To Whom It May Concern:

It is my sincere pleasure to write on behalf of Ty Napierskie, who is applying for a position in Music Education
with your school district. I feel fortunate to have worked with Ty during their time as an undergraduate student at
James Madison University. I have been continuously impressed with their dedication to academics, to Music
Education, and to the JMU community. I believe they are an ideal candidate for consideration and will contribute
greatly to your school music programs, district, and community.

As Associate Director of Bands and Director of the JMU Marching Royal Dukes (our 465-member marching band)
I worked with and observed Ty as a student in my classes and member of my ensembles. During that time, they
distinguished themself to be an upstanding and motivated student, musician, and individual. Ty was, first and
foremost, a dedicated student and created a beneficial yet ambitious curriculum for themselves, resulting in a
strong academic record and professional preparation. As a talented and active musician, they were active in both
the keyboard (as a piano major) and instrumental (flute) areas, participating in almost all aspects of our music
program. Ty took an active role in many student organizations and proved to be an important contributing
member of our department. In each commitment made, Ty maintained a high level of preparedness and
professionalism that contributed to the success of all aspects of the School of Music and individuals with whom
they worked.

I interacted most directly with Ty as a member of our marching band program and an integral member of our
leadership team. In this capacity, I observed their ability to work successfully with both peers and superiors alike.
Ty demonstrated effective organizational and management skills when working with a large and diverse group of
students. They are collaborative in nature, enjoys working with others, and has an engaging personality and
communication style that makes them an effective teacher. Ty is intelligent, mature, and an articulate and
thoughtful communicator, has a friendly and positive presence, and holds themself to the highest standards of
professional and personal development. Ty has been a model ambassador for James Madison University.

As evidenced from their resume, they are dedicated to professional development and promoting music for all
individuals. In addition to work at JMU, Ty has been actively engaged in the field working as a clinician and
instructor of students of all ages. They are comfortable working with students, parents, and colleagues, and is able
to adapt to multiple teaching and learning styles. Ty has a true appreciation for professional development and
consistently seeks opportunities to learn through emersion and involvement with music education. Therefore, Ty
has had amassed quality experience – both observational and practical – in the field of Music Education. Ty
connects sincerely and effectively with students, is frank and outgoing, and exhibits pleasant dispositions. One of
their greatest strengths is the ability to adapt and reflect, demonstrating a motivation to learn from experiences,
utilize the resources and suggestions from colleagues and mentors, and continually works to become the most
effective educator possible.

In closing, I am confident that Ty Napierskie is a qualified musician and teacher who will contribute greatly to
your school music programs, district, and community. Thank you for this opportunity to submit my support for Ty
and please do not hesitate to contact me if have any questions or would like to speak directly.

Sincerely,

Scott Rikkers
!
Associate Director of Bands
Director, JMU Marching Royal Dukes