Creative Social Justice Projects in General Music
In episode 83, Theresa and Kathryn welcome Jasmine Henderson to discuss her innovative approach to empowering students through social justice projects in general music classes. Jasmine shares her journey from teaching K-8 general music and choir to collaborating with university students to design a groundbreaking project called the “Sonic Justice Collage.” This unique initiative allowed students to explore topics they were passionate about—such as climate change and racial injustice—and express their ideas through music, using tools like Soundtrap to create public service announcements and multimedia collages. Jasmine reflects on how this project fostered student voice, creativity, and community while also providing valuable teaching experiences for pre-service educators.
Listeners will be inspired by Jasmine’s emphasis on student-centered learning and the power of music to address meaningful societal issues. She also provides practical tips for music teachers looking to implement similar projects, including strategies for collaboration, encouraging student choice, and navigating potential challenges. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to teaching, this episode offers actionable ideas to engage students and cultivate a classroom environment where they feel seen, heard, and empowered. Don’t miss Jasmine’s heartfelt advice and the impactful stories from her classroom!
Listen to the full interview:
Here are some key insights from Episode 83:
- Student Empowerment: Connect music projects to meaningful social justice topics, fostering student voice and deeper engagement.
- Creative Tools: Leverage platforms like Soundtrap for students to combine loops, soundbites, and personal messages into multimedia collages.
- Collaborative Learning: Partner with students, colleagues, or pre-service teachers to design impactful, real-world, student-centered classroom experiences.
- Choice Matters: Provide options in topics, partners, and formats to empower students and enhance ownership of their learning.
- Celebration & Feedback: Host listening parties and peer reviews to celebrate student work, foster community, and encourage constructive collaboration.
Connect with Jasmine and learn more:
- Email Jasmine: email
Other resources from this episode:
- Episode 81 – Professional Collaboration: You Don’t Need to Do This Work Alone
- Recording Studio Checklist
- Recording Studio Private Podcast Episode (for Coffee Club Members only)
Ready for more?
You can check out the full interview on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. Or you can listen right here, on Spotify Podcasts!
You might also enjoy these other episodes:
- Episode 25 – The Power of a Mission Statement, featuring Kevin Feher
- Episode 31 – Creating a Culture for Student Empowerment, featuring Matthew Arau
- Episode 51 – Harmony and Connection: Leveraging SEL in Music Education, featuring Elizabeth Peterson
- Episode 52 – Unleashing Our Impact: Empowering Music Educators, featuring Jen Rafferty
