A tympanist is a musician who specializes in playing the tympani, a percussion instrument that produces a deep, resonant sound. There are several synonyms for the word "tympanist" including kettledrummer, timpanist, and percussionist. Kettledrummer derives from the instrument's shape which resembles a kettle or cauldron. Timpanist comes from the Latin word "tympanum," which means drum. Percussionist refers to a musician who plays various percussion instruments, including the tympani. Other related terms include drumming and drum major, both of which refer to musicians who play or lead musical groups that feature the drum as a primary instrument.