Non-fiction: Musical Instruments Percussion Instruments Musical Instruments Percussion Instruments Drums are a large part of the percussion family. The body of a drum is made of a wooden cylinder. A drum skin is stretched across this cylinder. A drum skin is often made from animal skin. When the drummer hits the surface of the drum skin, the surface vibrates. Those vibrations produce sound! Drums have been around for a long time. Ancient art includes pictures of drums. This art shows that drums have been used to make music and rhythm since about 6000 BCE. Many different societies have used drums for ceremonies and sacred 1 occasions. Today, drums are often used in orchestras and popular music. The biggest drum is called the bass drum. The bass drum makes the deepest sound. In orchestras the bass drum sets the rhythm for the rest of the orchestra. The sound from the drum is so strong that the other musicians can feel it! All percussion instruments are not drums, however. Do you see the cymbals at the top of the drum set in the photo? Cymbals are made from metal. 1 sacred holy 1
Non-fiction: Musical Instruments Percussion Instruments They have been around since at least 1500 BCE. Other percussion instruments are not in the picture above. One example is the xylophone, an instrument made up of metal keys. Bells and the gong are also percussion instruments. These instruments are very different from drums, but all percussion instruments have one thing in common. They all make sound when someone strikes their surface. 2
Questions: Musical Instruments Percussion Instruments Name: Date: 1. How do we know that drums have been around for over 6,000 years? a. There are stories written long ago that are about drums. b. People have found 8,000-year-old drums from ancient empires. c. There are pictures of drums in ancient art. d. There are sound recordings of ancient drums. 2. The bass drum makes the deepest sound of all drums because a. its skin is thicker than the skin of other drums. b. it is the largest of all drums. c. the musician hits it harder than other drums. d. it is always placed in front of other drums. 3. All percussion instruments a. are struck to make noise b. are made of wood c. are large and heavy d. are loud 4. Which of the following is NOT an opinion? a. The bass drum is too loud to make enjoyable music. b. The cymbals are the best part of the orchestra. c. Without drums, musicians in an orchestra would not be able to keep a steady rhythm. d. The bass drum makes the deepest sound of the drums in the orchestra. 5. Based on the passage, it is likely that drums a. are not very common in music written and performed today. b. are the only type of percussion instruments. c. are an important part of community life in many places. d. were invented within the last few hundred years. 3
Questions: Musical Instruments Percussion Instruments 6. What is a drum skin often made from? 7. Is a trumpet a percussion instrument? How do you know? 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Other musicians in the orchestra can feel the bass drum it makes such a powerful sound. a. because b. even though c. so d. but 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. Since 6000 BCE, humans have used drums in order to create music and rhythm. Who? humans (have) What? When? Why? 10. Vocabulary Word: sacred: holy. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: 4
Answers: Musical Instruments Percussion Instruments Passage Reading Level: Lexile 690 Teacher Guide and Answers Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines, or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: This passage describes drums and how they are used. It also discusses other instruments in the percussion family. 1. How do we know that drums have been around for over 6,000 years? a. There are stories written long ago that are about drums. b. People have found 8,000-year-old drums from ancient empires. c. There are pictures of drums in ancient art. d. There are sound recordings of ancient drums. 2. The bass drum makes the deepest sound of all drums because a. its skin is thicker than the skin of other drums. b. it is the largest of all drums. c. the musician hits it harder than other drums. d. it is always placed in front of other drums. 3. All percussion instruments a. are struck to make noise b. are made of wood c. are large and heavy d. are loud 4. Which of the following is NOT an opinion? a. The bass drum is too loud to make enjoyable music. b. The cymbals are the best part of the orchestra. c. Without drums, musicians in an orchestra would not be able to keep a steady rhythm. d. The bass drum makes the deepest sound of the drums in the orchestra. 5. Based on the passage, it is likely that drums a. are not very common in music written and performed today b. are the only type of percussion instruments c. are an important part of community life in many places d. were invented within the last few hundred years 5
Answers: Musical Instruments Percussion Instruments 6. What is a drum skin often made from? Suggested answer: A drum skin is often made from animal skin. 7. Is a trumpet a percussion instrument? How do you know? Suggested answer: A trumpet is not a percussion instrument. Sound from a trumpet is produced by blowing into it, not by striking it. 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Other musicians in the orchestra can feel the bass drum it makes such a powerful sound. a. because b. even though c. so d. but 9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. Since 6000 BCE, humans have used drums in order to create music and rhythm. Who? humans (have) What? used drums When? since 6000 BCE Why? to create music and rhythm 10. Vocabulary Word: sacred: holy. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary. 6