Darla Hanley's Music Room
Creative Teaching for Students of Today (& Tomorrow) PK-8
Today’s Teaching Strategy: How It Goes When We Open and Close
(Motions and Music)
Lower Elementary (PreK-K)
© 2026 Darla S. Hanley
This teaching strategy is all about having students experience a great Sonny Rollins track (i.e., “Alfie’s Theme Differently” — from “Alfie” Score from 1966) and perform hand motions.
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.”)
Pedagogical Foundations
Great music is… well, great.
For me, the definition of “great music” changes as I navigate my day, week, years, and life. The music I choose to listen to—and play—depends on my mood, focus on artists that inspire me at the time, selection of musical style to play in the moment, and so much more. I seek out music that is familiar, new, and compelling. Additionally, I always want to hear artists of yesterday, today, and tomorrow to experience the arc of music over decades and places.
In my view, if we share “great music” in the music classroom, this all rings true for our students, as well. The more they hear, the more musically curious they will become as they form their own list of favorite artists, and choose music that contributes to the soundtrack of their life.
So what exactly am I talking about? And what does this look like in school music? Try these things:
Expose students to iconic artists who have stood the test of time.
These artists represent every style of music and illustrate excellence, expression, influence, and personal voice/interpretation.
The Internet is filled with lists of iconic artists. Do a quick search to be reminded of those you know—and identify new ones.
Expose students to emerging artists of all ages, but especially to young artists close in age to them.
Emerging artists are fabulous role models of today. They are fresh and new.
Further, young artists, in particular, provide students with the unique possibility of seeing themselves as musicians (i.e., kids inspiring kids to make music).
Let the music drive the learning experience.
We absolutely need to address learning targets, but doing so via exposure to a variety of “great” music can be simply magical.
Steady beat to Mozart, Count Basie, Sonny Rollins, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, and/or Brandie Carlisle… yes please (lol)!
Do not limit students by excluding musical styles, artists, etc. from the music classroom that initially may not seem like “children’s music”.
Of course, you know I’m not advocating sharing explicit or “adult” lyrics in school music, but I am advocating bringing Classical, jazz, blues, R&B, soul, pop, rock, indie, Americana, EDM, folk, Hip Hop, Latin, etc. into the classroom.
There are SO many “great” musical examples from which to choose.
Let students hear as much as possible!
Today’s teaching strategy (“How It Goes When We Open and Close”) includes an original chant with corresponding hand motions for our youngest students to perform as they hear an iconic jazz artist: Sonny Rollins! 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.
Have students sit on the floor in a circle.
Today we are going to perform motions that open and close! Demonstrate wide open hands and ask students to copy. Next demonstrate closed hands and have students copy.
ProTIP: Isolating the open and closed hand motions before inviting students to perform them with the chant prepares them for success as you inform them of coming expectations.
Let’s add music!
Play the recording of “Alfie’s Theme Differently” and lead students to perform the “How It Goes” motions with the track. Video provided to make it easy!
ProTIP: Start chanting/moving at 0.14 following a brief introduction.
ProTIP: Have lots of fun moving/grooving to the “This is how it goes” phrases! Model ideas for students and be sure to watch for their personal interpretations.
ProTIP: Use the first 1:14 of the track for the “approachable” groove if you prefer to skip the hip jazz solo as an anchor for the chant.
ProTIP: The focus is for students to hear an iconic jazz artist and perform motions. If they chant along… that’s a bonus!
Materials/Set Up
Space for Circle Formation
🎵 Sonny Rollins "Alfie’s Theme Differently” Link to Track on Spotify
How It Goes
© 2026 Darla S. Hanley
This is how it goes, this is how it goes
This is how it goes, we open and close
Open and close, open and close
Clap your hands and open and close
[Tap your knees]…
[Nod your head]…
Video
© 2026 Darla S. Hanley
EXTEND the Learning:
Add new motions to replace tapping knees and nodding. Use:
Wave Your Hands
Touch Your Nose
Learning Targets
Chant, Move
Learning Outcomes
Respond with movement
Create personal groove interpretations
Perform a rhythmic chant with motions
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!