Darla Hanley's Music Room
Creative Teaching for Students of Today (& Tomorrow) PK-8
Welcome! I’m Darla, an experienced PK-12 music educator, college professor, and former Berklee College of Music Dean looking to connect with teachers, parents/caregivers, and others seeking to advance creative music making for today’s students — and their teachers. In Darla Hanley’s Music Room you will find teaching strategies, advice and teaching tips, playlists, and more.
The Teaching Strategy
This first teaching strategy is called “Music Is For Everyone” designed for the upper elementary level. The track for this instrument play, “Alligator Boogaloo” is available on multiple streaming audio platforms. (Like many of my teaching strategies, you should feel free to find other audio tracks to anchor the learning experience using music that works in your setting or new tracks to “mix it up.”)
Students standing in a circle formation.
Distribute a variety of non-pitched percussion instruments (e.g., rhythm sticks, drums, woodblocks) and ask students to play the steady beat while you speak the chant.
Select 3 students to create an 8-beat rhythmic response to perform in between stanzas.
Play the recording and direct all students to play the steady beat. Point to the individual students when it is their turn to create rhythmic patterns or have them come to the center of the circle to play.
🎵 Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers “Alligator Boogaloo”. Link to Track on Spotify
Music Is For Everyone
Music is for everyone,
Music is for me
Music is the place where I can sing and play and be
(Student Response)
Music played with brushes
Music played with sticks
Music played with drums, sounds so slick
(Student Response)
Music is for everyone,
Music is for me,
Music is the place where I can sing and play and be
(Student Response)
© 2025 Darla S. Hanley
Learning Targets
Listen, Play, Improvise
Learning Outcomes
Respond using instruments to show beat awareness.
Create original rhythmic patterns.
Perform individually and as a group.
Assessment
Informal Observation/Formative Assessment
Thanks for checking this out. If you use this teaching strategy, be sure to leave a comment to let me know how it resonates with your students!