In sync: The rhythm behind OU’s percussion club
The Ohio University Percussion Club welcomes students of all backgrounds to join the community and have some fun while exploring music from around the world.
Jack Rohrer | April 8, 2026
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Music has long served as a bridge between people who might otherwise have little in common. For the Ohio University Percussion Club, music is more than just a hobby; it’s a way for people to connect.
Whether they're a seasoned percussionist, a casual music lover or someone who’s never picked up an instrument, the club welcomes all students to find their rhythm and be part of something bigger. Members try new instruments, develop their skills and collaborate with others, exploring genres from samba to taiko and beyond.
One genre the Percussion club explores is taiko, a traditional form of Japanese drumming that combines powerful, rhythmic performance with choreographed movement and deep cultural roots.
Club President Ryan Russo, a third-year music education major, said the club encourages members to step out of their comfort zones.
“Students will show up to a meeting and we’re like, ‘What can you do?’ and they’re like, ‘I don’t know, whatever you want to teach me,’” Russo said. “We recently did an arranging-for-percussion session. If you wanted to write percussion music, we did a little meeting on that.”
Drumming up success
The club started as an extracurricular opportunity for music major percussionists, but following a holiday-themed concert in December 2023, Russo saw a push to hold more events and get more involved with the community.
“The percussion studio, which is major-exclusive, was asked to play in Spain in summer 2024,” Russo said. “So the Percussion club put on a concert that fall as a fundraiser. It was a huge success.”
Russo said he had never seen the recital hall so packed, with people sitting on stairs and standing in aisles eager to watch the performance. He considers the concert the turning point for where the club is now.
“We put on concerts, we do a lot of performances, and we also try to do stuff that’s educational for the members and just anybody who’s interested in percussion,” Russo said.
Global beats, local roots
The club has become embedded in the Athens community through events like parade marches, on-campus jam sessions and the exploration of world music, including genres like samba, taiko and Afro-Cuban.
Members of the Percussion club holding embaire keys. An embaire is a large wooden xylophone traditionally played by five to eight musicians simultaneously. Originating from the Basoga people of Uganda, it is a rare instrument, with only four currently known to exist. Its performance produces rich, complex polyrhythmic music and serves as a powerful tool for fostering community, joy and celebration.
As the Ohio University Percussion Club continues to grow, its mission remains simple: bring people together through rhythm, curiosity and shared experience. Russo emphasized the club is always welcoming new members.
“We are so willing to have new people join us,” Russo said. “Someone emailed me a few weeks ago and asked if it was too late to join. I was like ‘no, of course not; show up to our next meeting!’”
