Episode 37 - Roger Coss
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Episode 37: Creative Thinking in Music

In episode 37, Kathryn and Theresa talked to Roger Coss, a music educator in California. After getting his bachelors and masters degrees in jazz studies, Roger was teaching second grade at a charter school in San Jose, California while working on a doctoral degree. It was then he discovered how much he enjoyed teaching and…

How student agency can transform an ensemble

Episode 36: How Student Agency Can Transform an Ensemble

In Episode 36, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Heather Fortune, a music educator in Philadelphia, PA. Heather is a professional flutist, with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in flute performance from Boston University. She was a freelance musician for 10-years in the Philadelphia area before becoming a flute teacher at a Quaker school in…

Episode 35: Empowered Educators Will Empower Their Students
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Episode 35: Empowered Educators Will Empower Their Students

In Episode 35, Theresa and Kathryn talked to music educator, Zach Rush. Zach began his teaching career in international schools, teaching music in both Dubai and Pakistan. He returned to the US to get a master’s degree and then began teaching elementary general music in Arlington, Virginia. This school year, he has moved closer to…

Episode 34: Empowering All Music Students With Universal Design for Learning

Episode 34: Empowering All Music Students With Universal Design for Learning

In episode 34, we talked to Elise Hackl-Blumstein, a former accessible music educator and current student-services coordinator in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Elise has experience teaching preschool through eighth grade music, and also has created an accessible arts organization focused on accessibility in all arts. She is passionate about making sure all students have access to…

Episode 33

Episode 33: Fostering Independent Musicians

Episode 33 features an interview with two outstanding educators who are no strangers to Pass the Baton – Amy Rever-Oberle and Lauren Staniszewski. Amy is the band director at Hart Middle School in Rochester Hills, Michigan, where she teaches 6th through 8th grade band. Lauren is the band director at Stoney Creek High School, also…

Jodie Blackshaw: Creativity With a Student First Mindset
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Episode 32: Creativity With a Student First Mindset

This week, Kathryn and Theresa had the pleasure of speaking with Australian composer and educator Jodie Blackshaw. Jodie is a third-generation teacher. Her grandmother was one of the first people to practice Orff-Schulwerk in Australia, and her father taught in a one-room schoolhouse. Jodie’s work for concert band is nothing short of innovative. Her focus…

Creating a Culture for Student Empowerment

Episode 31: Creating a Culture for Student Empowerment

Welcome to season two! In Episode 31, Kathryn and Theresa spoke with Dr. Matthew Arau, a professor of music at Lawrence University Conservatory in Appleton, Wisconsin. Prior to teaching at Lawrence, Matthew taught middle school and high school band in Loveland, Colorado. Matthew earned a master’s degree from the American Band College and a doctoral…

Top Five Episodes

Top Five Episodes From the Pass the Baton Podcast

Looking back, this was a great season for the Pass the Baton podcast! Since August 2021, we’ve interviewed 18 amazing music educators from all over the world. While they all have unique teaching situations, they have one thing in common: they’ve found creative ways to put students at the center so they can take ownership…

Episode 29
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Using Technology to Promote Student Ownership

This week we spoke with Krystal Williams, a public school music educator in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Krystal teaches music theory and composition at Northwestern High School and also teaches at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, as a woodwind adjunct. She is a graduate of Morgan State University, where she also completed graduate work….