Darla Hanley's Music Room
Creative Teaching for Students of Today (& Tomorrow) PK-8
Today’s Teaching Strategy: Triple Cat
(Triple Meter Move and Play)
Elementary (2-3)
© 2026 Darla S. Hanley
This teaching strategy is all about moving and playing in triple meter! It goes with “Beaming” by Mark Allaway and Jeff Lardner (2019) because of its tempo and 3/4 lilt.
Pedagogical Foundations
“Follow-the-Leader”, “Mirror Me”, and “Simon Says” are examples of games that require students to imitate or copy something. We use them all the time. But why?
Copycat games provide structure while also promoting creativity. They are perfect pedagogical vehicles that inspire students to show-what-they-know and what-they-can do in an informal and playful manner. Further, copycat games may stretch student’s abilities, push boundaries from something familiar to them to something unfamiliar, and include an “unexpected” element like dramatic play/pretending, new combinations, and opportunities for exploration. Kids play games. Kids like games. Games are fun! But are they really educational?
That answer is a resounding, YES (lol)! Games in music class are sparks that ignite all of these, and more:
Community and Belonging
Confidence
Contagious Laughter and Joy
Cooperation
Decision-Making
Empathy
Esprit de Corps
Focus
Instrument Play
Kinesthetic Participation
Leadership
Memory
Movement
Personal Expression
Singing
Teamwork
Turn Taking
Voice and Choice
In music class, copycat games require someone to determine a movement, motion, manner of instrument play or singing, etc. for everyone to perform. These games may be played with only a few student leaders (having lots of time each to lead), OR with every student having the opportunity to lead the group or a partner.
Additionally, and importantly, copycat games can advance a huge variety of musical concepts, skills, and knowledge. These games include things like:
Ability to Hold and Play an Instrument
Beat/No Beat
Instrument Families
Measure (e.g., 1 Measure of XYZ = 4 Beats)
Melodic Patterns
Meter
Pitched/Unpitched
Rhythmic Patterns
Solfege
Singing Voice/Speaking Voice
Sound/No Sound
Steady Beat
Tempo
Call to Action
Add a copycat element to a lesson or rehearsal that includes students leading and imitating using movement, instruments, and/or voices… and be sure to step back and watch the original expressions unfold by leaders followed by personal interpretations from their peers. The creativity will build and build with students inspiring students!
Today’s teaching strategy includes the opportunity for students to perform 3-beat body percussion sequences and/or determine 3 ways to play classroom percussion instruments to create 3-beat patterns. This strategy is all about experiencing, exploring, and enjoying triple meter! I hope you give it a try with your students. But first, let me remind you who I am:
Hi! 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.
Today we are going to move and play in 3s! This makes a 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3 rhythmic feel that we call triple meter.
ProTIP: The purpose here is not for students to study the term “triple meter”—rather this is an experiential learning activity with an informal exposure to the music vocabulary.
Listen to my chant and you will hear the word, “triple”, an animal, and numbers! Speak the “Triple Cat” chant for students to hear.
ProTIP: Providing a prompt for student listening gives them something to listen for/a focus. Follow up by asking students to identify the animal and the numbers they heard.
Now you need to stand and copy my movements.
Video provided to make it easy! Perform the “Triple Cat” chant with the following body percussion sequences (teacher-led):
Patsch, Clap, Clap
Clap, Clap, Tap Shoulders
IMPORTANT ProTIP: Speak the words “Triple Cat, Triple Cat” while performing each body percussion sequence AND perform each combination 2x for students to observe it twice and then perform it twice. This repetition gives students time to “catch” the sequence and respond in triple meter.
Repeat this game with the recording of “Beaming” by Mark Allaway and Jeff Lardner as an anchor.
Now I need a student leader to perform 3-beat body percussion movements for everyone to copy!
ProTIP: Asking for volunteers gives space for students to self-identify as a leader in the game. Extroverts, those who feel comfortable to come to the front, etc. naturally emerge. However, there are many ways to select student leaders—especially if we want to observe specific students leading the way. Choose an approach that works best in your classroom!
Play the recording and guide the student leader to begin moving for all to copy.
ProTIP: Provide a verbal and/or visual cue to prompt the student leader to begin moving on “1” to ensure that their 3-beat movements fit triple meter.
Repeat with new student leaders as time permits.
Now let’s add instruments to “Triple Cat”!
Invite students to sit on the floor in a circle or in a scattered formation (i.e., wherever they were standing).
ProTIP: The “must have” here is that students are sitting on the floor so they can alternate between tapping sticks together and tapping both sticks on the floor. The formation is flexible.
Distribute 1 pair of rhythm sticks to each student and lead everyone to copy the following teacher-led combinations (instrument play only—no chant):
Tap Tap Tap = Tap Sticks Together (3x)
Floor, Floor, Floor = Tap both sticks on the floor at the same time (3x)
Floor, Floor Tap
Tap, Tap, Floor
Play the recording and lead a copy game using “Tap” and “Floor” combinations using the “Triple Cat” chant as before.
Select student leaders to create original 3-beat combinations for everyone to perform with the track as time permits.
Triple Cat
© 2026 Darla S. Hanley
Triple cat, triple cat
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3
Triple cat, triple cat
copy me, copy me!
[Insert 3-beat body percussion pattern and/or instrument play combination]
Video
Materials/Set Up
Space for Movement
Rhythm Sticks (1 pair per student)
🎵 Mark Allaway and Jeff Lardner "Beaming” (2019) Link to Track on Spotify