Choir Baton

This episode in 2019 is the most downloaded Choir Baton Podcast Episode ever. And I get it. This time of year is insane. 

But last year it wasn’t. Or if it was crazy for you, chances are it wasn’t because you were in a million different performances - you were probably dealing with the pandemic in your own way and with your own family stuff. 

Did you promise yourself last year that you wouldn’t let your life get too stressful again? ...

Yep, clickbait title. But real life truths thrown at you in this episode.
I'll talk to you about what ONE THING you need to add to your rehearsals this concert season to increase connection and accelerate growth.

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Choir B...

Burnout is real. In this episode, I encourage you to do less. There is always more we can do as choral musicians and directors. But in order to be able to continue doing what we do, we need to cut down on overloading ourselves. 

If you’re watching this on YouTube, don’t forget to subscribe, like this video, and let us know what resonated with you from this episode - and if you’re listening to this podcast - be sure to subscribe if y...

Jenna and discuss the importance of having "choir and ____." As choir teachers, we can get caught up in our work and it become the only thing we do. However, we all have many gifts and abilities. We talk about some different ways to incorporate those in school or outside of the classroom.

If you’re watching this on YouTube, don’t forget to subscribe, like this video, and let us know what resonated with you f...

Jessica Grant and I discuss common themes that I think most, if not all, music teachers can relate to. Amongst other topics we discuss the feeling of belonging and that you are enough and how we can communicate these things to ourselves as well as our students. We also discuss what it means to measure achievement by growth rather than specific goals.

You can find Jessica on Instagram @highafternoonti and buy her book on F ...

Hey Choir Baton Podcast Listeners, 

Listen to  the basic Choir Baton Choral Musicianship framework I use in the Choir Baton Teaching Membership and courses with friend and middle school choir teacher Benny Dominguez. Benny reached out to me on some questions regarding sequencing, pacing, and more - you’ll get to listen and learn right along with Benny as I walk him through the CBTM way. 

Thanks for listening to the Choir Ba...

I had three profound conversations about leadership over the past week and I couldn't not share them with the Choir Baton community. I think we are all familiar with the problem of taking on too many projects and staying busy, as teachers or as musicians. This episode is for you to let you know three important lessons that I learned this week and am still learning on how to be a stronger leader.

Choir Baton Podcast P...

In this episode, I discuss my reasons for leaving the classroom. It was not easy, but there were a lot of factors that impacted my decision. I know that especially during this time, you may be thinking about what you can change and control, and I am here to tell you - it is okay.

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Music by: Scott Holmes

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In this episode, Chantae and I discuss the many ways that students can have ownership of the music process in the choral classroom. This conversation led to topics such as sight reading, independence, and giving students leadership opportunities.

Chantae D. Pittman is the Director of Choral Activities at Campbell High School in Smyrna, GA. Ms. Pittman is passionate about all forms of music. She is deeply committed to serv...

I discovered Becky on Instagram as a @beckyparkonposhmark and her work as a high school choir teacher and a clothes reseller. In this episode, we discuss having passions outside of choir and our dive into the true impact choir can have in a student's life that is not just musical.

Learn more about Becky or connect with her through Instagram or YouTube

Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
Musi...

Marshall Butler has impacted many student's lives over his years teaching. In this interview, we talk about the teamwork aspect of choir as well as many other important topics and memories from his years teaching. This interview is especially meaningful to me because Mr. Butler taught for 24 years at Sanderson and left shortly before I took the position at Sanderson High School.

Since March, Dr. Marshall Butler, Jr. h...

Today I am joined by my former co-worker and dear friend, Mr. Alexander Alberti. We cover a variety of different areas in this podcast but one that stuck out to me in particular was this idea of "breaking the cycle of expectations" in teaching music the way it has always been taught. We have so many resources at our disposal, we should take advantage of technology, community members, and our students' interests when ...

It is the first Choir Baton episode of 2021! In this podcast, I discuss the Revamp course I am offering to help you start the new year and the new semester prepared and ready to embrace changes and circumstances as they come. Join me through an episode of reflection as you reflect on your own year and the things you have learned from it.

To enroll in the Revamp course, click here

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon |...

Hello, Choir Baton Community. In this episode I address the reasons and process for creating the Choir Baton Teaching Membership. I talk about the gaps that I found as a teacher and how I have worked to fill them. Our students want to know the "why" of everything we teach, listen to find out ways to give that to them!

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
For more ...

This episode is a sequel episode to 26. It's the Most Wonderfully Stressful Time of the Year. In a year without concerts, gigs, and performances to plan, rehearse for, and execute, we do not have the same stressors as usual. However, we have had plenty of other struggles through the year and especially this season. You may have found yourself comparing your program to others more frequently because of the increase in social me...

In this conversation we talk about participatory culture and how it relates to adjustments and rethinking the music curriculum.

Evan Tobias is Associate Professor of Music Learning and Teaching at Arizona State University where he heads the Consortium for Innovation and Transformation in Music Education citme.asu.edu. He is also Director of ArtsWork: The Kax Herberger Center for Children and the Arts, which forwards arts ...

Our fear of judgement can often hold us back from reaching our full potential. Listen as I discuss this as well as other topics of Music Service Learning, the importance of listening, and more in this conversation with Marci Major and Hannah Knauss, co-authors of the book Choral Connection.

Dr. Marci Major serves as Chair and Associate Professor of Music Education at West Chester University, PA, and directs the Bel Canto ...

Listen to this episode to hear all of the ways Kaitlin Simonson has been creatively overcoming virtual learning as a barrier and engaging students in singing in new ways! 

Kaitlin Simonson teaches music at The Brearley School in Manhattan, and is the conductor of the Lux Mea Women’s Chorus. She relocated to New York four years ago after teaching choir at Canarelli Middle School in Las Vegas, NV. Under her direction, the si...

After a life changing performance experience watching the Dallas Street Choir sing at national ACDA conference a couple years ago, I have the honor of interviewing Dr. Jonathan Palant, the conductor. Listen to hear his perspective on inequality in music and making a community space for singing.

Jonathan Palant is Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Texas at Dallas and is founder and ...