In Episode 32, 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 on student creativity is unmatched, which is such an amazing example of giving students ownership of their music making. Learn more about ...
Aug 29, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Welcome to season 2 of the Pass the Baton podcast! 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 is passionate about incorporating mindset and leadership strategies in his teaching, and spoke about how we can use these to create a culture for student empowerment. He is the author of the b...
Aug 15, 2022•54 min•Season 2Ep. 31
This week, Kathryn and Theresa recap their school years and discuss some common themes from this season of the Pass the Baton podcast. Some of the highlights include: The importance of building relationships. Dr. Scott Edgar talks about this in Episode 27: The Connection Between SEL and Student Empowerment When making any shifts in instruction, it's important to start small. Scott Sheehan shares how to do this when looking at the national standards in Episode 23: Empowerment in the Standards Our...
Jun 20, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 30
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. Krystal is the music technology chair for the Maryland Music Educators Association. She is passionate about incorporating technology into her music classes, and helping other music educators do the same. Connect with Krystal and...
Jun 13, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 29
This week we had the pleasure of speaking with Ashley Cuthbertson, an elementary general music teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia. Ashley has taught music in a variety of settings, teaching private lessons, school students of all ages, and even adults at a nearby university. Ashley loves working with kids and helping them connect their learning outside the classroom. One of her passions includes creating culturally responsive music classes. Learn more about Ashley and her work here: Website: ww...
May 30, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 28
This week’s interview was a real treat, as Kathryn and Theresa spoke with Dr. Scott Edgar about a very important topic: social emotional learning (SEL). Scott is an associate professor of music at Lake Forest College and also the department chair. He began his career teaching K-12 music in Dayton, Ohio before earning a PhD from the University of Michigan. It was there he developed an interest in SEL. Besides teaching at Lake Forest, Scott is also Director of Practice and Research for the Center ...
May 16, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 27
This week, Kathryn and Theresa talked to Dr. Brian Weidner, an assistant professor of music education at Butler University, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brian spent twelve years teaching high school band prior to earning a PhD from Northwestern University. Much of his work now spawned from the various questions he asked during his time teaching public school music, such as, how do we build classrooms that emphasize musical independence? Connect with Brian and learn more: Brian N. Weidner, Music Edu...
May 02, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 26
This week, Kathryn and Theresa talked to Kevin Feher, a high school band director in Southeast Pennsylvania. After graduating from Duquesne University with a degree in music education, Kevin taught in a variety of settings before joining the music department at Penn Ridge High School, where he has taught for the last seven years. In this interview, Kevin talks about how he incorporates mission statements in his high school band program. Connect with Kevin and learn more: F-Flat Books - Kevin Feh...
Apr 18, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 25
This week Kathryn and Theresa interviewed Angela Ammerman, an adjunct professor of music at George Mason University in Northern Virginia. Angela is a lifelong music educator, teaching her dolls to sing as a young child, teaching private lessons in her neighborhood as a middle school student, and working as a counselor at a strings camp in high school. This helped her realize early on the importance of music when building community and shaped her development as a music educator. One of Angela’s p...
Apr 04, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 24
This week Kathryn and Theresa had the pleasure of interviewing NAfME president-elect, Scott Sheehan! In addition to his NAfME responsibilities, Scott is the high school band director and K-12 music department chair in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. He is involved with PMEA, working with their Leadership Academy and the Model Curriculum Framework project. Scott is also a Conn-Selmer educational clinician. Along with his varied roles and teaching experiences, Scott is very knowledgeable about the na...
Mar 21, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 23
This week’s interview features Matt Clauhs, an associate professor of Music Education at Ithaca College. Matt’s background includes degrees at Penn State University (B.S.), the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (M.M.) and Temple University (Ph.D.), as well as experience teaching band students at both the elementary and high school levels. As a jazz saxophone player, Matt has always been interested in incorporating creativity and improvisation in all areas of music education, not just jazz stu...
