TY

NAPIERSKIE
MUSIC EDUCATOR

To Whom It May Concern:

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to apply for the position for your exceptional county. As a music educator
I have spent the last four years of my life at JMU studying to turn my passion for music into teaching tools for my
students to discover their own passions and become life-long musicians. The most important thing I can do for my
students is give them a space where they feel safe and valued while exploring their vulnerabilities. Please take
this letter as my most sincere interest in teaching music in your county.

I just graduated from James Madison University, in May 2020, with a BM in Instrumental Music Education
Instrumental, with a concentration in piano. My secondary instrument is flute which I have performed in JMU’s
Marching Band and Concert Band. I also have choral experience from my Vocal Techniques class, being involved in
many choral ensembles throughout high school, and being in JMU’s University Choir. The ensemble I enjoyed the
most was JMU's Steel Band. Outside of JMU, I have spent school year learning euphonium in Harrisonburg's New
Horizons band, as well as being a student conductor for the group. During our time spent at home due to COVID-
19, I've been facilitating virtual ukulele jams, JMUke, with colleagues and young students. It's been rewarding
helping students focus their energy in musical ways during these unprecedented times.

After my time Student Teaching at Stone Spring Elementary and William Wetsel Middle School, I am confident in
my abilities to build and adapt to my students. Stone Spring is a majority-minority school with many students who
have ICP's. It was wonderful working with these students and learning how to wind back and forward lessons for
many of my students in a class. A favorite moment for me was leading the students in dances during their
Multicultural Family Dance Night, and my favorite class was the adaptive music class. Student Teaching has really
helped me focus on refining my teaching transitions and classroom management as I went from leading a few
activities to teaching and planning each lesson.

For your county, I believe that students should learn how to be good musicians and good people, but most
importantly, learn how to enjoy music for life. Students will learn how to be good citizens by learning how to
express their emotions, empathy, team-work, respect, and more. In today’s diverse society, the music educator’s
role is to bridge connections between these many cultures. They will use music to understand the current and past
world. Whether it is band, choir, or general music, I will make an impact.
 
I’m looking forward to your reply,
 
Ty Napierskie
TY
NAPIERSKIE
MUSIC EDUCATOR

CONTACT DETAILS

717-891-5243
rksnapierskie@gmail.com
EDUCATION
1164 Grand Oaks Drive, Forest, VA 24551
TyNapierskie.weebly.com
BM Music Education Instrumental - Piano
James Madison University / 2016–2020
Graduated May 2020 with 3.5 GPA
REFERENCES
Marching Royal Dukes, Concert Band, Steel Band, University Chorus
Heather Eberly – Music teacher at student
teaching placement Stone Spring Elementary High School Diploma
School, (540) 810-4020 , Dover Area High School / 2012-2016

heberly@harrisonburg.k12.va.us Graduated June 2016 with 4.0 GPA

Dr. Jesse Rathgeber – Music Education Music Industry Pathway
professor at JMU (630)267-3536
rathgejc@jmu.edu STUDENT TEACHING
Chuck Dotas – Jazz Studies Professor at JMU,
head coordinator of the Montréal Study Abroad
Stone Spring Elementary
Harrisonburg, VA / January 13th - March 6th
trip chuckdotas@mac.com
Cooperating Teacher: Heather Eberly, heberly@harrisonburg.k12.va.us
Dr. Paulo Steinberg – Piano Professor and
University Supervisor: Rhonda Stees, steesrl@jmu.edu   
music educator at JMU, my applied professor
Worked with specials music blocks, pre-k-5th with an adaptive class
(540) 568-6977 paulo.steinberg@gmail.com
and a choir
Scott Rikkers – Marching band director and
Worked with over 500 students
concert band conductor at JMU (540) 421-8197  
rikkersd@jmu.edu
William Wetsel Middle School
Madison, VA / March 9th - May 8th
INSTRUMENT PROFICIENCY
Cooperating Teacher: Alicia Strickler
Piano.......... astrickler@madisonschools.k12.va.us
Flute.......... University Supervisor: Greg Thomas, gregt9617@gmail.com     
Voice.......... Worked with middle school brass, woodwinds, percussion, choir club,
and jazz band
Euphonium...
Observed High School and taught 9th grade band
Ukulele.......
Assisted in creating take home packets for 4th block due to COVID-19
 TEACHING EXPERIENCE
RELATED EXPERIENCE
JMUke
Piano Accompanist Virtual ukulele / zoom platform / April 2020 - current
August 2016 - December 2019 JMU Center for Inclusive Music Engagement program
Accompanies vocalists and instrumentalists
Each Friday, both children and adults, learn how to play ukulele via song
within the JMU School of Music
jam slide shows
Experience with senior recitals, jury
Myself and a colleague are going to continue teaching the children's jam
performances, and public performances
over the summer
Church Pianist
Trinity Lutheran Church, Harrisonburg / New Horizons - conductor Dr. William Dabback
August 2018 Harrisonburg wind band / August 2019 - March 2020
Performed selected hymns, preludes, and Most individuals are older who wish to pick their instrument back up
other pieces Sight read and play flute or euphonium
Substitute for their usual pianist Conducted pieces and lead lessons

ENGAGEMENT Woodwind Technician

Tau Beta Sigma – Eta Rho / Fall 2019 - Turner Ashby High School, Harrisonburg / August 2019
Spring 2020 Instructed woodwind section during the two band camp weeks
Band Service Sorority Straight leg marching, visuals, and music
We do projects involved with serving the
marching band, assisting the band Private Lessons
directors, helping girl scouts get their music Piano / August 2016 - current
badge, etc. Private piano instructor for all ages and levels
Experience with beginning adults
VMEA / 2018 & 2019
Study Abroad – Montréal, Canada / Experience with online teaching
Summer 2019
JMU study abroad program for 6 weeks
Paid Assistant to log and calculate spending CERTIFICATIONS
Took 6 credit hour classes – English and
Child Abuse Clearance / June 2018
Humanities
FBI Finger Print Clearance / June 2018
Resided in McGill University dorms and
Pennsylvania State Police Clearance / June 2018
visited Quebec City
Mandated Reporter Training Clearance / June 2018
NAFMEC / 2018 - 2019
Red Cross CPR Certification / October 2017                                
MTNA / 2016 - 2018
Member and Project Manager of the James Child Abuse Protection Certification, Virginia / October 2017
Madison University Music Teachers National
Association Chapter. Taught in the 2017 &
ACHIEVEMENTS
2018 Children’s Music Festival. Planned and
hosted the 2019 MTNA Collegiate Graduating Honors JMU / Spring 2020 / GPA 3.5 – honors cum laude
Symposium. Nominee for Joy Hollar Costello '58 Scholarship Endowment in Music
Education / Spring 2018 / JMU Music Education Board, one of the 3
Keyboard Association / 2016 - 2020
Secretary 2017-2018 finalists

Marching Royal Dukes / 2016, 2018 & 2019 Dean’s List / Fall 2016, Spring 2017, & Spring 2018 / GPA of 3.5 at JMU
Flute Music Leadership Fall 2019 Presidential Academic Award /June 2016 / Dover Area High School 
Fall of 2018, Marched in Macy’s Thanksgiving John Phillip Sousa Award / April 2016 / Dover Area High School
Parade Choral Leadership Award / April 2016 / Dover Area High School