Eastern Thunder is playable by students at the end of their first year, and is also highly suitable for massed bands that include various levels of age and experience.  

Percussion plays a key role in the piece.  Eastern Thunder had its premiere performance at Hong Kong International Middle School with a massed band featuring 10 students playing traditional Chinese drums.  However, the percussion part is effective on virtually any kind of unpitched tom-tom-like drum that can play both a "head" and "rim" sound.