The term 'percussion' comes from the Latin terms 'percussion' and 'percussus', which roughly means to beat or strike an object and basically refers to just about any instrument that makes a sounds after being stricken or beaten; like the sound created by clapping hands, beating sticks, logs, rocks or anything else that emits a sound or vibration when being stricken. Today, a few familiar percussion instruments would include instruments such as drums, symbols, or rattles. Percussion instruments have come a long way from their beginnings to create complex and enjoyable sounds that become the music people listen to every day.

The drum is perhaps one of the earliest inventions of the percussion instruments. Drums, or the beating of objects such as tree stumps and logs have been used by early people for thousands of years. It is what keeps a beat and is even used today as an instrument to maintain rhythm and induce concentration, especially in meditation. It is a calming sound, but also a base sound in most music. In fact, percussion instruments, especially drums, are often referred to as the backbone of music.

When thought about, one realizes that most songs they listen to contain drums, piano or some other type of percussion instrument in the background. It is what often provides and maintains the beat, helps to keep the rhythm and works well in tying everything together into a harmony. It is ironic that an instrument that is so incredibly important to keeping all the sounds in pace with each other and in pace with one another, is an instrument that is often in the background of a song where it can be forgotten; however, what the audience might forget about is what musicians are constantly conscious of because without the percussion many musicians would be lost. Natural percussion instruments are so natural that they fit into everyday life without as much notice as other kinds of instruments.

Percussion Instruments have been used all throughout history, which is evident when studying what instruments people used in the past. Percussion instruments appeared to have more importance in many cultures in the past than they do now. In fact, in many cultures percussion instruments were used during religious ceremonies of just about any kind. Even today percussion instruments are used in marching bands for parades, used in the army to keep everyone going on the right step when they are marching and they are also used by many bands to keep them in sync with one another. It really is amazing how people in the past and in today's world rely greatly on percussion instruments in order to keep things at pace or in rhythm. These instruments are such a vital part of many cultures and societies and will most likely continue to be one of the most important of all the other kinds of instruments.