Gary R.

Wishmeyer
Supervisor of Music Education Students
Indiana University Bloomington
Jacobs School of Music

During the fall semester of the 2014-2015 school year, Graciela Burroughs completed her
student teaching requirement for the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University-Bloomington
at Portage High School and Willowcreek Middle School in Portage, Indiana. Gracielas
experience gave her the opportunity to work every orchestra in the high school and middle
school programs under the highly respected directors; Mrs. Cindy Schnabel and Mrs. Carrie
Carlson. She was also involved with conducting sectionals with all of the orchestras and after
school for students seeking additional help on their concert music.
One will find Graciela to be a very intelligent and talented young lady with a quiet and
reserved personality until she gets to know you. She was well-received and accepted by the
students as they quickly learned that she was there to teach and to make them better. With her
quiet nature, she soon developed a teacher voice which helped her with her classroom
management strategies and skills. Graciela possesses an excellent ear for music which allows
her to hear into the orchestra ensemble for errors in rhythms and notes. She also has an in-depth
knowledge of music that provides her with the ability to fix the problems she hears during her
rehearsals. Being the excellent musician that she is, Graciela has the ability to model and
demonstrate correct bowing techniques, fingerings and fingerings shifts which is a tremendous
aid to her teaching.
Graciela was always well-prepared for her rehearsals with detailed lesson plan goals in
mind for each section to achieve during the rehearsal. She showed a steady and continuous
growth during the semester not only in her ability to be a very effective teacher but in becoming
more demanding for excellence in the performance achievement during the rehearsal and the
students rehearsal disciplines. I found Graciela to be very confident at both the high school and
the middle school level in her teaching ability but I feel she was more comfortable teaching at
the middle school age level.
Suffice to say, I highly recommend Ms. Graciela Burroughs to any school corporation
who is desirous in hiring a very talented and intelligent young, prospective music educator.
Graciela is destined for success and she will be an excellent role model for your students and
asset to your school and community.
Respectfully Submitted,

Gary R. Wishmeyer
Supervisor of Music Education