Darla Hanley's Music Room
Creative Teaching for Students of Today (& Tomorrow) PK-8
Today’s Teaching Strategy: Gotta Go to TX
(Conga-Line-Style Dance with Instruments)
Elementary (2-4)
© 2025 Darla S. Hanley
This teaching strategy is all about informally feeling the quarter-note and half-note beats while following the leader and playing instruments in small groups. It goes with a 2025 track titled “Texas in My Soul” by Asleep at the Wheel because of its walking tempo AND “I gotta go!” lyrics that naturally seem to prompt movement.
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.”)
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.
Gotta Go to TX
Today we are going to perform a conga-line-style dance. This dance is performed in a long line where everyone does the same steps AND we follow the first person in the line who leads us around the room.
Demonstrate the following movements as you direct students to perform them:
We are going to walk, walk, walk, walk, and then stop and put our Right leg out to the Right and back in; then our Left leg out to the Left and back in and then walk, walk, walk, walk and stop and make a “T” by stretching our arms out shoulder height and then cross our arms in front of our body (forearm to forearm) to make an “X”.
Play the recording of “Texas in My Soul” by Asleep at the Wheel and direct students to begin the dance.
ProTIP: The teacher should take the lead the first time to show students what the leader does in this dance.
Let’s all line up behind [name a student]!
ProTIP: There are many ways to select the first student to lead the line (e.g., teacher chooses someone, ask for volunteers, draw a name from a hat). Note: Having the teacher choose provides the opportunity to have a student with known abilities as a leader take the first turn.
Now we will change the leader as we dance! Listen closely for the word “Go!” as a cue. When you hear the word “Go!”, the leader moves all the way to the back of the line—and the next student in the line becomes the leader.
ProTIP: Randomly offer the verbal cue “Go!” and try to have as many students lead as time permits.
Below is a text description of the dance steps and a demonstration video to make it easy!
Once everyone is familiar with the dance, select 2 small groups of students (3-4 each) to play the “TX Dancing Instruments” parts.
Now we will perform the dance with the recording and instruments!
Materials/Set Up
Open Space Like a Dance Floor
Drums
Tambourines
Maps of USA and TX
Video
Dance Steps
Traveling Line: Walk, Walk, Walk, Walk
Stop in Place: R Leg Out then Back In, Left Leg Out then Back In—with 2 Elbows (naturally) Moving Out and In
Traveling Line: Walk, Walk, Walk, Walk
Stop in Place to Make the Letters “T” and “X” for Texas: Stretch Arms Out to the Sides at Shoulder Height (Hold for 2 Beats), Cross Arms in Front of Body (Forearm to forearm/Hold for 2 Beats)
Repeat.