February 04, 2026

Band Around the World

44 minutes

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In Band Around the World, the Band Dads take a fun and educational journey to explore what band and music education look like across the globe. This episode was inspired by—and promised to—a listener in Dubai who is very much not a bot. From our neighbors to the north, to the discipline of elementary band programs in Japan, to Europe’s long-standing community brass band traditions, this episode highlights how different cultures approach music education while sharing the same core values.

The conversation also travels to South America, where youth orchestras helped give rise to El Sistema, a movement that has transformed and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of students and continues to influence music education worldwide.

Check the episode notes for links and source material related to many of the topics discussed if you’d like to dig deeper.

This episode is also a celebration of the incredible Band Dads community beyond the United States, with listeners tuning in from 34 countries around the world (Germany, Canada, Australia, UAE, Japan, Singapore, Ireland, United Kingdom, Russian Federation, Netherlands, Sweden, Israel, Spain, France, Hong Kong, Norway, Brazil, Portugal, Mexico, Italy, Morocco, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Iraq, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Turkey, South Africa, Argentina, Philippines, Romania, Indonesia, and Eswatini). If we got anything wrong or you want to tell us more about music in your country, please email us! [email protected]

There are far too many cultures and programs to cover in a single episode—so yes, a sequel is already on the table. And one story shared in this conversation may even inspire a future spin-off series… stay tuned.

Links for materials used or mentioned in this episode

Percy Grainger - Lincolnshire Posy

Percy Grainger - Walking Tune

60 Minutes El Sistema

60 Minutes Gustavo Dudamel

60 Minutes The Recyclers

Japan Elementary School Championship 2008 Mama Elementary Performance

German Brass Echo Klassik 2016

"The March King" Sousa Stars and Stripes Forever

SOUSA El Capitan

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