In episode 86, we dive into the critical role of student voice in fostering equity and inclusivity in music education. Our guest, Felipe Morales-Torres, shares insights from his work at the Bornoff Foundation for the Advancement of String Education, exploring how music teachers can create learning environments that empower all students. He discusses the importance of moving beyond access to ensure that music opportunities are relevant, sustainable, and meaningful for diverse student populations. Through compelling stories and practical strategies, Felipe challenges traditional norms in music education and encourages teachers to rethink how they structure ensembles, performances, and classroom interactions to better serve all students.

Music educators will find inspiration and actionable steps to make their classrooms more inclusive and student-centered. Felipe emphasizes the importance of culturally sustaining pedagogy, student agency, and breaking down silos between different musical traditions. Whether it’s through shifting performance structures, integrating diverse musical styles, or simply ensuring students have a voice in their learning, this episode provides valuable takeaways for any music teacher looking to foster a more equitable and engaging classroom. Don’t miss this conversation on how small shifts in mindset and practice can lead to lasting change in music education!

Connect with Felipe and learn more:

• Website
• Facebook
• Bornoff Foundation

Resources from this Episode:

• Exit Tickets for Music Class: Prompts, Tips, and Strategies for Student Reflection

More from Pass the Baton:

• Pass the Baton website
• Join the Coffee Club
• Support Pass the Baton
• Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Get it for free now. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

In episode 85, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with Merlin Thompson, an experienced private music teacher, clinician, and the founder of Teach Music 21C. With over 45 years of teaching experience, Merlin shares powerful insights on fostering lifelong musicianship through reflective partnership teaching. He challenges the traditional master-apprentice model and instead emphasizes a collaborative, student-centered approach that encourages ownership, creativity, and personal connection to music. Merlin shares practical strategies for helping students engage with music beyond lessons, including his innovative “chill out concert” concept and the importance of integrating student choice into learning.

Music educators of all kinds—whether private instructors or classroom teachers—will find valuable takeaways in this conversation. Merlin’s framework of gathering information, exploring perspectives, and planning next steps provides a clear path toward more meaningful music instruction. If you’re looking to empower your students to become lifelong music-makers, this episode is packed with actionable ideas that you can implement right away. Tune in and get inspired to rethink how you approach student learning in your own teaching!

Connect with Merlin and learn more:

- Website: Teach Music 21c
- LinkedIn

- Book: More than Music Lessons

Resources from this episode:

- Episode 78: Fostering Collaboration, Ownership, and Creativity

- Student Decision Making Resource: Let Students Decide

Connect with Pass the Baton and learn more:

- Pass the Baton website

- Join the Coffee Club

- Support Pass the Baton

- Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Get it for free now. ⁠⁠

In episode 84, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with Leah Hanley to explore how assessment can be a powerful tool for student empowerment in music education. Leah, a seasoned orchestra teacher in the Bronx, shares insights on the distinction between summative and formative assessment and how the latter can be seamlessly integrated into daily music instruction. She highlights the importance of making assessment visible to students, allowing them to take ownership of their learning. Through practical strategies like using technology for individual assessment and embedding reflection into rehearsals, Leah demonstrates how teachers can help students become independent musicians who can analyze, problem-solve, and improve their performance.

Leah also shares actionable tips that music educators can implement right away, including setting up a simple recording system for self-evaluation and using structured discussion protocols to guide student reflections. She emphasizes that authentic assessments—those that involve real music-making rather than paper-based exercises—are key to fostering meaningful growth. Whether you're looking to refine your assessment practices or find ways to engage students more deeply, this conversation is full of valuable insights to help transform your teaching. Tune in to discover how to shift the focus of assessment from judgment to growth, creating a classroom culture where students thrive.

Connect with Leah and learn more:

• https://www.stringsattached.blog/
• https://nafme.org/publications-resources/connected-arts-network-project/
• https://www.musicfirst.com/

Other resources from this episode:

• Episode 67 -Unlock Student Potential: Transforming Assessments in Music Education
• Episode 55 -Assessment for Learning: Nurturing Growth and Progress in Every Student
• Exit Tickets for Self-Reflection
• Exit Ticket for Music Classes

Learn more about Pass the Baton:

• Pass the Baton website:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.passthebatonbook.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Join the Coffee Club:https://buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton/membership
• Support Pass the Baton:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton
• Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Get it for free now:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f8l7g9

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!

Connect with Jasmine:

Email: [email protected]

Other Resources from this Episode

*Episode 81: Professional Collaboration - https://bit.ly/49HlA51

*Recording Studio Checklist - https://buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton/creating-classroom-recording-studio-3403049

*Recording Studio Private Podcast (Coffee Club Members only) - https://buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton/creating-classroom-recording-studio

Learn more about Pass the Baton

*Pass the Baton website:  https://www.passthebatonbook.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

*Join the Coffee Club: https://buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton/membership

*Support Pass the Baton: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton

*Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Get it for free now: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f8l7g9

In episode 82, Kathryn and Theresa sit down with Matthew Stensrud, an accomplished music educator specializing in elementary music, responsive classroom techniques, and Orff Schulwerk approaches. Matthew shares his journey into music education, including his inspiration from mentors and his passion for creating inclusive and empowering music classrooms. He emphasizes the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and community where students feel safe to take creative risks.

