To

Whom It May Concern:

I’m writing this letter on behalf of Jackson Van Hyning. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Van
Hyning as he was assigned to work as my student teacher at Buford Middle School in Charlottesville,
Virginia. He is a great addition to the band and my students enjoy working with him. He formed an
almost instant rapport with even the most challenging students. There are a number of things that stand
out to make him a great colleague and teacher. As student teacher, Mr. Van Hyning is one of the best I
have worked with!

The first thing that stands out about Mr. Van Hyning is his musicianship. He has a work ethic and skill on
the instruments that is truly amazing. Many young band directors struggle with instruments that are not
in the same family as their major instrument. Jackson, although a French Horn player, can play all of the
woodwinds, brass, and percussion with ease. He models all of the instruments at such a high level that
the students comment on how impressive he sounds. This is a tremendous skill! Students get a first-
hand sound of a true professional. I have noticed an improvement in the tone quality and expressive
playing of my students as they listen to his example and try to match it.

Jackson is a very good teacher and gets better each day. I am impressed with Mr. Van Hyning’s ease in
front the class. He relates well to the students, has good control over each student’s progress, and
adapts to the changing learning environment. His strong musicianship combined with his teaching ability
help him to reach some of the more challenging students. I appreciate his approach. He is cool under
pressure and shows good command of the group. His demeanor is nurturing, but firm. His pacing is also
good. He adapts as the student engagement level changes and he does a nice job of transitioning
between tasks.

I am excited to see where Jackson’s future takes him! He brings a wealth of musical knowledge, a great
approach to teaching, good rapport with students, and a sincere desire to reach all students. He is a
wonderful band director and an easy colleague to work with. The students respect him and look up to
him. I highly recommend Jackson Van Hyning with no reservations. His musical skill, teaching ability, and
work ethic make him a stellar teacher. Any school would be lucky to have someone like Mr. Van Hyning
in their ranks.

Sincerely,




Michael Allen
Director of Bands
Buford Middle School
Charlottesville, VA