Mar 07, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 22
This week’s interview features Melissa Clark, a music teacher in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Currently, Melissa teaches 4th-6th grade strings and sixth grade general music. She also has experience teaching 7th and 8th grade strings. In this interview, Melissa talks to us about the small shifts she’s made in her music classes to empower students! Connect With Melissa: Twitter and Instagram: @ClarkLISmusic Learn more about Pass the Baton: Get a free book preview here: Pass the Baton: Empowering All...
Feb 21, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Welcome back! This week, Kathryn and Theresa interviewed Rachael Sanguinetti, a middle school music teacher in Rochester, New York. Rachael’s teaching load includes middle school chorus and a variety of general music classes, such as 6th grade foundational music, audio production and modern band, ukulele, and more. Being at an independent school, Rachael has the flexibility to create courses the students are most interested in - which is perfect for student empowerment! Connect with Rachael and ...
Feb 07, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 20
This week Kathryn and Theresa talked to Mandy Hollingshead, an international band teacher. Mandy has taught in the Middle East, Hong Kong, and Beijing. Prior to teaching internationally, Mandy taught band in Canada. One thing Mandy has tried to incorporate in all of her schools is having students help with concert planning. Connect with Mandy: Twitter: @MHollingshead Email: msmandy@mhollingshead.com Website: www.mhollingshead.com Teaching Brewed Podcast Learn more about Pass the Baton: Get a fre...
Jan 24, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 19
This week, we were excited to interview Shemeka Nash, a band director in Chicago, Illinois. Shemeka currently teaches 7th-12th grade band at Morgan Park High School and is also the fine arts department chair. She has done a lot of great things for the band program at Morgan Park, including creating a student-centered modern band. Connect with Shemeka and learn more: Student-Centered Decision-Making in Modern Band Morgan Park High School: Shemeka Nash Learn more about Pass the Baton : Get a free ...
Jan 10, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 18
This week’s interview features Brian Ackles, a vocal music teacher at Marcellus High School, in Marcellus, NY. Brian has taught in his current position for 20 years, and previously taught middle school and elementary school music. In this interview, Brian talks about his student-centered choral program. Connect with Brian and learn more: Email: brianoackles@gmail.com Leading Voices: Purposeful Teaching Through Agile-Centered Instruction By Teaching We Learn - Students Teaching Students Get a fre...
Dec 13, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 17
This week, Kathryn and Theresa talked to Levi Allison, a music teacher in South Korea. Levi has taught music in Kuwait and China, and currently teaches first through third grade general music at Chadwick International School. Levi’s school follows the IBPYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme) framework and inquiry-based learning is prevalent in his classroom. In this interview, Levi talked to us about he incorporates learning centers in his music classes. Connect with Levi and ...
Nov 29, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 16
This week’s interview features one of our co-authors, Theresa Hoover. Theresa is a former middle school band director, currently working as a music education and technology integration specialist. In this episode, Theresa talks about how she incorporated creativity and music composition in her middle school band classes. Connect with Theresa and learn more: www.musicaltheresa.com Twitter: @MusicalTheresa Instagram: @MusicalTheresa Creativity With Composing Pieces 13 Moons, by Jodie Blackshaw Get...
Nov 15, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 15
This week’s interview features Robby Burns, a middle school band and general music teacher in Howard County, Maryland. Robby talks about how he incorporates creativity and music composition in his middle school band classes. Connect with Robby: Twitter: @robbyburns www.Robbyburns.com Music Ed Tech Talk Digital Organization Tips for Music Teachers Music Ed Tech Talk Podcast Music Ed Tech Talk YouTube Channel Get a free preview of Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students For more info about P...
Nov 01, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 14
This week’s interview features Sonya Knussen, a music educator, singer, and composer, currently living in Maryland. Sonya also runs Go Compose North America, an organization that provides music composition workshops for students. Sonya comes from a musical family, and always knew she was going to be a musician. As a result, she’s found a variety of ways to share her music both as a performer and an educator. Connect with Sonya: Instagram: @singsthings and @gocomposena Sonya's website Go Compose ...
Nov 01, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 13
This week, Kathryn and Theresa talked to Dianne Nelson, a choral teacher at Talmadge Middle School in Independence, Oregon. Dianne has experience in a variety of settings, including degrees in biology and music education, teaching experience in early childhood and Waldorf settings, and a current position teaching music pedagogy at Western Oregon University. One of Dianne’s passions in education is project based learning, which she shared about in this interview. Connect with Dianne: Email: Diann...
