RhythmDiscovery

Rhythm! Discovery Center is relocating! We’ve grown, so has our percussion collection, and flooding damaged our space. We won’t be open at 110 W. Washington, but we’re finding a new space to serve our visitors. Visit rhythmdiscoverycenter.org for updates. #rhythmdiscoverycenter

This Connoisseur drum was the go-to snare for legendary Philadelphia Symphony percussionist and PAS Hall-of-Famer Alan Abel—it appears in countless symphony recordings. It has many custom modifications, including a dehumidifier for the calfskin heads. bit.ly/rdconline.

This tubola and pedal roto tom were designed for Disney Studios by percussionist Chet Ricord. The tubola, made for a 1945 Pluto cartoon, was used in films until 1980. The roto drum was used in the Herbie movies. Both are on many Disney soundtracks. bit.ly/rdconline.

This beautiful Gaku No Tsuzumi Japanese hand drum has an hourglass shape with skin drum heads larger than the center cylinder. The heads’ cords can be squeezed or released to increase or decrease the tension of the heads to raise or lower the pitch. bit.ly/rdconline.

See this nearly 145-year-old snare drum in the collection at bit.ly/rdconline. Made in Boston by John C. Haynes & Co. in August 1880, it has a honey-colored wooden shell with dark rims, calfskin heads & leather “ears.” It shows some wear & tear that’s normal for its age.

This Ludwig floor tom was donated by Ed Shaughnessy, drummer for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson under bandleader for 29 years. The signature on the head says, "Played on over 5,000 'Tonight' Shows / 1963-1992". See it in the collection at bit.ly/rdconline.

Join us today at SPARK on the Circle in downtown Indianapolis for an open drum circle from 12-1! We'll be doing this every other Friday this summer with @sparkplaces. Try your hand and learn a few rhythms. Brought to you by Indy's own Percussive Arts Society. @percussivearts

This Century of Progress marimba was designed by Clair Omar Musser for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair Marimba Band. It has an art deco design in keeping with the aesthetic of that World’s Fair and a range of 4 1/2 octaves. See more at bit.ly/rdconline.

We have a special one for you this 4th of July week: This rattle was used at public meetings in the 19th Century to keep the assembly quiet— Proving that percussion is essential to democracy! See more historical "instruments" and instruments at bit.ly/rdconline

#indianapolis musicians and Indiana music lovers: DYK the best drum show in the world happens here every November? Register for #PASIC2024 today before badges increase at PASIC.org

Join us today at SPARK on Monument Circle for a drum circle from noon-1 pm! We do these every other Friday this summer - open to all ages and complete beginners! @sparkplaces #drumming

This Marimba Grande de Guatemala is damaged, but is still an exquisite example of Guatemalan craftsmanship. It can be separated lengthwise and parts can stand independently to be played by up to 4 musicians covering melody, harmony and bass. See more at bit.ly/rdconline

This Marimba Grande de Guatemala is damaged, but is still an exquisite example of Guatemalan craftsmanship. It can be separated lengthwise and parts can stand independently to be played by up to 4 musicians covering melody, harmony and bass. See more at bit.ly/rdconline

The Brazilian cuíca, or friction drum, is used with modern dance orchestras. It’s played by a drummer pulling their wet fingers along the stick to create vibrations that the drumhead turns into roaring sounds. See more at bit.ly/rdconline

This unique brass-rod metallophone was likely created by Emil Richards – it bears his signature style for creating experimental instruments. It’s made with 49 brass rods in a piano keyboard configuration and has a 4-octave range. See more at bit.ly/rdconline.

See letters between composer and instrument inventor Harry Partch and legendary studio artist Emil Richards in the R!DC collection at bit.ly/rdconline. They include Partch’s thoughts on performances, recording projects, and interactions with musicians and the press.

These chromatically tuned wood blocks were custom-built by NBC Symphony Orchestra and radio/TV percussionist Billy Dorn, who often created instruments to suit his or others’ need for specific sound effects. It’s built of maple bars and has a chromatic range of 1 1/2 octaves.

Clair Omar Musser built his “Rhythm Machine” to accompany his solo mallet performances. Its upper center platform holds rotating tempo and rhythm dials and individual buttons for percussive beats and sounds. It can play dance rhythms, drum and cymbal beats, and percussion tones.

Famed xylophonist Val Eddy owned this 3-octave marimba with a tilted keyboard that allowed the audience to better see his performance. Its sloped accidental bars facilitated rapid mallet movement, allowing Eddy to play “Flight of the Bumblebee” in less than a minute!

This tubaphone was designed in England by Hawkes & Son before WWI to complement the 4-row wooden xylophone used for vaudeville. It spans two octaves plus Low B. Naturals and accidentals rest on separate wooden trays, with naturals in the case and accidentals in the lid.