BALL STATE UNIVERSITY Couece oF Fine Ants Muncie, Indiana 47306-0410 ScHooL oF Music Phone: 765-285-5400 a: 765-285-5401 To Whom it May Concern: February 7", 2017 It is my privilege to write this letter of recommendation for my former student Grace Unhea Kim. | had Grace as a music education student while | taught at the University of Arizona, and | feel | can give a good, and fair, recommendation of her. Grace began her experiences with me by needing to retake my course on String Techniques. Although this is not typical start to a letter of recommendation, it is actually a compliment to her steadfastness as a student. She could have quit, ‘strings is not her primary focus on music education, but she persevered and proved to me she is capable of doing a good job in my class. Truthfully, | have rarely had a student bounce back and show me what they are capable of. | cannot express how proud of Grace | am. If there is a word to describe her it is determination. Grace went on to take my strings methods course and at one point I told her she is capable of being a very good string teacher if she wanted to pursue it. She learned to work very hard and to challenge herself. | often felt in this class that she had prepared adequately and really challenged herself to do well. | know Grace has done well in school through her singing and conducting choral ensembles. She has been a section leader, conducted master classes, and been a president in the UA a cappella ensemble, Enharmonics. | am proud of Grace as a pre-service teacher, a young musician, and as a person. | know the hard work she has put into becoming a great teacher. She has a great attitude, a beautiful spirit, and will be a successful teacher for some very fortunate students. | am excited for her future and very much look forward to having her as a colleague. Sincerely, lpgit ir Matthew H. Spicker, | D A. Ball State University Assistant Professor of Music Education Director of Youth Symphony Orchestra of East Central Indiana mhspieker@bsu.edu