Meet the Timpani | Omaha Symphony Virtual Instruments

Explore the timpani with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra! The timpani (also called kettledrums) are big, round drums that belong to the percussion family. They have a deep, powerful sound—like thunder or a heartbeat! Timpani are special because they can play different musical notes, which makes them part of the pitched percussion group. You might hear them boom out a dramatic rhythm or quietly rumble to add excitement to the music.

Soft or hard mallets are used to strike the drumhead. Timpani have pedals at the bottom that change the pitch of the drum higher or lower. You’ll usually find four or more timpani in the back of the orchestra. They help keep the beat and add drama, excitement, and rhythm to the music.

This resource provides learning tools such as a tour of the timpani in 3D, vocabulary, and examples of the instrument.