Choir Baton – Details, episodes & analysis

What happens when a grieving person finds comfort in a song — and then discovers it was made by AI? That question is the heart of this episode, and it captures everything that matters about the moment we're in as choral musicians.

This episode is a deep dive into AI: what it actually is, how we got here, and why Beth believes it represents one of the greatest opportunities choral music has had in a very long time — but only if we're paying attention.

In this episode:

• A brief history of technology and choral music, from the printing press and the Petrucci Collection (1501) to the phonograph, the internet, and social media — and what each shift tells us about where we are now
• The four phases of AI: Classical AI, Machine Learning, Generative AI, and Agentic AI — explained with musical analogies
• Why choral music has historically been a late adopter of technology, and why this time we can choose to do it differently
• The Industrial Revolution parallel: how a shift in human labor created the conditions for a rise in choral societies — and why agentic AI may do the same thing
• Why choral musicians are in the business of unrepeatable human moments — and why that business has never had a bigger market

Coming up next: Beth gets practical with 5 specific ways you can start using AI in your choral work right now — with examples and prompts.

Interested in going deeper? Beth is putting together a short masterclass: From Basics to Breakthroughs: AI for Choral Artists — covering foundations, practical applications, ethics, and advanced implications for your work and community. 

👉 Link Here.

Podcast Links

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Music by: Scott Holmes

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

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

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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 serving her community through music, and is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University having received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 2010. She has since earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education at VanderCook College University (Chicago, IL, 2013). She is currently working toward her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Choral Music Education at the University of Georgia.

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

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

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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
Music by: Scott Holmes

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

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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. has been engraving/transcribing Classical Voice and Piano Music of African American Classical Composers for the University of Michigan School of Music (to be placed in Vocal Anthologies). He is a retired choral music teacher- Wake County and Nash-Rocky Mount formerly Rocky Mount City Schools. He worked a year at North Raleigh Christian Academy following retirement. Mr. Butler studied at Winston Salem State University with phenomenal choir director and music composer- Robert L. Morris. He was inspired to study music by amazing former high school music teacher - Gene Yeargin.

If you have questions for Marshall, you can contact him at mebkdb@aol.com

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

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

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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 we are teaching.

Alex Alberti is the current Director of Instrumental Music at Longleaf School of the Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina. Alberti is an eighth-year music educator with experience in band, chorus, orchestra, music theory, music psychology, and contemporary a cappella. Alberti recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Master's degree in Music Education and graduate certification in Nonprofit Management.

In addition to his positions in schools of music, Alberti is active in a number of independent music organizations. Alberti currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Triangle Pride Band, an LGBTQ+-affirming community band organization. Additionally, Alberti is an intern from both the College Music Society and NAMM, assisting with conference activities and marketing.

You can connect and learn more about Alex on Facebook or Instagram @maestro.alberti

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

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

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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 | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com  and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon
Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here.

To learn more about my new course on Pandemic Choir Planning, visit here.

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here.

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

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
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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 information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com  and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon
Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here.

To learn more about my new course on Pandemic Choir Planning, visit here.

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here.

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

Follow @ChoirBaton on
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Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
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Visit BethPhilemon.com

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 media during this time and may be feeling insufficient or envious of what you were unable to do. I am here to remind you that you are enough. You have worked hard. You are appreciated. Do not give up.

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com  and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon
Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here.

To learn more about my new course on Pandemic Choir Planning, visit here.

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here.

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

Follow @ChoirBaton on
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook
Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
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Visit BethPhilemon.com

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 and design programming, education, and research in relation to young people. Evan's teaching, creative work, and research are animated by the question: How might we make a positive impact on society through musical engagement, learning, and inquiry? At times of rapid change, even open-minded music educators can feel stuck or seek guidance for adjusting the status quo. Evan helps people imagine possibilities for music learning and teaching so they can update, expand, or transform music programs to better support young people and make a positive impact in the world.

You can learn more about his work at evantobias.net or citme.asu.edu and connect with him on Twitter or Instagram @etobias_musiced.

Choir Baton Host: Beth Philemon | Choir Baton Podcast Producer: Maggie Hemedinger
For more information on Choir Baton please visit choirbaton.com  and to follow us on Instagram @choirbaton  @bethphilemon
Music by: Scott Holmes

To join the Choir Baton Teaching Membership waiting list or for more information, go here.

To learn more about my new course on Pandemic Choir Planning, visit here.

To receive the weekly Choir Baton Weekly Letter, sign-up here.

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

Follow @ChoirBaton on
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook
Visit ChoirBaton.com

Follow @BethPhilemon on
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn
Visit BethPhilemon.com