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.

Episode 44: Empowering Students With Empathy Projects
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. Besides being a co-author of Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students, Kathryn also writes with Abigail Blair as part of the Blair Finch…

Episode 43: Why Everyone Should Take Time to Reflect
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…

Episode 42: Scaffolding Peer Feedback for Student Ownership
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…