What is drum?

A drum is like a big, happy toy that makes music when you hit it.

Imagine you have a big bowl and a stick, just like you might use to eat soup. If you tap the stick on the bowl, boing! You make a sound, that’s how a drum works. A real drum has two stretched skins (like tight balloons) over a bowl-shaped body. When you hit one of the skins with your hand or a stick, it vibrates and makes a loud, fun thump.

If you’ve ever seen someone playing music on a snare drum, they’re using this same idea, only their drum is smaller and has little strings inside that make a special sound when they hit it. It’s like having a bowl with tiny bells inside that ring when the skin moves.

Drums are used in all kinds of music, from rock bands to traditional dances. They give music its beat, the part you can’t help but tap your foot to! So next time you hear a loud thump, think about that happy bowl and stick.