So I think this has been settled once and for all.
- Just because it doesn't entirely carry the melody, doesn't mean it's not an instrument
- Drums are entirely tuneable
- Melody is a very important part of all music, yes, but so is the harmony and the rythem
- Percussionists are in fact musicians; other wise, how could one obtain a doctorite degree in percussion?
- Percussion may be simple instruments in the theory of music evolution, but they add a different spice, a different color to the music
- And percussion can have the melody. Keyboard instruments are still in the percussion family