Teacher Training
at the
North Texas School of Talent Education
The Suzuki Association of the Americas oversees an extensive teacher development process.
Courses are offered across the country by a select group of registered teacher trainers,
a distinction shared by NTSTE Directors Charles Krigbaum and Daina Volodka Staggs.
If you are interested in pursing training to become a registered Suzuki teacher,
you can view upcoming training opportunities with Mr. Krigbaum and Mrs. Volodka Staggs below.
Upcoming Events
NTSTE Community Day
January 15, 2026
12:00 - 1:00 PM Central Time
Online via Zoom
This event is free of charge!
🎻NTSTE Community Day – January 15, 2026🎻
Thursday, January 15 | 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. (Central Time, USA)
Online via Zoom | Free Event for All Teachers
✨Celebrate the Year, Connect with Colleagues, and Look Ahead to 2026!
Charles Krigbaum and Daina Volodka Staggs invite you to join us for a very special North Texas School of Talent Education Community Day — a free, online event designed to celebrate our vibrant community of teachers and share inspiration for the year ahead.
We created Community Day as a heartfelt “thank you” to the many teachers who have studied with us — in person, online, in SAA Unit Training, Enrichment Courses, Practicum, and Mentorship Programs — and as an open invitation to anyone curious about joining our network of lifelong learners.
If you’ve trained with us before, we can’t wait to see you again.
If you’re new to the Suzuki world, we’d love to meet you.
And if you simply want to reconnect with the joy of teaching, this hour is for you.
💛All teachers are invited and welcome!
🌸Featured Guest Presentation
Jessica Retana – "Scaling the Mountaintop: A Pathway to Four-Octave Scales"
Jessica Retana will present a structured and accessible pathway into four-octave scale study for students working beyond the Suzuki books. She will share how to prepare for four-octave scales, compare fingerings and approaches from published scale systems such as Ivan Galamian's Contemporary Violin Technique and Simon Fischer's Scales, and explore how four-octave scales relate to and support advanced repertoire. Participants will come away with resources and practical ideas for integrating four-octave scales into their own practice and teaching.Join Jessica Retana as she shares practical and inspiring strategies for building four octave scales.
✨Plus - Special Presentations from Charles and Daina
Charles Krigbaum – "Flying Solo: Unaccompanied Repertoire for Students in Book 8 and Above"
Charles Krigbaum will introduce five unaccompanied works for Suzuki students in Book 8 and above and share why he programs them, when he assigns them, and how each one fits into the larger arc of advanced repertoire study. In a brief, focused format, he will highlight what these pieces uniquely offer—musical and technical goals, the kinds of students they suit best, and the occasions where solo repertoire becomes an especially smart choice. Featured works will include: Bach (Gigue, Partita No. 3 in E Major) • Bacewicz (Polish Caprice) • Prokofiev (Solo Sonata, Op. 115) • Ohtani (Face Up) • Igudesman (Applemania)
Daina Volodka Staggs – "Let's Talk Basics!"
How many times have you wanted to shape a phrase,
only to find that you need to address your posture and technique?
Did you say, "CONSTANTLY?!"
Developing musicianship in students is the primary goal of all violin teachers, and the only pathway to musicality is a strong plan for teaching and developing the basics of violin technique.
Daina Staggs will outline these basics, and present ideas for encouraging students to
play sensitively with musical self-expression by taking care of the basics.
💻Can’t Attend Live? We’ve Got You Covered!
If you register but can’t join us in real time, no problem! Every registered participant will receive
a complimentary video recording after the event. So even if you’re teaching, traveling, or busy that morning, you’ll still get full access to all presentations and materials.
🌟Don’t Miss This Final Gathering of 2025!
Join us for this joyful hour of reflection, discovery, and connection with teachers from around the world. Let’s end 2025 together — grounded in gratitude, inspired by possibility, and ready for a brilliant 2026.
We can’t wait to celebrate this special day with you.
The North Texas School of Talent Education Team
—Charles Krigbaum & Daina Volodka Staggs
Reserve your free spot today and to receive your Zoom link + video access!
Bach to Basics: A Pedagogical Journey Through the Works of J.S. Bach in the Suzuki Violin School
January 22, January 29, February 5, February 12, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Central Time Zone USA
Online via Zoom
$300
Bach to Basics: A Pedagogical Journey Through the Works of J.S. Bach in the Suzuki Violin School
J.S. Bach is the most frequently featured composer in the Suzuki Violin School, with his music appearing throughout the repertoire—from the first Minuets of Book 1 to the monumental works of Book 7, and the iconic solo pieces just beyond. His music shapes how we teach sound, structure, and artistry. In Bach to Basics, we use these familiar works as a framework to explore the evolving skills that define a player’s growth: resonance, tone production, balance, bow control, sensitivity, phrasing, and endurance.
Using Bach’s music as an organizing framework, this 10-hour Enrichment Course traces the technical and musical development of the violinist across the Suzuki volumes and beyond. Co-presented by two SAA Teacher Trainers with a combined fifty years of experience guiding students from their very first lessons to the young artist level, Bach to Basics examines how Bach’s works illuminate the full arc of a student’s growth—shaping their sound, technique, and musicianship at every stage. Participants will consider stylistic elements of Bach’s music and deepen their understanding of sound production and musical structure while exploring how his works continue to refine both player and teacher.
Designed for teachers of all backgrounds, this course welcomes both Suzuki and traditionally trained educators who wish to discover how Bach’s music can clarify and inspire every aspect of violin teaching. Through study, listening, and discussion, we’ll explore how returning to Bach brings us back to what is essential in our teaching: clarity, beauty, and purpose.
Grounded in the Suzuki philosophy and enriched by decades of teaching experience, this course offers insight, connection, and inspiration—bringing teachers, quite literally, Bach to Basics: to the heart of musicianship, mastery, and the enduring art of teaching.