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

This week, Kathryn and Theresa talked to Levi Allison, a music teacher in South Korea. Levi has taught music in Kuwait and China, and currently teaches first through third grade general music at Chadwick International School. Levi’s school follows the IBPYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme) framework and inquiry-based learning is prevalent in his classroom. In this intervi...

This week’s interview features one of our co-authors, Theresa Hoover. Theresa is a former middle school band director, currently working as a music education and technology integration specialist. In this episode, Theresa talks about how she incorporated creativity and music composition in her middle school band classes.    Connect with Theresa and learn more:   www.musicaltheresa.c...

This week’s interview features Robby Burns, a middle school band and general music teacher in Howard County, Maryland. Robby talks about how he incorporates creativity and music composition in his middle school band classes.     Connect with Robby:   Twitter: @robbyburns    www. Robbyburns.com   Music Ed Tech Talk   Digital Organization Tips for Music Teache...

This week’s interview features Sonya Knussen, a music educator, singer, and composer, currently living in Maryland. Sonya also runs Go Compose North America, an organization that provides music composition workshops for students. Sonya comes from a musical family, and always knew she was going to be a musician. As a result, she’s found a variety of ways to share her music both as a performer and a...

This week, Kathryn and Theresa talked to Dianne Nelson, a choral teacher at Talmadge Middle School in Independence, Oregon. Dianne has experience in a variety of settings, including degrees in biology and music education, teaching experience in early childhood and Waldorf settings, and a current position teaching music pedagogy at Western Oregon University. One of Dianne’s passions in education is...

In part two of this interview, Kathryn and Theresa continue the conversation with Jesse Rathgeber, a music education professor at Augustana College. Jesse discusses his views on planning and teaching student-centered music classes. Jesse’s wealth of knowledge and passion for music education are evident, creating an interview you don’t want to miss.   Connect with Jesse:   Twitter & I...

In this two-part interview, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Jesse Rathgeber, a music education professor at Augustana College, about his views on planning and teaching student-centered music classes. Jesse’s wealth of knowledge and passion for music education are evident, creating an interview you don’t want to miss.   Connect with Jesse:   Twitter & Instagram: @Jesse_Rathgeber   Em...

Sarah Gulish is a high school music teacher outside of Philadelphia, PA. She teaches orchestra, guitar, and “Creativity and Collaboration,” which is a required course at her school. Sarah is a 2007 graduate of Temple University, where she later earned a PhD in Music Education. Sarah runs F-flat Books, a music education publishing company, and along with Marissa Guarriello and Matt Shaffer, co-wrot...

Matthew Shaffer is middle school orchestra director in State College, PA. While Matt is primarily an orchestral cellist, he also played in a band in high school. That band experience, jamming with friends, drove him towards incorporating creative activities with his students. Matt is also a co-author of the book, The Creative String Orchestra, which describes ways orchestra teachers can incorporat...

Marissa Guarriello is a 6th-12th grade orchestra teacher in the Penn Ridge School District, in Eastern Pennsylvania. Marissa is an advocate for creativity in the orchestra classroom, even though that’s not how she got her start in music! In this interview, Marissa talks about how she made this transition and why she feels it has been so beneficial to her students.   Connect with Marissa: &nbs...

Abigail Blair is pre-k through 5th-grade general music teacher in the Chicago suburbs. She has a bachelor's degree from Augustana College and a master’s degree from Boston University. Abigail has created several games that help empower her music students. Check out this episode to learn about "Jazz Idol," "World's Got Talent," "The Joey Awards" and more!    Connect with Abigail:  Tw...

Steve Selfridge has been teaching in Garnet Valley School district in southeast PA for 20 years, teaching elementary band, middle school jazz band, and now high school band. Steve has had outstanding success creating videos to empower his band students and band students around the world!  Connect with Steve:   https://www.drselfridgemusic.com   https://www.youtube.com/drselfridgemus...

Holly Gage is an elementary and middle school band director in South Dakota. She has taught in a variety of settings in both South Dakota and Washington DC and during that time has worked to make her classrooms student centered. Holly likes to use checklists in her band room to give students ownership of their music making.   Connect with Holly on Facebook    Get a free preview of P...

Laura Johnson is a band director at a Title I middle school in Chesapeake, Virginia. Laura is passionate about having students select repertoire in her ensembles. She was inspired by her own high school band experience, where she and her classmates were given the opportunity to do this. Laura feels that many times directors choose music they think the students will like. However, instead of making...

Michelle Baldwin is a music teacher and instructional coach at Anastasis Academy in Centennial, Colorado. She has been teaching music for 25+ years in a variety of settings and has been at Anastasis Academy since 2011. Michelle talked to us about how she incorporates inquiry into her music classes.  Connect with Michelle on Twitter: @michellek107    Get a free preview of Pass the Ba...

Allison Rakickas is a junior high school band director in Aptakisic-Tripp School District in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. She’s been in Aptakisic-Tripp School District for 20+ years, first teaching 5th and 6th grade band, and now 7th and 8th grade band. Allison joined us to talk about a charity concert her students planned and implemented.   Get a free preview of Pass the Baton: Empowering All Mu...

On November 1st, Pass the Baton turns 1-year-old! Learn more about how it all started, where we are now, and what's to come in the future!    Get a free preview of Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students  ➡  https://www.daveburgessconsulting.com/books/pass-the-baton/  For more info about Pass the Baton  ➡ https://www.passthebatonbook.com