| The drum is perhaps the oldest of musical | | | | become the first authentically American art form. |
| instruments, dating back thousands of years. Most | | | | Because rhythm and syncopation were integral to |
| civilizations, ancient and otherwise, have developed | | | | the music, the drummer was the heart of a jazz |
| their own unique variations on the basic drum | | | | ensemble. |
| design. Over the centuries, these instruments | | | | Most venues for jazz music in the beginning were |
| have been used to create distinct, indigenous | | | | small clubs that had limited stage space. A |
| musical styles for nearly every region of the | | | | drummer was therefore forced into a small |
| planet. | | | | dilemma; what to bring and where to put it. This |
| As drums and other percussion instruments | | | | was the beginning of what we consider modern |
| developed, many of them became specific to | | | | drum sets. |
| certain functions. The snare drum for instance, | | | | Drum sets were essentially an assortment of |
| became popular through its military functions. | | | | commonly used drums and other percussion |
| These drums were often used for communicating | | | | instruments that could be set up in a way that |
| on the battlefield, as well as for more formal | | | | took up a minimal amount of space. A standard |
| military ceremonies. Gradually, as this drum type | | | | trap kit usually consisted of a kick drum (originally |
| became more popular, it was incorporated into | | | | a marching bass drum was used), snare drum, |
| the symphonic works of many of the 18th and | | | | high-hats (two small cymbals that are hit against |
| 19th century's most important composers. | | | | one another using a foot pedal), and a ride/crash |
| Other percussion instruments, such as the bass | | | | cymbal. Despite improvements in drum |
| drum, various hand drums, and cymbals continued | | | | technology, modern drum kits are still based on |
| to develop along their own unique lines. Cymbals, | | | | this standard design. |
| originally an eastern invention, began being | | | | Since the introduction of jazz, popular music has |
| manufactured for a number of sonic effects. | | | | continually required the use of a drum set. Within |
| African and Indonesian hand drums of all shapes | | | | American and European pop music the instrument |
| and sizes began making appearances in European | | | | has become ubiquitous. Over the last century the |
| music during the "exoticism" movement of the | | | | drum kit has also become a popular instrument in |
| late 19th century. | | | | many other parts of the world as well. Because |
| With the dawning of the 20th century, a new | | | | of the nature of the instrument, drum sets are |
| musical movement was beginning in the port city | | | | one of the most versatile instruments in the |
| of New Orleans, Louisiana. A combination of | | | | world; an attribute that will help ensure that it has |
| African and European musical traditions, with a | | | | a long musical life ahead of it. |
| heavy emphasis on improvisation, jazz had | | | | |