. >> howard van hyning, born in 1936 in central florida, inherits an interest in percussion from his ward had his drumsticks, and he practiced quite a bit, mostly with his drum pad in his bedroom, thank goodness. >> howard joins the drumline in high school, and at just 15 lands a spot in the orlando symphony orchestra. >> he was the youngest percussionist that they had, and he did very well. >> so well that after high school, howard heads to the renowned juilliard school of music in new york city. there he adds to his skill set by mastering a variety of drums and buying them up whenever he can. >> not just drums, but anything that you hit -- xylophones, bells -- anything that was a percussion-type instrument. >> most percussionists are, to some extent, collectors. >> greg zuber, lead percussionist with new york's metropolitan opera. >> percussionists end up in charge of all kinds of instruments -- snare drums, cymbals, timpani. >> it happens that percussion is my favorite part of any orchestra. >> well, you're a woman of refinement and taste. >> i would like to learn something percuss