the percussion - triggered lighting system is adapted to provide steady and / or percussively triggered illumination within one or more drums . the drums have translucent heads to allow the internal lighting to be viewed . an electromechanical switch is installed within the drum , for economy and to allow the system to be installed in existing drums . the system may also operate small peripheral lights around the edge of one or more drums , the peripheral lighting being programmable to produce various moving patterns . the system may also include a video projector within one or more drums to project a visual image on the interior of the translucent drum head that is visible to the audience . a separate control panel may be provided to allow the drummer to actuate any of the percussive lights without striking the drum to avoid creating a sound when a drum beat is inappropriate during the performance .