Matthew discusses actionable strategies for passing the baton to students, including movement activities, personalized compositions, and creating opportunities for student choice and voice. Highlights include empowering students through movement exercises like snowflake-inspired choreography and fourth-grade rap projects tied to identity and intersectionality. This episode is packed with practical ideas and insights to inspire music educators to cultivate creativity, collaboration, and a sense of ownership in their classrooms. Tune in to learn how small shifts in teaching practices can create transformative learning experiences for students.

Learn more about Pass the Baton:

In episode 81, Kathryn and Theresa reflect on the power of professional collaboration for music educators. Drawing from their own experiences, they discuss how connecting with fellow educators—whether across the country or in the same district—can transform teaching practices, reduce isolation, and foster creativity. They share anecdotes of innovative classroom projects, such as their cross-state recorder pen pals and collaborative feedback sessions using Flipgrid, which helped students develop skills in constructive critique and purposeful music-making. These experiences underscore how collaboration not only enhances teaching but also models lifelong learning and teamwork for students.

Kathryn and Theresa also highlight the importance of finding support networks to combat the isolation many music teachers face. They suggest starting with conferences, social media, or even colleagues outside of music education to brainstorm ideas or share lessons. For those looking for a structured way to connect, they recommend the Pass the Baton Coffee Club, which provides opportunities for group planning and idea-sharing. Take the leap into collaboration, whether by exchanging lessons or teaming up for larger projects, and share your experiences to inspire others in the music education community.

Learn more about Pass the Baton:

In episode 80, we dive into the transformative world of creative music education with Steve Giddings, an innovative music educator and advocate for hands-on, student-driven learning. Steve shares his journey from traditional conservatory training to championing a more dynamic and accessible approach to teaching music. Through his experiences, Steve has developed techniques that encourage students to explore music through improvisation, creativity, and collaboration. Whether teaching rock bands, flipping Bloom's Taxonomy, or introducing new rhythms, Steve emphasizes making music education more about creating and less about replicating.

Join us as we explore Steve's innovative classroom practices, from "moshing" warm-ups to using tools like Groove Pizza and GarageBand to compose original works. Steve also discusses the critical role of fostering a safe space for students to make mistakes, take risks, and discover their unique musical voices. This episode is packed with practical advice for educators looking to bring creativity into their classrooms and inspire students to see themselves as lifelong musicians. Don’t miss this engaging conversation with one of music education’s leading voices!

Learn more about Pass the Baton:

In episode 79, we welcome Jessie Peterson, a dedicated middle school band director and a passionate advocate for fostering intrinsic motivation in music education. Drawing from her doctoral studies at Clemson University and her extensive teaching experience, Jessie delves into the transformative power of Self-Determination Theory in the classroom. She shares how the principles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness have helped her create an inclusive and empowering environment where students thrive. Whether it’s encouraging students to choose their own instruments or setting collaborative goals for performances, Jessie demonstrates how these strategies cultivate a love for music that lasts a lifetime.

Tune in as Jessie shares practical insights, from utilizing sticker-based systems for mastery learning to fostering peer mentorship among students. Her creative approaches have not only expanded her band program dramatically but have also reinforced the value of music as a safe space for self-expression and growth. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to teaching, this episode offers valuable takeaways to implement in your own practice. Don’t miss Jessie’s heartfelt stories and actionable tips for building a connected and motivated musical community.

Connect with Jessie and learn more:

Learn more about Pass the Baton:

In Episode 78, Theresa and Kathryn welcome Taylor Morris and Sara Duce, co-founders of the Gilbert Town Fiddlers. Taylor and Sara discuss their journey in music education and share how they have built an extracurricular program that fosters creativity, collaboration, and student ownership in music. Their organization, based in Gilbert, Arizona, teaches middle and high school students how to play and arrange music by ear, improvise, and work in ensemble settings. They emphasize giving students autonomy in music-making, allowing them to learn arrangement skills and make creative decisions in a democratic, collaborative environment.

Taylor and Sara also explain how their experiences in music education have influenced their approaches as private teachers and orchestra directors. They discuss the importance of providing students with choices, encouraging self-reflection, and helping them build the confidence to express ideas. Both educators highlight the unique skills students develop through ensemble-led arrangements and how the experience allows students to connect deeply with their music. Taylor and Sara’s insights make this episode a valuable listen for educators interested in incorporating more student-led, creative processes into their classrooms.

Connect with Taylor and Sara:

• Website: https://www.gilberttownfiddlers.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gilberttownfiddlers/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gilberttownfiddlers
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylormorrismusic/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraduceviola/

Learn more about Pass the Baton:

• Pass the Baton website:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.passthebatonbook.com/
• Join the Coffee Club: https://buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton/membership
• Support Pass the Baton: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/passthebaton
• Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Get it for free now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f8l7g9

In episode 77, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with Grammy Music Educator of the Year, Stephen Cox, as he dives into his unique approach to music education and his latest venture with the Willis Wonderland Foundation. Stephen shares insights from his 14-year teaching career in Texas, where he developed a progressive, student-centered approach to band programs, prioritizing student autonomy, joy, and intrinsic motivation. He also reflects on his journey toward empowering students to lead and make decisions, which transformed his music programs and resulted in both personal and collective growth for his students.

Now, as part of the Willis Wonderland Foundation, Stephen is developing free songwriting resources to further his mission of making music education more accessible and engaging. The foundation, established to honor the legacy of renowned songwriter Allee Willis, provides teachers with tools to inspire students through songwriting and creative expression. Tune in to hear Stephen's inspiring thoughts on how progressive music education and creative freedom can transform not only classrooms but the lives of young musicians.

Connect with Stephen and learn more about his work:

Learn more about Pass the Baton