The number of United States government personnel and employees of United States corporations stationed abroad is increasing annually. Consequently, the growing number of American-sponsored overseas schools indicates a need for the teaching community, especially teacher educators, to be aware of the characteristics and demands of such programs. This document serves to further the understanding, organization, successes, and challenges directors face in providing their students a quality band music education in the secondary band programs at the Hong Kong International School, the International School of Beijing, and the Shanghai American School Puxi Campusthe three largest American-sponsored overseas school systems in the Peoples Republic of China. In this study, the researcher inventoried the faculty, enrollment, program structure, curriculum, and performance activities of each band program utilizing an interview survey instrument. Responses from these inquiries guided the investigation of whether or not the curriculum of each band program at the secondary level reflected the nine national standards of music as established by MENC: The National Association for Music Education, which standards were met uniformly, which standards were difficult to meet, and what factors contributed to that difficulty. Relevant appendices include a current listing of the American-sponsored overseas schools as listed by the Office of Overseas Schools within the United States Department of State, national standards for music education as established by MENC: The National Association for Music Education, and Survey Instrument Response Data of Tim Gavlik, Nathan Long, and Karolina Pek, the secondary band directors of the Hong Kong International School, the International School of Beijing, and the Shanghai American School Puxi Campus, respectively.
