Baltimore Talent Education Center
Nonprofit Organization Management - Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Baltimore Talent Education Center Employees
Baltimore Talent Education Center Details
Using the open access yet rigorous instruction of the Suzuki methodology ("talent education" refers to the Suzuki belief that all children have talent open for education) the mission of the Baltimore Talent Education Center is to provide music education for all Baltimore area students:1) Instruction in string instruments – primarily violin, cello, piano, guitar and bass -- for students from Pre-K to High School. 2) Parent-Child involvement. Available from Pre-K on, parents are encouraged to take the first year of classes with their children. In the Suzuki Method, a parent is trained to be their children's home teacher. 3) Community empowerment. Through orientation classes, parents form bonds as their children progress to ensemble, individual and orchestra options. Since 1979, the parent-founded group Friends of BTEC has provided advocacy, payroll for all part-time instructors, maintenance of instruments, and in 2010, and the organizational support to transition BTEC from City Schools oversight. BTEC was founded in 1974 by Irene Kohlmeyer, a City Schools string music teacher eager to provide an after school alternative to the massive closures of string music classes and orchestras in City Schools. In 2010, the last remaining obstacle for BTEC's reach was eliminated with the opening of the first set of five community music school locations.
