Darla Hanley's Music Room
Creative Teaching for Students of Today (& Tomorrow) PK-8
Today’s Teaching Strategy: Flowery Beats
(Macrobeat and Microbeat Rhythms)
Lower Elementary (K-2)
This teaching strategy is all about the macrobeat (quarter note pulse) and the microbeat (eighth note pulse). It goes with a 2025 track by Jonny Wolf and JazzyHan called “Summer Rain”. I chose this track because of its tempo and jazz-infused beats.
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.
Flowery Beats
Today we are going to play a steady beat game! I will speak a chant called “Tulips Up, Tulips Down” that includes rhythmic patterns. Be my echo and clap each pattern after me.
But first, what is a tulip? (a flower)
ProTIP: Asking students to make connections (across music concepts/topics and beyond) is an essential element of learning.
Speak the chant and direct students to clap the macrobeat and microbeat, in turn.
Now we will add music to our game! Play the recording of “Summer Rain” by Jonny Wolf and JazzyHan and play the game with the track.
ProTIP: Begin the “Tulips Up, Tulips Down” chant and steady beat imitation game at 0.12 in the track following a brief intro.
Have the older students (grade 2) draw a card from a deck of “Flower Cards” and perform the chant with their selection(s). [Printable deck provided: see Materials below.]
Tulips Up, Tulips Down
© 2025 Darla S. Hanley
Tulips up, tulips down
Clap the rhythm, make the sound
Teacher: Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta
Students: Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta
Tulips up, tulips down
Clap the rhythm, make the sound
Teacher: Ta-di, Ta-di, Ta-di, Ta-di
Students: Ta-di, Ta-di, Ta-di, Ta-di
EXTEND the Learning:
Give the younger students (K-1) a choice of “tulip” “rose” or “daisy” to perform in place of “tulips” (no cards).
Ask the older students (grade 2) to name flowers and perform the chant replacing “tulips” with their new words (no cards).
Perform the steady beat imitation game with “Summer Breeze” by Ramsey Lewis.
ProTIP: Begin at 0.12 following a brief intro.
ProTIP: This is a long track. Use the first section as an excerpt!
Distribute rhythm sticks (2 per student) and invite students to perform the game with instruments.
ProTIP: Be sure to change the chant to “Play the rhythm, make the sound”.
🎵 Jonny Wolf and JazzyHan “Summer Rain” Link to Track on Spotify
🎵 Ramsey Lewis “Summer Breeze” Link to Track on Spotify
Materials
Deck of Printable "Flower Cards"
Rhythm Sticks*
Learning Targets
Listen, Move, (Play)*
*Playing rhythm sticks only occurs in the EXTEND the Learning part of this teaching strategy.
Learning Outcomes
Respond to show steady beat (macrobeat and microbeat)
Create new “verses” of the chant
Perform rhythmic patterns using body percussion (and instruments*)—in turn following verbal cue
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!