Drums, cymbals, and other mallet percussion instruments, such as the glockenspiel and the occasional timpani, make up marching band percussion (kettle drum). The snare, tenor, and bass drums are the most common drums in a marching band’s percussion section. The drums are mostly worn on the drummer’s body, suspended from a brace or support that distributes the weight of the drum on the wearer’s shoulders and back. The tenor drum is a multi-unit drum that comes in a variety of sizes to best suit the needs of the marching band percussion unit. While the glockenspiel and timpani are no longer as popular as they once were, they are still used by several large marching bands.
The primary purpose of percussion instruments is to provide a beat for the rest of the marching band to follow. The percussion section of a marching band also provides and sets the tempo for each piece of music that the band performs. This is especially important in a marching band, where the musicians must not only consider the music count, but also the march count, which must be cognitively recognized and monitored. The marching band percussionists provide music for many of the crowd-pleasing numbers as well as the cheers shouted as the team scores.
When marching in a parade, the marching band’s percussion is frequently used to mark the march’s rhythm. This can be done with just the snare, tenor, or bass drums, or with the cymbals as well. The drummers will occasionally simply rap their drumsticks together to create a marching rhythm. The marching band percussion unit may be joined by a stationary percussion unit known as the front ensemble during large shows such as a homecoming football game. A full drum set or drum kit, as well as a kettle drum, may be included in this front ensemble.
Due to the difficulty or impossibility of the player marching while playing the instrument, parts of the marching band percussion unit are placed in the front ensemble. As a result, playing a full drum kit or a kettle drum from a stationary position is required. During some parades, however, these large instruments can be played from a moving trailer pulled alongside the rest of the marching band. The marching band percussionists use special visual effects like cymbal flips and exaggerated drumstick height to enthrall onlookers and add a visual element and appeal to the musical selection.