text: By giving students the chance to choose their own project topic, it will insure that they will stay interested. For example, a few years ago, my band teacher sent us home before break with a project in which we would have to design our own marching band show and theme, the only restriction being that it had to be able to be performed in under eight minutes. Everyone in the class was super excited to begin right away and many of us began planning and researching almost immediately. The amount of freedom given to us by our teacher made the project thrilling and the possibilities were endless! When we all got back from break, it was obvious how much work everyone had put into their projects and how passionate they were about them. There were dozens themes ranging from classic Rock and Roll to Star Wars. By giving us the freedom to choose the themes of our projects, my band teacher found a way to engage us all in an educational and enjoyable experience.