cable 46 and stiffening tube 47 with respect to movement into sheath 36 according to the apparatus and method of the present invention the tympanist selectively tunes the kettledrum 10 according to conventional techniques by selectively tightening one or more of t screws 28 to achieve the desired overall tonal quality of tympanum 14 thereafter the tympanist depresses or raises one of foot pedal 24 or foot lever 54 until a desired tonal pitch is obtained corresponding to a preselected musical note the tympanist then slidably adjusts the appropriate indicia 77 in alignment with scribe line 92 on marker 80 the tympanist again adjusts the tension on tympanum 14 with the foot pedal 24 or 56 according to conventional techniques until another preselected tonal pitch is obtained corresponding to another musical note at which time another indicia 77 is correlated with scribe line 92 the tympanist continues this selective adjustment of tympanum 14 for the full tonal range of the kettledrum 10 selectively the tympanist may also adjust indicia 76 in coordination with scribe line 92 on marker 80 so as to provide a suitable sharp indication for the particular musical note representation on the opposing indicia 77 the suitable adjustment of indicia 76 and 77 of indicator 30 correlates scribe line 92 on marker 80 with the appropriate musical note accordingly the tympanist merely raises or lowers foot pedal 24 or foot lever 54 to move marker 80 counter directionally thereto to align scribe line.