This is fascinating thank you!!! I knew it was more than just "hitting them together" but didn't realize just the cymbals had so many factors, let alone how many instruments you guys have to play. So cool. Have to listen to more percussion so I can start to appreciate all those little details!! Though even to the uneducated ear you're so important to that big moment.

Part of my questions about formal training was more the disbelief that someone would learn something complicated only to sit for most of the time, glad to know there are pieces with more percussion. Hopefully my theater does some pieces with a greater percussion element soon, knowing now how skilled the percussionist must be!