Pass the Baton: Empowering Students in Music Education, a Podcast for Music Teachers

In Episode 66, Kathryn and Theresa continue their discussion with Alex Adams about the transformative role of songwriting in music education. Building on the foundation laid in Episode 65, Alex offers a deeper exploration into how songwriting can be a powerful medium for students to connect their personal experiences with the academic study of music. He emphasizes the importance of creating a musi...

In Episode 65, Kathryn and Theresa dive into the first part of an enlightening interview with Alex Adams, a seasoned music teacher with 15 years of experience in both private studio and public school teaching. Alex shares his unique journey from teaching in Maine to becoming a teaching artist with the Documentary Songwriters organization, and his current role as a graduate student at Arizona State...

In Episode 64, Kathryn and Theresa delve into the common pitfalls educators face in music education, emphasizing the importance of student ownership and engagement. The discussion navigates through the essential strategies for avoiding four key mistakes that can stifle student creativity and initiative. From the nuances of genuinely listening to student voices to the intricate balance of guiding c...

In episode 63, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Angela Ammerman, a music educator in Northern Virginia. Angela discusses innovative recruitment strategies for music programs, emphasizing the critical role of student and community involvement in building and sustaining vibrant music education environments. Highlighting her own experiences and insights from her book, "The Music Teachers Guide to Rec...

In Episode 62, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Kathleen Jacoby, a high school band director in Fairfax, Virginia. Kathleen’s teaching philosophy revolves around student ownership and engagement in the music program, drawing from her own experiences in a small band program where every member's contribution was vital. She shares innovative strategies she employs to involve students in decision-makin...

In episode 61, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Dr. Rob Pethel, an innovative music educator with a passion for guitar and virtual teaching. Rob talks about the importance of embracing change and innovation in music education, shedding light on his approach to keeping students engaged and motivated in a virtual environment. He discusses methods for fostering a creative and productive learning space, hi...

In Episode 60, Kathryn and Theresa interview Kyle Smith, a high school band director from Maine. Kyle discusses his journey and experiences, emphasizing the importance of continuous growth and learning in education. He shares insights from his podcast "The Growing Band Director," where he and his guests explore various educational topics. Kyle talks about effective teaching methods and t...

In Episode 59, Kathryn and Theresa engage in a conversation exploring the intersection of music education, student empowerment, and research! Theresa, a PhD student at Arizona State University, delves into her research project that analyzes themes from the Pass the Baton podcast, particularly focusing on secondary music education.  The discussion reveals key findings: music teachers strive for the...

In Episode 58, Kathryn and Theresa interview Jamie Widener, a music educator passionate about incorporating Genius Hour in her elementary music classes. The episode focuses on Jamie's approach to engaging students by allowing them to pursue music-related passion projects, inspired by Google's strategy of allowing employees to dedicate 20% of their work time to personal projects. Jamie discusses th...

In episode 57, Kathryn and Theresa talk to SJ, a music educator originally from India, now teaching in Dubai. In this interview, SJ discusses his approach to teaching music to early and primary year students. He emphasizes the importance of using the voice as a primary instrument in the classroom and reflects on his transition from a traditional, teacher-centered approach to a more inquiry-based,...

In episode 56, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Tom Chester and Justin Johnson, music educators and ensemble directors from Illinois. The discussion revolves around the concept of student-centered learning in the realm of music education. Both Tom and Justin emphasize the importance of equipping students with the tools to think critically and independently about music. They highlight the pitfalls of tr...

In episode 55, Kathryn and Theresa sit down with Terry Little, a veteran music educator with over three decades of experience. Terry delves deep into the concept of "assessment for learning," emphasizing its role in making the educational process more student-centered. Instead of traditional grading methods, this approach involves students actively in their assessment, allowing them to p...

In episode 54, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Dr. Dylan Maddix, an Assistant Professor of Instrumental Conducting and Community Engagement at Memorial University, as he shares his extensive journey in music education and his insights on the transformative power of servant leadership within this realm. Dylan delves into his experiences with various educators and how they shaped his perspective on lead...

In episode 53, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Dr. Shane Colquhoun, an assistant professor of music technology and contemporary styles at Alabama State University. Shane discusses the importance of rethinking traditional approaches to music education by challenging the notion of "music education for all," arguing that current programs often cater only to students with specific musical intere...

In episode 52, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Jen Rafferty, a former music educator and the founder of the Empowered Educator. Jen discusses the importance of educators taking care of themselves to create a positive impact on students. By prioritizing self-care and practicing breathing exercises, teachers can regulate their nervous systems and make better decisions. Jen advocates for shifting the nar...

In episode 51, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Elizabeth Peterson, a 25-year veteran teacher from New Hampshire.  Elizabeth discusses the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) in the music classroom, especially in relation to building strong teacher-student relationships and fostering student empowerment. She emphasizes the significance of SEL in helping students become more emotionally aw...

Welcome to episode 50 of the Pass the Baton podcast! This episode starts with Theresa and Kathryn talking briefly about their school years and what to look forward to for Pass the Baton. Then we look back at some of the great moments captured in season two of the podcast.  Get a free preview of  Pass the Baton  here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.daveburgessconsulting.com/books/pass-the-baton/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Pass...

This week, Kathryn and Theresa spoke with Ryan Diefenderfer, about his experiences implementing the Orpheus approach with his high school ensembles. Ryan works at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona, teaching the marching band, concert band, orchestra, chamber ensembles, and jazz band. He is also working on a master's degree at Arizona State University and was recently named a quar...

This week, Kathryn and Theresa interviewed David Getz about how he incorporates music composition to spark student creativity. David is a high school orchestra teacher in central Illinois. He has also coached cross country, conducts a local youth orchestra, and recently published a book with F-flat Books, Unlocking Student Creativity Through Composition . As someone who was encouraged to compose a...

In episode 47, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Allison Russo about how she works with music educators to create a values-based music program. Allison is currently an educational consultant in New Jersey, working with both schools and non-profit organizations. After graduating from Ithaca College, she taught elementary band for several years and then began working for a jazz education non-profit, helpi...

This week, Kathryn and Theresa spoke with Jared Brockmeyer about how he has incorporated game-based practices in his middle school band classes! Jared currently teaches 6th-8th grade band in Missouri. He also has experience teaching high school band and worked with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. As a game-lover, Jared has found that there are several elements in video games that not only engage s...

This week’s podcast features an interview with music educator and leader, Anne Fennell. In this episode, Anne shares her insights on engaging community and creating a collective power through music education. Anne is in her 36th year in education. She is currently the K-12 Music Program Manager for San Diego Unified School District, supervising music educators at 117 elementary schools. Prior to t...

This week, instead of interviewing a guest, Theresa interviewed Kathryn about empathy projects she has done with her elementary music students. Kathryn currently teaches K-5th grade general music in Northbrook, Illinois. In addition to being a co-author of Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students, Kathryn also writes with Abigail Blair as part of the Blair Finch Project. In this interview, Ka...

This week Kathryn and Theresa had the opportunity to talk to Lori Schwartz Reichl about an invaluable topic - reflection! Lori taught middle school band in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Currently, she provides professional development for music educators, does guest conducting and adjudication work, and writes for music educators and administrators. Lori also recently completed a doctoral degree in m...

This week, Kathryn and Theresa talked to Michelle Rose. Michelle teaches middle and high school general music at a virtual school in North Carolina. She’s been teaching music online since before the pandemic! Michelle is also a PhD student at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Michelle is no stranger to Pass the Baton ! She was actually featured as the encore story in Chapter 8 of Pass t...