- [Jake] I'm Jake.

- [Esther] I'm Esther!

- [Jake] I play music in a polka band!

- [Esther] I'm a soul and R&B singer and songwriter.

- [Jake] We love music so much!

- [Esther] And we wanna share that with you!

- This is "In Tune."

- This is "In Tune."

(bristles twanging) (ball thumps) (hammer thuds) (wood rattles) - Vibration!

(music note tinkles) (cymbal ringing) (drums rolling) (upbeat percussion music) Today on "In Tune," we're asking the question, what is a percussion instrument?

- Sometimes, that's a tough question to answer, because percussion instruments come in all shapes and sizes.

- These are instruments that can be struck (drum beating) or shaken to produce the vibration that creates the sound that we hear.

- Instruments like xylophones, maracas, bells, drums, they're all part of the percussion family.

- And one of the ways that percussion instruments get used in everything from jazz to heavy metal to polka music is with the drums, or what is called a drum kit.

And the person who plays that collection of instruments is called a percussionist or a drummer.

- And next, we're headed to drum lessons with a young drummer named Ian.

He plays the drum kit and he's gonna tell us all about it.

- My name is Ian and I like to play the drums.

(upbeat percussion music) I started playing the drums about three years ago.

The reason why I like playing the drums is 'cause I like smashing stuff and making loud noises.

(upbeat drum music continues) Playing the drums makes me feel happy, but when I don't get a song right, I feel a little frustrated.

This is the crash cymbal.

It makes the loudest sound.

(cymbal crashes) This is the ride cymbal.

(drums beating) (cymbal ringing) Usually, it leaves the hi-hat to play fast on other songs.

(cymbal sizzling) (upbeat percussion music) and the bass drum's the big drum at the bottom.

(upbeat percussion music continues) This is tom 3, tom 2, tom 1.

(drums resonating) This drum is the snare drum.

(drum rolling) Another hard part about playing the drums is you have to use your whole body.

(upbeat percussion music continues) You have to think about the speed of the song, (upbeat percussion music continues) and you have to think about which note is which so you don't hit the wrong cymbal.

(upbeat percussion music continues) (drum rolling) (rhythmic percussion music) - Wow!

Ian seems like quite the drummer - Oh, yeah, he does.

That was awesome.

We enjoyed hearing him play.

- So that's kinda got me thinking, Jake, is there a way that the kids can try this at home?

- Oh, my goodness, I'm so glad you asked.

There is a way y'all can try this at home, and I've got just the guy to tell us all about it.

It's Bob Young, he's the drummer from the group I play in, The Chardon Polka Band.

Let's go meet him!

So, I'm here with Bob Young, and Bob Young is the drummer in The Chardon Polka Band.

Bob Young, what is your job as the drummer?

What do you do?

- My job, I create all the rhythms and keep the steady tempo for the band.

(lively percussion music) - Whoa, hold on, kids.

I just heard a new word.

Tempo!

Bob, what's tempo?

- Well, tempo is essentially how or slow a song is, Jake.

- [Jake] Bob controls how fast the band plays by setting the tempo, and he does that by hitting stuff.

Right, Bob?

- Well, Jake, to percuss means to strike.

So I generally hit things, and that creates a vibration and therefore sounds.

Now, I usually get to create the different sounds that other instruments can't make.

(vibraslap rattles) - But today, I want you guys to think about something.

We're not on a stage, we're not in a studio, we're in a kitchen!

Bob, why are we in a kitchen?

- Well, Jake, a kitchen is a great place where anybody can practice to be a percussionist.

- Oh, my goodness.

You guys might not know this, but at home, you have percussion instruments.

Anything you find that can be struck or hit, you can use to play percussion.

And Bob's gonna give you guys an example of how you can do that at home.

(metals clanging rhythmically) (metals clanging rhythmically continues) (metals clanging rhythmically co - That was amazing!

You heard it, folks.

You don't need a fancy drum kit to work on your percussion skills.

(ladle tapping) - Yeah, you can find stuff just around your house and build your own drum kit.

- Thanks for joining us!

Now go make some music.

(ladle smacking rapidly) (ladle tapping slowly) (ladle smacking rapidly) (groovy music) (groovy music ending)