Drums

Around the world, many types of drums are played—the snare, bongos, steel drum, djembe, timpani, and more—but they all make noise when they are “struck with a person’s hands or with a stick.” This attractive guide starts by defining percussion instruments, then identifies the parts of a drum and explains different ways drums can be played (an orchestral percussionist stands behind the drums, for example, while a musician playing a drum kit sits). The book concludes with a “Meet a Drummer” section about Evelyn Glennie, a deaf musician who played in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games. Each spread features a striking full-page photograph and a spot, with labels or captions that include additional information. A glossary, recommended books and Web sites, and an index make up the back matter.