Darla Hanley's Music Room
Creative Teaching for Students of Today (& Tomorrow) PK-8
Today’s Teaching Strategy: Hey! Let’s Arrange and Play
(Original Arrangements)
Upper Elementary (4-6)
This teaching strategy is all about student choice—and percussion. It goes with an instrumental version of “Hey Ya”. I chose this one by Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra because of its driving rhythm and fun vibe.
The track 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 simply “mix it up.”)
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.
Hey! Let’s Arrange and Play
What does the word “arrangement” mean in music? (Taking existing music and putting it in a different order and sequence; Making creative decisions to adapt an existing piece of music; Modifying elements of existing music while keeping its original essence)
ProTIP: Beginning with this question centers the learning for students and reinforces both the task-at-hand and music vocabulary (i.e., arranging).
Project “The Hey Ya Ensemble” rhythms and invite students to read and clap or tap them.