Darla Hanley's Music Room
Creative Teaching for Students of Today (& Tomorrow) PK-8
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.
2, 4, 6, 8… What Do We Anticipate?
© 2026 Darla S. Hanley
What do you look forward to?
Okay, so everyone who knows me knows how much I talk about being present—in the moment—but here at the start of a new calendar year, in the dark cold winter (where I live lol), I find myself looking forward to longer stretches of daylight and the magic of spring. I anticipate feeling warmer and enjoying the return of nature in its glorious colorful state. I look forward to being outside—without wearing 1M layers of clothing and heavy boots (lol). But importantly, I look forward to what’s ahead: wonderful shared experiences with friends and loved ones, growing personally, learning (and mastering) something new, giving back, and doing things I have yet to imagine. I’m absolutely here experiencing today and also looking forward to discovering what tomorrow brings.
In my view, there is something special about anticipation. It’s a state of mind, often filled with excitement as we eagerly await XYZ. As a kid I could not wait for Christmas morning or my birthday. And yes, I also looked forward to the first day of school (as a student and then as a teacher) because it represented a start—a sort of educational reset filled with possibilities. As I reflect, I realize that at times I was impatient having to wait—and wait—but I also reveled in the thrill of “whatever” happening after that time period. In some ways, the anticipation made “it” better…
Alright, we all know that anticipation is not always positive or happy. We need to anticipate challenges and prepare so we don’t run out of gas in the car, for example. We need to be prepared and ready while recognizing that things won’t always go as planned—or the way we want them to—even when we anticipate.
Why am I talking about anticipation? I see anticipation connecting to music teaching and learning as a two-way street: Teachers anticipate student engagement, learning, and development; Students anticipate the cool things they get to do in music class!
Check out these 3 ideas:
1. Teaching IS Anticipation
As a teacher we need to be steps ahead of students (in all the ways, lol). We need to anticipate how the lessons we plan (and implement) will land in our classroom—with our students. This requires us to see our students, and make essential decisions related to instructional content and format. We need to strategically create "anticipation moments” in our teaching like these: Who/what’s next? Who will win? Who will choose? Who is the leader?
Think:
Draw names from a hat
Draw directives from a paper bag
Spin the wheel
Roll the dice
Take a class vote
Play pedagogical games
Form partners, trios, and/or quartets
These practices add anticipation/fun excitement regarding the outcome, and likely engage students at a high level.
Further, as teachers, we always need to anticipate the time when things don’t go as planned (lol) and be ready to “catch the moment”, redirect, and continue an effective flow of instruction. This part can be challenging for any teacher… which leads me to:
2. Trial and Error Are Both Valuable
Students (and teachers) need to try things and find their best ways of doing. In the music classroom, this means as teachers we need to try new instructional models, pedagogical practices, repertoire, etc., and explore the use of new tools and technologies. We also need to try assessments, classroom management techniques, motivators, ice breakers, and so much more. Importantly, we need to give these things a chance to truly test them with students to see how/if they are effective in our teaching setting.
Additionally, we need to provide students with opportunities to explore sounds, styles, instruments, etc. so they can try things and see what they are capable of. This trial and error sometimes results in new pathways. Students need to use critical and creative thinking to figure things out, make things, and play. As a sax player chasing a new embouchure (lol) and as a teacher offering feedback to students, I often think about Dizzy Gillespie. We all agree he was an extraordinary trumpet player who played his way. However, I’m pretty sure (lol) someone at some point in his life told him not to puff his cheeks when he played his trumpet. Um, what’s the focus: the ability to play music at a high level OR a “proper” technique? Trial and error yields both.
Here’s a teaching strategy to foster trial and error:
Invite students to innovate. Give them a group project where they get to create an original composition!
Prompt: You are all composers of the future. You need to compose music within your group that represents musical sounds and a style that everyone agrees with. Your music can be instrumental or have lyrics. It needs to be no more than 1 minute long.
Have students use classroom instruments, band/orchestra instruments, their voices, technology, found sounds, etc.
Let students explore, practice, work together over time to try things, and reach consensus regarding the artistic outcome.
When complete, ask students to use their phone or other available device to record their music and then select student DJs to play the recordings for everyone to hear.
I bet everyone (students AND teachers) will anticipate hearing these compositions!
3. Something New
The first time a student performs in a concert is simply electric. There is a bit of the unknown ahead—even though the music was very likely learned and practiced within many many rehearsals. The concert brings new elements of performing on a stage (in front of people). It also often requires the performers to get dressed up making the whole thing feel “big” and “important”.
The concert experience itself was new that first time, but I would argue that for students, teachers, and audiences, concerts are always new experiences! They happen in real time, in the moment, with people who act and react in both planned and unplanned ways. —i.e., No two concerts are the same—even when performed by the most seasoned professionals. Further, playing music in new settings is a game changer for both players and audiences.
Try this:
Look for innovative places to perform in the school building:
Have ensembles (or soloists) perform in the entrance/lobby area to welcome peers when they arrive in the morning. (This could be a weekly/monthly scheduled performance series, OR performances held throughout March—Music In Our Schools Month.)
Record ensembles (or soloists) during music class and broadcast excerpts of the recordings during the morning announcements.
Look for local places to perform outside of the school building:
Have students perform at libraries, art galleries, museums, senior centers, year-round farmer’s markets, restaurants, etc.
Collaborate with performing arts venues, community centers, or theaters, to have students become “Opening Acts” for events (i.e., add student performers to existing events so they play/sing a few selections rather than have to prepare a full concert).
Partner with a local college—that offers a Music Education program. Here, MUED majors could host a concert featuring your students where they gain teaching/leadership experience—and the students perform on a college campus!
I bet everyone (students, teachers, AND audience members) will look forward to the experience of live music in new places!
Final Thoughts
Anticipation is a part of life… and the educational process. As teachers we need to meet students where they are and proactively anticipate their engagement, growth, and independent ownership of skills and knowledge. Additionally, we need to provide space for trial and error, foster new experiences, and enjoy the moment as we look forward to advancing the musical lives of students.
Let’s focus on offering instruction that our students anticipate with excitement and eagerness… You know, that class they simply can’t wait to experience!
Leave a comment. Thanks for checking out Darla Hanley’s Music Room!
Playlist For You!
Here are tracks titled anticipation… Enjoy! Link to full "Anticipation" Playlist
🎵 Luca Sestak “Anticipation” (2024) Link to Track on Spotify
🎵 Secret Garden “Anticipation” (2018) Link to Track on Spotify
🎵 Philip Labes and Katie Lynne Sharbaugh “Anticipation” (2022) Link to Track on Spotify
🎵 Carly Simon “Anticipation” (1971) Link to Track on Spotify