World drumming class, after-school ensemble help LPS students pick up academic rhythms

March 30, 2026

Lincoln Public Schools students are swaying to the beat of intercontinental rhythms this year thanks to several world-class drumming opportunities.
 
They are filling Lincoln High with West African beats in the World Music Drumming class and the West African Music Ensemble. More than 20 Links are learning percussion-based songs during the school day as part of the LHS music curriculum. They have studied global traditions and customs, examined relationships between musical parts and performed at LHS pep rallies.

 
The West African Music Ensemble is open to students in grades 9-12 from all eight LPS high schools. The after-school group began meeting in January 2025 and currently practices every Thursday afternoon at Lincoln High. Students who are interested in joining can reach out to LHS music teacher Jill Oetken.
 
Lincoln High students Tryston and Jayson said they have enjoyed spending time in both the class and club. Oetken has used her global connections to acquire wood-carved instruments from Ghana for everyone to use. She has also passed along insights about the important role music plays in West African communities.
 
“I’ve always had an appreciation for other cultures, but this has given me more appreciation for the music in other cultures,” Tryston said. “I’ve started listening to music from other countries more, which has been really good.”
 
“When I first came in here, I didn’t know anything about this music,” Jayson said. “I didn’t know it was a culture until Miss O taught me. I think it’s pretty cool to learn a new culture, and if you can learn the new culture and learn new stuff about it, you can tell people about it. I think it’s pretty awesome.”
 
Fellow students Kyli and Jace both started their world drumming experiences this year. They said they have had fun meeting new people and discovering handmade instruments like kpanlogos (drums), gyils (xylophones), adawura/toke (bells) and shekere (rattles).
 
“I’ve learned how different music is from each continent and culture,” Kyli said. “It’s been really good.”
 
“I’ve learned, especially with this culture, that a lot of things are a collective,” Jace said. “There isn’t really individual music. Everything is always done together.”

 
Oetken said one of her top goals is to teach students about the importance of teamwork through the world drumming program. They learn songs by listening to and playing with each other instead of reading prewritten music. This allows percussionists of all ability levels to become key parts of the rhythmic group.
 
“When you are unsure of a part or you’re unsure about how something happens, you watch, you listen and you do what you can in the moment,” Oetken said. “As you spend more time observing and listening to things, then that starts becoming more comfortable, but you very much lean on that knowledge and what’s happening around you.”
 
Oetken leads a wide range of music classes at Lincoln High, but percussion is one of her specialties. She began attending summer workshops with master drummers nearly a decade ago, and her large network of friends led to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the summer of 2024. She spent three weeks in the Volta region of Ghana studying with villagers who incorporate music into many social activities like weddings, funerals and life milestones.
 
“In Ghana, it’s so a part of everyday life,” Oetken said. “Everything is done not just in front of an audience for a special occasion, but it’s just always done within the context of the community and for everyone to enjoy.”
 
Oetken had been teaching World Music Drumming classes at Lincoln High since 2016, but her trip to Ghana inspired her to share the beats with even more students across Lincoln. She began the West African Music Ensemble to give them another place to thrive in the musical world.
 
“There’s really no prerequisite for this class,” Oetken said. “There’s no notation that they have to learn. Everybody just picks up an instrument and they go.”

 
Kyli and Jace both began coming to the West African Music Ensemble this year. Both heard about the group from friends who encouraged them to join. They said that decision has led to many fulfilling moments in the classroom.
 
“I love playing the music, and the people here are really nice and fun to hang out with,” Kyli said.
 
“It helps me get into a rhythm better and learn more about the music,” Jace said. “You get to experiment some more with the music.”
 
Many other LPS students are discovering the joy of West African beats this year. Lincoln High is the only LPS high school currently offering a full course of World Music Drumming, but LPS Supervisor of Music Amy Holloman said parts of the curriculum are available elsewhere. Sheridan Elementary School music teacher Megan Stroup is currently using a traveling drum set to teach percussion lessons in her classes.
 
Oetken said the world drumming class and after-school group have offered students powerful reminders of the value of community, connection and caring in their own lives. She is working with the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools on a Fund a Need campaign to purchase additional instruments. These will help even more students experience uplifting beats in their music classroom.
 
“I hope that students walk away with an appreciation for using teamwork to work on something, to lean on each other, to help each other out, to know that you’re always going to help your neighbor,” Oetken said.
 
Discover how the LPS music curriculum is helping students generate exciting academic rhythms.
 
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