1. a musician who plays the timpani (kettle drums) in an orchestra or band

Examples

• The timpanist adjusted the tension of the drums before the concert.
• She studied for years to become a professional timpanist.
• The orchestra’s timpanist provided dramatic emphasis during the finale.
• He practiced his rolls and tuning changes as the lead timpanist.
• The timpanist must have excellent pitch recognition skills.
• During the symphony, the timpanist played both melodic and rhythmic parts.