The
percussion section of an orchestra most commonly contains instruments such as the
timpani,
snare drum,
bass drum,
cymbals,
triangle and
tambourine. However, the section can also contain non-percussive instruments, such as
whistles and
sirens, or a blown
conch shell. Percussive techniques can even be applied to the human body itself, as in
body percussion. On the other hand,
keyboard instruments, such as the
celesta, are not normally part of the percussion section, but
keyboard percussion instruments such as the
glockenspiel and
xylophone (which do not have piano keyboards) are included.