Teacher Testimonials
What Teachers Have to Say About Pennywhistle Band
“A revelation! Castellow has come up with a brilliant new method for pennywhistles in the classroom. Bravo!”
—Dr. Penny Prince, Professor of Music Education, Lehman College, City University of New York
“Throughout my 14 years of teaching as a grade 4 through 12 band director, 4th grade beginning band has always been my biggest challenge. This year when I was introduced to the Pennywhistle Band program I couldn’t wait to try it out in my classroom. This was what I have been looking for all along! We were able to offer Pennywhistle Band to every student in 4th grade. Only a limited number of students can participate in beginning band. The Pennywhistle Band program not only teaches students to read music, it also encourages good practice habits. I was able to offer every 4th grader the opportunity to play the pennywhistle, then select pennywhistle students who showed aptitude as well as consistent practice, to join band. Also, Pennywhistle Band is so easy to use. The USB e-files and teacher’s manual make this program a fun and easy way to teach. I would highly recommend this program to any teacher looking to enhance his or her program and as a tool to jump start students towards musical success!”
—Kelly Bullis, Music Teacher, Roscoe Central School, Roscoe, NY, President, Music Educators Association of Sullivan County
“Pennywhistle Band is the best curriculum I’ve used for teaching kids how to read music. Their music reading has really increased with Pennywhistle Band. The 10 minutes a day of practice time at home is really working. More and more kids are completing the homework practice chart and bringing it in with pride.”
—Joe Jordan, Music Teacher, PS 63 New York, NY
“Pennywhistle Band introduces students to ensemble playing in a creative, sequential and fun way. The musical concepts presented in the Pennywhistle Band method are very clear. It is so much easier to teach beginning band to students who have had Pennywhistle Band lessons that I have dubbed it the Pennywhistle Band Effect. My percussionists are also listening better to the ensemble, because they have experience playing a melodic instrument in an ensemble.”
—Chris Gallo, Music Teacher, Damascus Elementary School, Damascus, PA
“There is immense value in learning to play an instrument. With Pennywhistle Band, I can successfully reach all of my general music students with instrumental music instruction and not just the students who participate in band. I highly recommend this musical teaching method to every general music teacher!”
—Alyse Srebro, Music Teacher, Lakeside Elementary School, Honesdale, PA
You can support the Pennywhistle Band Schools Project by making a tax deductible donation online at Pennywhistle Band Schools Project