Nurturing Inquisitive Minds in Young Musicians In episode 57, Kathryn and Theresa talk to SJ, who shares his journey and experiences in music education. SJ was born into a musical family in Bihar, India, and raised in Mumbai. His passion for music was inherited from his father, and he pursued a master’s in literature and…
Straight Talk on Student-Centered Music Classes In episode 56, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Tom Chester and Justin Johnson, music educators and ensemble directors from Illinois. The discussion revolves around the concept of student-centered learning in the realm of music education. Both Tom and Justin emphasize the importance of equipping students with the tools to…
Assessment for Learning: Nurturing Growth and Progress in Every Student In episode 55, Kathryn and Theresa sit down with Terry Little, a veteran music educator with over three decades of experience. Terry delves deep into the concept of “assessment for learning,” emphasizing its role in making the educational process more student-centered. Instead of traditional grading…
Exploring Servant Leadership in Music Education In episode 54, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Dr. Dylan Maddix, an Assistant Professor of Instrumental Conducting and Community Engagement at Memorial University, as he shares his extensive journey in music education and his insights on the transformative power of servant leadership within this realm. Dylan delves into his…
The Most Important Question You Can Ask in Music Education In episode 53, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Dr. Shane Colquhoun, an assistant professor of music technology and contemporary styles at Alabama State University. Shane discusses the importance of rethinking traditional approaches to music education by challenging the notion of “music education for all,” arguing…
Unleashing Our Impact: Empowering Music Educators In episode 52, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Jen Rafferty, a former music educator and the founder of the Empowered Educator. Jen discusses the importance of educators taking care of themselves to create a positive impact on students. By prioritizing self-care and practicing breathing exercises, teachers can regulate their…
Harmony and Connection: Leveraging SEL in Music Education In episode 51, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Elizabeth Peterson, a 25-year veteran teacher from New Hampshire. Elizabeth discusses the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) in music education, especially in relation to building strong teacher-student relationships and fostering student empowerment. She emphasizes the significance of…
Welcome to episode 50 of the Pass the Baton podcast! It’s amazing to look back at the inspiring music educators we’ve had the pleasure of talking to during the last 49 episodes. This week’s episode starts with Theresa and Kathryn talking briefly about their school years and what to look forward to for Pass the…
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…
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…