One who plays percussion instruments. People who only play one percussion instrument are called one of three things, depending on their age: drummers, mallet players, or cymbal players. The term drummers is derogatory. A true percussionist can play all three of the major categories of percussion instruments, though drum set could be considered a fourth. Percussionists use a language called drumspeak to communicate musical ideas to each other, and can be spotted at a distance by the mark of a percussionist.