Name: Timpani (also known colloquially as kettle drums)

Origins: Timpani evolved from military drums to become a staple of the classical orchestra by the last third of the 18th century.

Parts:
A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl commonly made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet.

A standard set of timpani consists of four drums: roughly 80 cm (32 in), 75 cm (29 in), 66 cm (26 in), and 61 cm (23 in) in diameter. The range of this set is roughly the D below the bass clef to the top-line bass clef A.

Usage:
The Timpani are used in many types of musical ensembles including concert, marching and rock bands.

Reason for selection:
With the Timpani, our school band can create a firm bass line and create a grand effect.

picture taken from http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/textt/Timpani.html