Repertoire to Foster Student Agency

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1	Repertoire to Foster Student Agency
2	This collaborative list highlights repertoire that can help foster student agency in ensemble classrooms. These pieces may include opportunities for student choice, flexible instrumentation, improvisation, composition, storytelling, or musical decision-making. The goal of this resource is to help teachers think beyond simply selecting pieces for performance and instead consider how repertoire can support student ownership, creativity, and engagement. How to Use This Resource This spreadsheet is organized into three tabs: Band – repertoire examples for concert band and wind ensembles Orchestra – repertoire examples for string and full orchestras Chorus – repertoire examples for choral ensembles Within each tab, you’ll find pieces that include one or more opportunities for student agency. Possible Agency Opportunities The repertoire listed may support agency through: • Flexible instrumentation or part choice • Improvisation opportunities • Student-created musical ideas • Narrative or storytelling elements • Open sections for interpretation • Collaborative or chamber-style performance Not every piece will include all of these elements—sometimes a small opportunity for choice can make a big difference. Want to Contribute? This list is intended to grow over time. If you know a piece that fosters student agency in your ensemble classroom, submit it here. Related Podcast Episode This resource accompanies the Pass the Baton episode 109, Programming for Agency: Choosing Repertoire That Empowers Students, featuring a conversation about how thoughtful repertoire choices can empower students to take a more active role in the music-making process.

This collaborative list highlights repertoire that can help foster student agency in ensemble classrooms. These pieces may include opportunities for student choice, flexible instrumentation, improvisation, composition, storytelling, or musical decision-making.

The goal of this resource is to help teachers think beyond simply selecting pieces for performance and instead consider how repertoire can support student ownership, creativity, and engagement.

How to Use This Resource
This spreadsheet is organized into three tabs:

Band – repertoire examples for concert band and wind ensembles
Orchestra – repertoire examples for string and full orchestras
Chorus – repertoire examples for choral ensembles

Within each tab, you’ll find pieces that include one or more opportunities for student agency.

Possible Agency Opportunities
The repertoire listed may support agency through:

• Flexible instrumentation or part choice
• Improvisation opportunities
• Student-created musical ideas
• Narrative or storytelling elements
• Open sections for interpretation
• Collaborative or chamber-style performance

Not every piece will include all of these elements—sometimes a small opportunity for choice can make a big difference.

Want to Contribute?
This list is intended to grow over time.

If you know a piece that fosters student agency in your ensemble classroom, submit it here.

Related Podcast Episode
This resource accompanies the Pass the Baton episode 109, Programming for Agency: Choosing Repertoire That Empowers Students, featuring a conversation about how thoughtful repertoire choices can empower students to take a more active role in the music-making process.