According to Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments, the kettle drum is under the family of:*AerophonesChordophonesMembranophonesIdiophones

Breakdown of the Problem

1. Identify the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system.
2. Understand the characteristics of each category in the classification.
3. Determine which category the kettle drum falls into.

Relevant Concepts

The Hornbostel-Sachs system classifies musical instruments into four main categories:

1. Aerophones: Instruments that produce sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate (e.g., flutes, trumpets).
2. Chordophones: Instruments that produce sound by vibrating strings (e.g., violins, guitars).
3. Membranophones: Instruments that produce sound by vibrating a membrane or skin (e.g., drums).
4. Idiophones: Instruments that produce sound by the material of the instrument itself vibrating (e.g., bells, cymbals).

Analysis and Detail

The kettle drum, also known as a timpani, is an instrument that creates sound by striking a membrane (drumhead) that is stretched over a hollow shell. This action causes the membrane to vibrate, thus producing sound.

Verify and Summarize

Since the kettle drum uses a membrane to generate sound, it clearly fits under the category of Membranophones in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification.

Final Answer

The kettle drum is classified under Membranophones.