Darla Hanley's Music Room
Creative Teaching for Students of Today (& Tomorrow) PK-8
Today’s Teaching Strategy: Step Up to the Mic
(Vocal Exploration)
Upper Elementary/Lower Middle (5-6)
© 2025 Darla S. Hanley
This teaching strategy is all about vocal exploration—and learning information about an artist. It goes with “Annie” by Willie Nelson because it’s one of his instrumentals so students can be hearing Willie’s music as they describe him!
This 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
Hey, it’s me! Do you recognize my voice?
I was a little kid when I realized that I could recognize who was on the telephone without asking for a name! It was pure magic to recognize the warm sound of my grandmother’s voice or my parent’s friend Butch (lol—whose voice was as big as his larger-than-life personality) when they called. These sounds were audible fingerprints that identified a person… so cool.
As musicians, we take all of this 1M steps further (lol). We make and manipulate sounds to create original expressions, and have listened to SO much music we recognize specific sounds as artists, songs, instruments, instrumentations, decades/eras, type of recording (e.g., studio or live), amplification (or acoustic), etc.
In my view, it’s important for students to know that they can use their own voice in many ways—i.e., literally with vocal exploration and singing AND figuratively when they express original ideas and creations. I also want students to know that using their voice may result in something amazing, or something that’s more of a learning experience. Both matter.
In music, we can ask students to explore their voices in ways not as easily possible in other subjects (although I once had an Italian professor have me sing Italian arias in language class on more than one occasion (lol)). We have the opportunity to support students to use their voice in ways like:
Finding their singing voice—and recognizing the difference between singing and speaking;
Speaking melodically and rhythmically—like they might when they read or chant with their own children in the future;
Expressing musical preferences and opinions;
Collaborating musically with classmates; and
Creating!
How cool would it be if our students could recognize each other’s voices in all the ways?
Today’s teaching strategy “Step Up to the Mic” includes vocal exploration as students read an original poem about an iconic artist: Willie Nelson. I hope you give it a try! 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 step up to the mic and be Announcers, Presenters, Podcasters, and Hosts! What do these people do? (Share information with audiences; Offer introductions and facts; Speak with energy and enthusiasm to engage others and draw them in to listen)
We are going to read stanzas of an original poem titled “Calling All Listeners: Willie Nelson” — about an iconic artist named Willie Nelson. Willie is turning 90-years-old and has had an incredible career performing Country music, Americana music, and Jazz, for example. He is a vocalist, guitar player, composer, and bandleader who cares about music and people.
ProTIP: Willie Nelson was part of the “Outlaw Country” movement in the 1970s along with other artists like Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash—not as criminals (outlaws) but as artists who were trying to move away from the polished Nashville sound. Students may need this clarification.
Project the poem and invite all students to read it together (as a group). Video provided to demonstrate the idea and make it easy!
Now we will add some of Willie Nelson’s music as an accompaniment. Play the recording of “Annie” and direct students to read the poem together with the track.
ProTIP: Begin speaking at 0.16 following a brief introduction.
Select 6 students and invite them to come to the front and stand in a line where they can see the poem. Give the mic to a student on either end.
ProTIP: This can be done without a mic OR with a mic not connected (as a prop), OR with real amplification. Whatever best suits your teaching setting.
Each of you will be the Announcer or Podcast Host using your voice to read a stanza of the poem with the track. Be sure to make your voice sound energetic and enthusiastic—telling the story of your stanza. When you finish, pass the microphone to the person beside you so they can use it to read/perform their text. We will go in turn, down the line.
ProTIP: Model speaking the poem for students with the track to demonstrate vocal exploration, animated/energized speaking, and identifying as the Host with enthusiasm.
Play the recording and direct students to begin announcing.
How did it feel to be an Announcer? What did you do to change your voice? (Solicit Responses)
ProTIP: Student reflection and self-evaluation are essential to learning.
Materials/Set Up
Tech to Project “Calling All Listeners: Willie Nelson” Text
Microphone (Optional)
🎵 Willie Nelson "Annie” Link to Track on Spotify
Song Options for Collaborative Playlist:
🎵 Willie Nelson “On the Road Again” Link to Track on Spotify
🎵 Willie Nelson “Blue Skies” Link to Track on Spotify
🎵 Willie Nelson “Butterfly” Link to Track on Spotify
Video
Calling All Listeners: Willie Nelson
© 2025 Darla S. Hanley
Calling all listeners
from near and from far
To hear Willie Nelson
wherever you are
He’s an outlaw and rebel
a kind hearted man
Who cares about people
and does what he can
To bring us together
united in song
Using voice and guitar
so we all get along
“On the Road Again” “Crazy”
don’t forget his “Blue Skies”
An iconic musician
it’s clear to see why
Willie’s country and jazzy
and sometimes all blues
Outstanding performance
go read the reviews
So calling all listeners
from aunties to kids
to hear Willie Nelson
you’ll be glad you did.
EXTEND the Learning:
Invite students to research Willie Nelson and identify facts about his home state, career trajectory, nickname(s), and greatest hits to “announce” over the track.
Ask students to create a collaborative playlist by voting to express their preferences of Willie Nelson tracks (curated by the teacher) to include in their list. (Sample tracks provided above to make it easy!)
Learning Targets
Vocal Exploration
Learning Outcomes
Respond with vocal nuance and inflection
Create original interpretations
Perform verses of an original poem 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!
Oh, this was the best!