Poster Drumsticks on a drum
This week on Your Classical Adventures, we'll be exploring three percussion instruments.
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YourClassical Adventures

Love to Hear Percussion

Episode 55: An Intro to Percussion
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Have you ever wanted to learn how to play the drums or any percussion instrument? Join host Liz Lyon and producer Melanie Renate as we learn about three percussion instruments and how they add excitement to music.

Episode 55 playlist

Richard Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra — There are two notes played back and forth on timpani. It's a pitched, percussion instrument. Can you hear the two different pitches on the timpani?

LISTEN — Richard Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra

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Richard Strauss: "Also Sprach Zarathustra"

Maurice Ravel: Bolero — One of the most famous pieces in classical music featuring the snare drum. Can you hear the snare played continuously throughout this piece?

LISTEN — Maurice Ravel: Bolero

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Maurice Ravel: "Bolero"

Aaron Copland: "Hoe Down" from Rodeo — This is a really fun piece of ballet music featuring the xylophone. The xylophone almost looks like a keyboard, but you strike the wooden bars with mallets. Can you hear the xylophone among all of the other instruments?

LISTEN — Aaron Copland: Hoe Down from Rodeo

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Aaron Copland: "Hoe Down" from Rodeo

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