Pass the Baton:

Empowering All Music Students

Transform your students from passive consumers to vibrant creatives!

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.

Orpheus in Action: A Student-Led Experience
Empowered Music Students

Episode 49: Orpheus in Action: A Student-Led Experience

This week, Kathryn and Theresa spoke with Ryan Diefenderfer about his experiences implementing the Orpheus approach with his high school ensembles. Ryan works at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona, teaching the marching band, concert band, orchestra, chamber ensembles, and jazz band. He is also working on a master’s degree at Arizona State University…

Exploring Music Composition to Spark Student Creativity
Creativity | Empowered Music Students

Episode 48: Exploring Music Composition to Spark Student Creativity

This week, Kathryn and Theresa interviewed David Getz about how he incorporates music composition to spark student creativity. David is a high school orchestra teacher in central Illinois. He has also coached cross country, conducts a local youth orchestra, and recently published a book with F-flat Books, Unlocking Student Creativity Through Composition. As someone who…

A Collaborative Journey Toward Shared Values in Music Education
Community | Empowered Music Students

Episode 47: A Collaborative Journey Toward Shared Values in Music Education

In episode 47, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Allison Russo about how she works with music educators to create a values-based music program. Allison is currently an educational consultant in New Jersey, working with both schools and non-profit organizations. After graduating from Ithaca College, she taught elementary band for several years and then began working…

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

KATHRYN FINCH & THERESA HOOVER

With over 40 years of combined experience in the music classroom, Kathryn and Theresa share their passion for music education and student empowerment in ways that will inspire meaningful change in the profession.

“When you empower students, the focus shifts. Students become the driving force, making the learning more personal, meaningful, and powerful.”

ARE YOU READY TO PASS THE BATON?