Organizations that Promote Global Education in Music

These are organizations with whom I have worked or am hoping to work in the near future.

Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms

An intensive and comprehensive introduction to the field of all things global (global citizenship, global competency, global education, and glocal) consisting of three major components: A semester online course, a three-day symposium in Washington D.C., and a two to three week international field experience. I go to go to Uruguay. It was my first time in South America. The application process requires essays that really get you thinking about your global experiences and how this program could expand your thinking and work with students. This government-funded grant covers nearly all expenses, but what you must invest most is your time into thinking, reading, writing, researching, collaborating, communicating, applying your learning to the classroom, and traveling. While not many performing arts educators have gone through this program, thus making resources difficult to find, I highly encourage it for becoming aware of global issues, for more informed and enhanced music learning, teaching, and performance, and for sharing your love of music with the people in the country you visit (bring your instrument to where ever you go and play).

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik at a School of the Arts in Salto, Uruguay.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much the older students enjoyed listening to, learning about, and playing the violin.

NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship

Seems quite similar to the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms grant with an online course, a two-day conference, and a filed experience abroad. I will most likely apply to this for Summer 2027. Not sure if I will get to do as much teaching and performing as I did in Uruguay with Fulbright since the field experience is only 10 days, and probably has a packed schedule of activities.

Daraja Music Initiative

I am hoping to participate in the Daraja Music Initiative in Tanzania for summer 2026, however, my primary concern is travel safety to Africa. This program involves teaching violin, clarinet, or voice to children, performing in concerts, learning about tree conservation and instrument making, and doing conservation work. It’s an in-depth world travel experience that brings together global citizenship, global education, music education, and music performance. There are also touristy travel activities that many traveling to Tanzania would want to experience, like an animal safari.

East-West Center

Located in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, this organization “promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue.” They support and promote the arts through exhibitions, performances, and educational outreach.

World-renowned pipa player Wu Man recently came to Moanalua Middle School to talk about the instrument with orchestra and ukulele students, to share her life experiences as a musician, and to perform with one of my orchestras. The students asked thoughtful questions and were excited to interact with a celebrity in the music world. They all wanted her autograph and a picture with her. We were fortunate to be able to play Xinyu (Maggie) Francis-Ma’s orchestral arrangement of “Find My Friends,” a Chinese children’s song, with the added sound of the pipa. Wu Man also explained about the game associated with this song, and how she remembers it from her childhood. Hearing this story will certainly help me conduct and my students play this piece with a more light, playful tone.

The best way to experience a global education in music: Playing the music with its cultural bearers.

Below are pix and video from an Indian violin workshop with Kala Ramnath sponsored by the East-West Center in 2024. Listening to Indian violin music as one steeped in Western classical music is one thing, but to actually have to play and to hold the instrument according to Ramnath’s practice was a challenging and refreshing musical experience for by me and my students. I encourage local Hawai‘i educators to get on the East-West Center mailing list, and to participate in their offerings to expand both your own and your students’ global education.

Moanalua Middle School (MMS) viola and violin orchestra students and MMS Orchestra Director Chad Uyehara at the East-West Center Kala Ramnath Workshop.

Tabla and violin. While we sat in chairs, we did hold our instruments scroll down, and did attempt the sliding movements and sounds played here by Ramnath.

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Offering a wealth of recordings that document music, spoken word, and teaching from around the wold. There are also educational materials, articles, and course offerings in world music pedagogy.