More Than a Concert Piece: When Music Becomes an Experience
What if your next concert piece became the starting point for an unforgettable learning experience? In episode 116, Theresa and Kathryn welcome back middle school band director Kyle Rinke to explore how interdisciplinary projects can transform students’ connections to music. From museum visits and collaborative art projects to poetry, mindfulness, and even performing in a natural rock amphitheater, Kyle shares how he builds meaningful experiences around concert repertoire that help students engage with music on a much deeper level.
Kyle also offers practical advice for teachers who want to try something new without feeling like everything has to be perfectly planned. He discusses collaborating with colleagues across subject areas, balancing rehearsal time with creative exploration, embracing imperfection, and focusing on memorable experiences over flawless performances. Whether you’re ready to plan an ambitious cross-curricular project or simply looking for a small way to help students connect more deeply with the music they play, this conversation is full of inspiring ideas and actionable takeaways.
Listen to the full interview:
Here are some key takeaways from Episode 116:
- Deeper Connections – Students perform with greater purpose when they connect emotionally, historically, or personally to the music they’re preparing to perform.
- Start Small – Meaningful interdisciplinary projects don’t have to be elaborate—begin with one simple idea and let it grow over time.
- Embrace Imperfection – Trading a little rehearsal time for meaningful experiences often creates more engaged musicians than chasing flawless performances alone.
- Collaborate Often – Partnering with colleagues in art, history, or language arts brings fresh ideas and enriches students’ understanding of music.
- Create Memories – Years later, students may forget concert scores, but they’ll remember the meaningful experiences that brought the music to life.
Listen Today!
You can check out the full interview on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Or you can listen right here!
Connect with Kyle and learn more:
- Email: krinke@nlsd122.org
- Video: Martino Band at Starved Rock
More from Pass the Baton:
Back-to-School Challenge: Join this free 5-week email challenge and receive one practical idea each week to help your students develop more voice, choice, creativity, curiosity, and connection.
Coffee Club Back-to-School sale: $10 off a 1-year membership
You might also enjoy these other episodes:
- Episode 62 – The Kids Come First: Student Ownership in Ensembles, featuring Kathleen Jacoby
- Episode 90 – Throw Away the Rubric: Ungrading the Music Room, featuring Chris Gleason
- Episode 77 – Inspiring Young Musicians: Passion and Purpose in Music Education, featuring Stephen Cox
- Episode 85 – Fostering Lifelong Learning through Reflective Partnerships, featuring Merlin Thompson
A note from our sponsor
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