Former Grateful Dead percussionist Mickey Hart spent Friday morning helping more than 30 students at Bridgeport Elementary School learn their rhythms in a drum circle.

Hart is part of Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds, a program led by the K-12 Arts Education Outreach that teaches kids how music and drums can build team work, confidence and leadership skills.

“It makes you feel good and makes other people feel good,” Hart said.

Hart has been drumming since he was 3 years old.

“It was an outlet for my energy,” he said. “I didn’t get into trouble. I drummed. It was nice, clean fun, and it was cost-effective.”

Hart and the students sat in a circle passing musical instruments on a beat. It got out of control fast, and soon Hart was crossing arms trying to keep up with the pace.

Britain Reynolds, 12, sat next to Hart in the drum circle.

“I thought he had a really good rhythm,” Reynolds said. “He was nice. I dropped my (instrument) and he picked it up.”

Beat the Odds will culminate with a massive drum circle in May at College of the Canyons that local educators hope will set a new Guinness World Record for the most youngsters drumming in a specific period of time, said Adam Philipson, Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center managing director.

The students Friday spent the day learning to follow beats, follow the lead of their peers and make different sounds by tapping, slapping and strumming their fingers on hand drums.

“Drums are a good instrument because that one instrument can make so many different sounds,” said Hannah Bushing, 11.

Monica Busfield, 11, said she liked it when everyone was drumming together.

Bushing agreed.

“Drumming with other people helps to get rid of the tension,” she said. “This was a great opportunity, musically.”

Bushing, sixth-grade class president, said she hoped lessons like these continue to bring more music into schools.

For details on Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds, visit rocktherhythm.org.