Pass the Baton: Empowering Students in Music Education

Helping teachers transform their students from passive consumers to vibrant creatives!

Empowering Students in Music Education

Welcome to Pass the Baton: Empowering Students in Music Education! Hosted by passionate music educators Kathryn Finch and Theresa Hoover, this podcast is your go-to resource for transforming your music classroom into a creative powerhouse. Join us as we spotlight inspiring music teachers who are revolutionizing band, orchestra, general music, chorus, and music education programs. Whether you’re guiding young instrumentalists, leading choirs, or training future music educators, each episode is packed with actionable insights to help you turn your students into engaged, empowered musicians. Tune in, get inspired, and start passing the baton in your music classroom today!

Pass the Baton: Empowering Students in Music Education
“ We now understand that it is not the student's responsibility to change how they learn to meet the teacher. It is the teacher's responsibility to figure out how to meet all the students and how to break down those barriers so that students can access learning.”

Most Recent Episode:

Episode 102 – Proactive Inclusion: Creating Accessible Music Learning Environment

In episode 102 Theresa and Kathryn talk with Dr. Rhoda Bernard—singer, pianist, educator, and founding Managing Director of the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education—to explore what truly accessible music education looks like in today’s classrooms. Rhoda shares her journey through music teacher identity and her deep work in designing arts education programs that meaningfully include learners with disabilities. She breaks down common barriers students face—both visible and invisible—and offers powerful mindset shifts to help teachers move from deficit-based thinking to asset-based, student-centered instruction.

Ready to dig in? Here are some of our favorite playlists

These interviews cover a diverse range of topics and offer captivating storytelling, insightful interviews, and thought-provoking discussions that will keep you engaged and inspired.
Back-to-School Boost

Back-to-School Boost

Get ready for the new school year with this curated playlist of inspiring podcast episodes, packed with practical strategies to empower your students and set the tone for a successful classroom environment.
Giving Up Control

Giving Up Control

Take small steps toward student empowerment. Gradually allowing students more choice prepares them for independence as a musician & learner.
Empowered Performances: Spotlighting Student Success

Empowered Performances: Spotlighting Student Success

Involving students in concert planning and preparations can make the experience even more meaningful and reflective of students’ growth.

Check out the Pass the Baton: Empowering Students in Music Education wherever you listen to podcasts.

Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube
Podbean
Amazon Music

The form you have selected does not exist.