From Concept to Concert: A Student-Driven Choir Performance In episode 96, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with Rebecca Sensor, middle school choir director and president-elect of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Rebecca shares how her choir program transformed its traditional spring concert into a fully student-driven “Pops Concert,” where students select, arrange, and even mash…
Listening First: Centering Students and Their Stories In episode 95, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with Yogi “Y?” Guyadin, a teaching artist, musician, and “artivist” whose work centers student voices, creativity, and connection. Y? shares his powerful personal journey—from growing up surrounded by vibrant soundscapes in Queens to learning music through deep listening and instinctive…
Centering Students in the Orchestra Classroom In Episode 94 of Pass the Baton, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with high school orchestra director and ASTA President-Elect Corie Benton for an inspiring conversation about student-centered teaching and building a classroom culture rooted in care, agency, and joy. Corie shares how her teaching philosophy shifted in recent…
Intentional Beginnings: A Back-to-School Conversation In Episode 93 of the Pass the Baton podcast, co-hosts Kathryn Finch and Theresa Hoover kick off Season 5 with a timely conversation about setting up music classrooms with intention from day one. Drawing on their diverse teaching backgrounds—Kathryn in elementary general music and Theresa transitioning to a new role…
Season 4 Rewind: Recap and Looking Ahead In this final episode of Season 4, Kathryn and Theresa look back on a year of inspiring conversations and exciting growth. They reflect on the continued impact of their book Pass the Baton, now four years old, and the growing network of educators dedicated to student empowerment. They…
Permission to Experiment: Embracing Creativity, Reflection, and Growth In Episode 91, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with Alisa Hanson—music educator, researcher, and recent PhD graduate—for a rich conversation about experimentation, creativity, and student-centered teaching. Alisa shares insights from her dissertation and describes how she brought student agency and creative risk-taking into her music classes. From…
Throw Away the Rubric: Ungrading the Music Room In Episode 90, Theresa and Kathryn are joined by Chris Gleason for a thought-provoking conversation about grading – or more specifically, ungrading. Chris challenges traditional notions of grading and assessment, offering compelling stories and practical strategies for shifting from compliance-based systems to student-centered, intrinsic learning environments. With…
From Surface to Substance: Deepening Cultural Engagement in Music Education In Episode 89, Kathryn and Theresa welcome Dr. Erin Zaffini, Director of Teacher Education at Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Erin specializes in access, equity, and inclusion in music education, and works extensively with teachers through workshops, consulting, and graduate education. In this…
Music as a Gift: Connecting Through Parent Orchestras In this inspiring episode, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with Annie Ray, orchestra director and 2024 Grammy Music Educator Award winner, to explore the heartwarming and transformative concept of the Parent Orchestra. Annie shares how this initiative—rooted in connection and community—brings caregivers together to learn their child’s…
Using the Critical Response Process to Foster Meaningful Dialogue In episode 87, Kathryn and Theresa dive into the Critical Response Process (CRP) with Mallory Alekna, Assistant Professor of Music, Human Development, and Learning at Augsburg University. Mallory shares how this four-step feedback framework, developed by choreographer Liz Lerman, can transform music classrooms by fostering meaningful…