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 Jodie and her work here:

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Free Download: 6 Questions to Pass the Baton and Empower Your Music Students 

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 book, Upbeat: Mindfulness, Mindset, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond, and is also the founder of Upbeat Global.  

Learn more about Matthew's work here:  

Get a free book preview here: Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students

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The Pass the Baton Starter Kit is just what you need to get your mind movin’ and groovin’ for the new school year. Check it out! Pass the Baton Starter Kit

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: 

What's next for Pass the Baton?  

Season 2 will begin in the fall 2022.  

This summer we're offering the first ever Cohort for the Empowering All Music Students course! Find more information (including a coupon code!) here: https://passthebatonbook.com/summer-cohort/

Get a free book preview here: Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students

For more info: Pass the Baton

Free Download: 6 Questions to Pass the Baton and Empower Your Music Students 

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 learn more about her work here:

Get a free book preview here: Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students

For more info: Pass the Baton

Free Download: 6 Questions to Pass the Baton and Empower Your Music Students 

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:

Get a free book preview here: Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students

For more info: Pass the Baton

Free Download: 6 Questions to Pass the Baton and Empower Your Music Students 

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 for Arts Education and Social Emotional Learning.

If you are interested in learning more about Scott and his work in social emotional learning, check out these resources:

Get a free book preview here: Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students

For more info: Pass the Baton

Free Download: 6 Questions to Pass the Baton and Empower Your Music Students 

Free Download: Amplify Student Voice With Exit Tickets for Self Reflection

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: 

Get a free book preview here: Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students

For more info: Pass the Baton

Free Download: 6 Questions to Pass the Baton and Empower Your Music Students 

Free Download: Amplify Student Voice With Exit Tickets for Self Reflection

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:  

Get a free book preview here: Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students

For more info: Pass the Baton

Free Download: 6 Questions to Pass the Baton and Empower Your Music Students 

Free Download: Amplify Student Voice With Exit Tickets for Self Reflection

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 passions involves working with English Language Learners (ELLs), which began when she was teaching at Annandale High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. Angela has noticed many benefits to her students as a result of participating in orchestra as ELLs. Students had more confidence, increased English language skills, and felt they were part of a community. Angela now works to share what she's learned about teaching ELLs with other music educators.

Connect with Angela and learn more:

Get a free book preview here: Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students

For more info: Pass the Baton

Free Download: 6 Questions to Pass the Baton and Empower Your Music Students 

Free Download: Amplify Student Voice With Exit Tickets for Self Reflection

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 national music standards launched in 2014. He even worked on one of the revision teams, providing feedback on the performance track before the standards were officially released.

In this interview, Scott shared some great information about the standards, including:

Connect with Scott and learn more:

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