike strings to produce different notes.
- Steel drums are pitched percussion because each section of the drum is shaped to produce a specific note.
pitched percussion instruments 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 ↗
