All too often, the music classroom stifles students with one-size-fits-all curricula and repertoire. In Pass the Baton, authors Kathryn Finch and Theresa Hoover turn that paradigm on its head, offering a vision of music education that empowers students as critical thinkers who exercise voice and choice to question, discover, connect, and play like never before—in and out of the classroom.
Pass the Baton offers readers a comprehensive guide to crafting engaging music lessons that transform students from passive consumers to vibrant creatives. Whether you’re looking to rethink general music or overhaul your ensemble groups, Pass the Baton is chock-full of generative, actionable, and impactful tools. Finch and Hoover have drawn on deep research and years of experience in the music room to provide a guide for all music educators to create a learner-centered environment and give students the opportunity to truly own the creative process.
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What are people saying about Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students?
This book is a must read for teachers who want to empower students to become self-sufficient lifelong learners. It is a guidebook for creating a vibrant classroom where student learning is the first priority.
Pass the Baton is a must-read for all who desire to provide their students with access and opportunities to a lifetime of music making and a deep love of music. With an emphasis on the artistic processes of creating, performing, responding, and connecting, the authors have done an outstanding job at presenting concepts and connections to build a culturally responsive, relevant, and meaningful music education that is collaborative and student centric.
Pass the Baton is the perfect, adaptable resource we have needed in music education! Kathryn Finch and Theresa Hoover have achieved the ideal balance of thought-provoking, accessible guidance and practical resources and activities. Music educators looking to facilitate their students having more autonomy, buy-in, and voice need to check out this book! We need to take a step back so our students can take a step forward; this book gives us the tools to do so!
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Episode 100 – Celebrating 5 Years and 100 Episodes!
Celebrating 5 Years and 100 Episodes! In this special 100th episode of Pass the Baton, co-hosts Kathryn Finch and Theresa Hoover celebrate two major milestones — five years since their book Pass the Baton was released and 100 podcast episodes…
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Episode 99 – Concert Prep to Empower Every Performer
Concert Prep to Empower Every Performer In episode 99, Kathryn and Theresa dive into the art of concert preparation—reimagining performances as opportunities for empowerment and inclusion rather than stress and perfection. They discuss how shifting the focus from the final…
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Episode 98 – Scaffolding Success: Building Student Ownership from Rehearsals to the Stage
Scaffolding Success: Building Student Ownership from Rehearsals to the Stage In episode 98, Theresa and Kathryn welcome choir director and music educator Darlene Machacon. Darlene shares how she has reimagined her high school choir program to give students increasing ownership…
