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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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 106 – Beyond Choice: Building Democratic Music Classrooms
Beyond Choice: Building Democratic Music Classrooms In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. David Dockan, assistant professor of music education at Louisiana State University, for a rich conversation about democratic practices in music classrooms and why they matter for student…
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Episode 105 – Curriculum, Choice, and the Path to Lifelong Musicianship
Curriculum, Choice, and the Path to Lifelong Musicianship In episode 105, Theresa and Kathryn welcome back longtime music educator Merlin Thompson, who reflects on nearly five decades of teaching and his evolving philosophy around lifelong music making. Merlin challenges the…
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Episode 104 – Getting Out of the Way: How Teachers Can Spark Musical Curiosity
Getting Out of the Way: How Teachers Can Spark Musical Curiosity In episode 104, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with high school music educator Amelia Armstrong to explore what student-centered teaching can look like in real classrooms. Amelia shares her…
