Pass the Baton: Empowering Students in Music Education, a Podcast for Music Teachers Theresa Hoover and Kathryn Finch, Music Educators

In Episode 71, Kathryn and Theresa celebrate the conclusion of Season 3, reflecting on the 20 episodes produced and the incredible people they met within the field of music education. Now three years old, the book “Pass the Baton” has had an incredible impact, as did the successful graduate course run through VanderCook College of Music this spring. With an emphasis on the importance of student-centered teaching and collaborative learning, Theresa and Kathryn share personal highlights and lessons learned from their favorite episodes. Heading into summer, they discuss their plans for relaxation, family time, and continued professional development. Hint - stay tuned this summer for a relaunch of the Coffee Club and don’t forget to check out the free resources available on the website!



Learn more:


Website - www.passthebatonbook.com
Resources - www.passthebatonbook.com/resources
Book - https://www.amazon.com/Pass-Baton-Empowering-Music-Students/dp/1951600541/
Support Pass the Baton: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Download for free now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f8l7g9⁠⁠

In Episode 70, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Dr. Sarah Gulish, a former high school music teacher turned digital publisher. Sarah shares her journey from classroom teaching to founding a music education company, F-flat Books. She highlights the release of her new children's book, "Rosie Rocks," which tells the story of a shy girl finding her voice through playing the electric guitar. The book emphasizes themes of student voice, gender representation in music, and the importance of teachers supporting and listening to their students' interests and aspirations in music education.

Listeners will gain insights into Sarah's innovative approach to music education, including her advocacy for broadening the scope of music programs to include diverse instruments and styles. She underscores the value of fostering a creative and inclusive environment where all students can explore their musical potential. The episode provides practical advice for educators on how to encourage student participation and innovation in the music classroom.

Connect with Sarah and learn more:


Instagram - @sarahgulishmusic
Instagram - @fflatbooks
Website - https://fflat-books.com/
Book - https://fflat-books.com/product/rosie-rocks-hardback-book/



Learn more about Pass the Baton:


Pass the Baton website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.passthebatonbook.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support Pass the Baton: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Download for free now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f8l7g9⁠

Episode 69 of the podcast, Theresa and Kathryn address common concerns from music teachers about transitioning to more student-empowered classrooms. The episode focuses on how teachers can relinquish control while effectively meeting educational standards and ensuring administrative approval. The hosts emphasize the importance of incorporating student choices and fostering independence, while ensuring the curriculum aligns with the National Core Arts Standards which advocate for student engagement in music education. Practical advice is offered on taking small steps towards empowering students, which not only aids in meeting standards but also enhances students' overall musical and educational experience. The episode serves as an encouragement for music educators to embrace student-centered teaching methods while maintaining high educational and performance standards.




Download the Common Concerns Guide here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/m1c9m7



Learn more about Pass the Baton:


Pass the Baton website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.passthebatonbook.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support Pass the Baton: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Download for free now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f8l7g9⁠

In Episode 68 of the podcast, guest Yeshima shares their extensive background and current projects in music education, highlighting their passion for incorporating project-based learning (PBL) into music classrooms. Yeshima details their journey from teaching high school band and percussion in Texas to embracing elementary general music after being inspired by a music educators conference. Now pursuing a PhD, they reflect on their experience implementing PBL, emphasizing its potential to foster student-driven learning through authentic, real-world challenges. This approach not only enhances student engagement but also integrates community involvement, culminating in student-created projects that address community needs. Yeshima also discusses their entrepreneurial venture, Drum Smart LLC, where they teach group drumming, further demonstrating the power of music education to impact individuals and communities alike.

Yeshima's story serves as an inspiring example of how educators can deeply engage students in learning through music, emphasizing creativity, collaboration, and community connection. Their approach illustrates the transformative potential of project-based learning in developing students' skills, confidence, and community awareness, making music education a powerful conduit for holistic development and social impact.

Connect with Yeshima and learn more about their work:


Website - www.drumsmartllc.com 
Social Media - @drumsmartllc
Project Based Learning: Creating Music That Impacts the World - https://fflat-books.com/product/project-based-learning/
Bloom Music Learning YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@bloommusiclearning1386

Learn more about Pass the Baton:


Pass the Baton website: ⁠⁠⁠www.passthebatonbook.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support Pass the Baton: ⁠⁠⁠www.buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Download for free now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f8l7g9⁠

In Episode 67, the conversation centers on transformative approaches to student assessments. Angela Harman shares her journey from traditional to student-driven assessments, which involve students in both self-assessment and peer feedback processes. This method not only makes assessments more meaningful and manageable but also fosters a supportive learning environment where students are encouraged to be active participants in their own learning journey. The interview emphasizes practical strategies that music teachers can apply to shift the focus from mere grading to genuine student growth and learning progress.



Angela’s approach reflects a significant shift in educational practices, promoting student autonomy and a collaborative classroom atmosphere. These methods are not just about easing the teacher's burden but are crucial in helping students develop independence and critical skills necessary for their musical and personal development. The interview is rich with insights and real-life applications that are relevant to music educators looking to enhance their teaching methods and student engagement.



Connect with Angela and learn more:


Angela’s website: http://www.orchestraclassroom.com
Angela’s blog: http://orchestrateacher.blogspot.com
Instagram: @orchestra.teacher.life



Learn more about Pass the Baton:


Pass the Baton website: ⁠⁠www.passthebatonbook.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support Pass the Baton: ⁠⁠www.buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Download for free now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f8l7g9⁠

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 music education environment that resonates with the cultural and individual identities of students, making learning both relevant and impactful. Throughout the interview, Alex not only shares his experiences and insights but also provides valuable resources and teaching strategies that educators can utilize to integrate songwriting into their curriculum. These resources aim to empower teachers to facilitate a more inclusive and expressive classroom, where students can harness their creativity to construct meaningful musical expressions. Alex’s narrative encapsulates a comprehensive view of music education, advocating for an approach that nurtures creativity, personal expression, and cultural inclusivity through the art of songwriting.

Connect with Alex and learn more:

website - http://mralexadams.com
resources: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SRx6UP4_Lpb-iB_M3SBi5Cwdxb0CadQA?usp=drive_link

Learn more about Pass the Baton:

Pass the Baton website: ⁠www.passthebatonbook.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Support Pass the Baton: ⁠www.buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Download for free now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f8l7g9⁠