about the
North Texas School of Talent Education
The North Texas School of Talent Education was founded by Charles Krigbaum in 2001, and co-director Daina Volodka Staggs joined the faculty in 2014. NTSTE has a national reputation as a program known for quality and excellence.
In addition to the numerous musical awards achieved by NTSTE students and alumni, students of Charles Krigbaum and Daina Volodka Staggs have become distinguished professionals in many diverse fields.
The secret to success is the work between the Suzuki Triangle: Parent-Teacher-Child.
Parents in the Suzuki Approach take on an active role in the learning process. Parent participation is necessary in order for the student to be successful. At least one parent (the same parent each time) must be present at each lesson. The Suzuki parent will learn the basics of the violin with their child. You do not need to know anything about music or the instrument prior to enrollment.
A willingness to learn and the time to dedicate to practicing everyday are the only requirements for the program. The parent agrees to practice daily with their child at home and is responsible for establishing a daily regime of music listening as instructed by the teacher.
The beginning student will be expected to practice directly with their parent for approximately 30 minutes a day. By the second year of study, this daily amount of practice will increase to 1 hour. It is common for advanced NTSTE students to practice 2 or more hours.
Private Lessons are held weekly with your teacher. Scheduling is coordinated between both the teacher’s and families’ availability. Parents and students attend each lesson together. Dr. Suzuki believed that the parent is the most important teacher for the child. Careful instruction is given to the parent in each lesson to guide the daily practice sessions at home.
Home Practice occurs daily, providing a wonderful opportunity for quality time and connecting with your child. A Suzuki parent has a challenging and exciting job! Learning the violin becomes a long-term project that you will work on together. Music study instills confidence and discipline while providing your child with an expressive outlet. Studying the violin reveals one of life’s most important and treasured lessons: progress and success occur as the result of the quality of one’s own effort. The parent and student are not on this journey alone--the teacher is there to provide instruction, guidance, expertise and support through all stages of development--from Twinkle to Tchaikovsky.
Group Lessons are an integral part of musical education. Playing with others is not only one of the greatest joys of music, but it is also an extremely motivating activity. Students come to group lessons excited to see one another. Parents also find it helpful to connect with their fellow Suzuki parents and enjoy being a part of the community.
Group lessons provide an opportunity to learn how to behave in a group setting, how to watch and follow a leader, how to play with other musicians, how to rehearse and perform with others; it’s a chance to practice old skills and strengthen the newer ones. The benefits are endless.
The most successful Suzuki families are the ones who commit to creating the time in their schedules for daily practice and listening, as well as weekly lessons and group classes.