Nov 01, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In part two of this interview, Kathryn and Theresa continue the conversation with Jesse Rathgeber, a music education professor at Augustana College. Jesse discusses his views on planning and teaching student-centered music classes. Jesse’s wealth of knowledge and passion for music education are evident, creating an interview you don’t want to miss. Connect with Jesse: Twitter & Instagram: @Jesse_Rathgeber Email: jesserathgeber@augustana.edu Jesse's website Get a free preview of Pass the Bato...
Nov 01, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this two-part interview, Kathryn and Theresa talk to Jesse Rathgeber, a music education professor at Augustana College, about his views on planning and teaching student-centered music classes. Jesse’s wealth of knowledge and passion for music education are evident, creating an interview you don’t want to miss. Connect with Jesse: Twitter & Instagram: @Jesse_Rathgeber Email: jesserathgeber@augustana.edu Jesse's website Get a free preview of Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students For...
Nov 01, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Sarah Gulish is a high school music teacher outside of Philadelphia, PA. She teaches orchestra, guitar, and “Creativity and Collaboration,” which is a required course at her school. Sarah is a 2007 graduate of Temple University, where she later earned a PhD in Music Education. Sarah runs F-flat Books, a music education publishing company, and along with Marissa Guarriello and Matt Shaffer, co-wrote the book, The Creative String Orchestra. Connect with Sarah: Sarah@fflatbooks.com F-flat Books on ...
Nov 01, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Matthew Shaffer is middle school orchestra director in State College, PA. While Matt is primarily an orchestral cellist, he also played in a band in high school. That band experience, jamming with friends, drove him towards incorporating creative activities with his students. Matt is also a co-author of the book, The Creative String Orchestra, which describes ways orchestra teachers can incorporate more creativity in their classes. In this interview, Matt talks about how he does this with his ow...
Nov 01, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Marissa Guarriello is a 6th-12th grade orchestra teacher in the Penn Ridge School District, in Eastern Pennsylvania. Marissa is an advocate for creativity in the orchestra classroom, even though that’s not how she got her start in music! In this interview, Marissa talks about how she made this transition and why she feels it has been so beneficial to her students. Connect with Marissa: mguarriello47@gmail.com F-flat Books: Marissa Guarriello Instagram: Penn Ridge Orchestra Instagram: Musicast Po...
Nov 01, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Abigail Blair is pre-k through 5th-grade general music teacher in the Chicago suburbs. She has a bachelor's degree from Augustana College and a master’s degree from Boston University. Abigail has created several games that help empower her music students. Check out this episode to learn about "Jazz Idol," "World's Got Talent," "The Joey Awards" and more! Connect with Abigail: Twitter: @AbigailSBlair Instagram: @MusicWestmoor Building Musical Minds Blair Finch Project: Gamification Freebies Get a...
Nov 01, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Steve Selfridge has been teaching in Garnet Valley School district in southeast PA for 20 years, teaching elementary band, middle school jazz band, and now high school band. Steve has had outstanding success creating videos to empower his band students and band students around the world! Connect with Steve: https://www.drselfridgemusic.com https://www.youtube.com/drselfridgemusic https://www.instagram.com/drselfridge/ https://www.facebook.com/DrSelfridge Get a free preview of Pass the Baton: Emp...
Nov 01, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Holly Gage is an elementary and middle school band director in South Dakota. She has taught in a variety of settings in both South Dakota and Washington DC and during that time has worked to make her classrooms student centered. Holly likes to use checklists in her band room to give students ownership of their music making. Connect with Holly on Facebook Get a free preview of Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students More info about Pass the Baton...
Nov 01, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Laura Johnson is a band director at a Title I middle school in Chesapeake, Virginia. Laura is passionate about having students select repertoire in her ensembles. She was inspired by her own high school band experience, where she and her classmates were given the opportunity to do this. Laura feels that many times directors choose music they think the students will like. However, instead of making this assumption, she believes it’s more powerful to let the students have some choice. As a result,...
Nov 01, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 3
