"Carol of the Bells" is one of the most iconic holiday songs, instantly recognizable by its haunting, bell-like melody and hypnotic rhythm. Originally a Ukrainian folk chant called Shchedryk, the melody was composed by Mykola Leontovych in 1914. This piece was a New Year’s carol celebrating the arrival of spring, with lyrics that spoke of a swallow coming to announce wealth and good fortune. The song made its way to America in the early 1920s, where Peter J. Wilhousky, a Ukrainian-American choral director, adapted it with new English lyrics and titled it Carol of the Bells. Wilhousky’s lyrics transformed it into a Christmas song, emphasizing the sound of ringing bells and adding festive cheer.

A sensory-safe room is a space designed to provide a calming, controlled environment for individuals who may be sensitive to sensory stimuli, such as bright lights, loud sounds, or chaotic environments. These rooms are often used to help individuals with sensory processing challenges, including those with autism, ADHD, or anxiety, to feel more comfortable and reduce overstimulation. The goal is to create a soothing space where people can regulate their senses, feel secure, and focus on tasks without being overwhelmed by external stimuli.

Halloween is a time for spooky fun, and music plays a big role in setting the mood. From eerie movie soundtracks to playful, haunted melodies, Halloween music comes in many genres and styles. Whether you're looking for instrumental pieces, classical music, or popular songs to add to a Halloween playlist, there’s something for everyone—from kids and families to those who love a good scare!

Participation in music ensembles such as bands, orchestras, jazz bands, choirs, and various other groupings offers immense benefits and joy to children and youth in school. These ensembles provide a unique platform for students to express themselves, develop their musical skills, and foster personal growth. 

Music education provides significant social benefits to primary and secondary students, fostering joy, fun, and a sense of community. Engaging in music, whether through singing, playing an instrument, or participating in ensembles, allows students to experience the pure joy of creating and sharing music. This joy translates into fun, making learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Music lessons and group performances provide a break from traditional academic subjects, offering a creative outlet that balances the rigor of other school activities. This balance is crucial in maintaining students' overall enthusiasm for school and learning.

Music education significantly enhances students' chances of gaining admission to prestigious universities. This involvement showcases a variety of attributes and achievements that are highly valued by college admissions officers.

Learning drums and percussion is a dynamic and exhilarating journey that offers a wealth of benefits and rewards. From developing rhythmic prowess to fostering creativity and self-expression, the study of drums and percussion is an enriching experience with countless opportunities for growth and exploration.

String instruments, including the violin, viola, and cello, each possess their own unique characteristics and charm. While they share similarities in construction and technique, they also boast distinct qualities that make them fascinating instruments to learn and master.

The Laguna Niguel School of Music, Dennis Frayne Music Studios, now teach almost 100 students! We still have open lesson slots, and our goal is to enroll new students in all our available open spots this Spring, Summer, and Fall!

As the end of the school year approaches, we often get asked these questions:

Q. How do lessons work in the summer?

A. All the Dennis Frayne Music Studios are open year-round, and we do not close during the summer.

Musical theater is a captivating art form that combines acting, singing, and dancing to create a vibrant and engaging experience for both performers and audiences. While it may seem like mere entertainment, children who participate in musical theater reap a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond the stage. From self-expression to cognitive development, let's explore the various advantages that come with children immersing themselves in the world of musical theater.

As many of you know, for beginner and intermediate piano students, we use our own proprietary piano method, Presto! It’s Piano Magic, that Dr. Dennis has created and tested over many years of teaching, that gets students playing and advancing quickly, with both hands from the first lesson, and singing while playing. Most teachers say it cannot be done, but it can, and we help students do it every day! The Presto! It’s Piano Magic method is supported by curriculum, books and materials, sheet music, teaching aids, supplemental and reinforcing video tutorials, and fun backing tracks.

As parents, nurturing our children's growth involves exploring activities that enrich their development. Piano lessons stand as an exceptional avenue for holistic growth, offering a myriad of benefits that extend beyond mere musical skill.

Learning to play the piano stimulates various cognitive functions. It engages both hemispheres of the brain, fostering improved memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills. The complexities of reading sheet music and coordinating hands contribute to mental acuity and multitasking abilities.

Music is an art form, and a deep, important, exciting, and rewarding part of human life, and therefore a worthy endeavor all in itself.

But in addition, music education can have a range of benefits for children, both in terms of their academic performance and their personal development.

What Is Our Teaching Philosophy? Here are a few points of interest related to our teaching philosophy at Dennis Frayne Music Studios.

Goals & Interests. Music is for everyone, but not everyone has the same musical goals and interests. Knowing this, we have developed music programs, curriculum, piano lessons, voice lessons, instrumental lessons, ensembles, camps, classes, and teaching strategies that are tailored to each student’s individual needs, desires, and learning objectives.

A primary goal of making music, whether singing, playing the piano, or playing any other instrument, is to release tension. To the greatest extent possible, we want to strive for tension-free singing and tension-free playing.

I do recommend Dennis Frayne Music Studio. I have a 7-year-old son who’s been taking lessons from Dr. Dennis for one-and-a-half years. We started right when he turned six and it’s been a really good experience. It hasn’t been without challenges, as my son is a very strong spirit and an independent spirit. He started out wanting to take piano lessons, and then I suppose the novelty kind of wears off. But I value him practicing piano. It’s part of our family heritage - my grandmother played piano and passed it down. We have a piano in our home, and it’s like a part of our family culture. So I really really want him to practice. I also think it’s really good for his fine motor skills, which is an area that he needed a little extra special attention.

I have two children here in the studio of Dr. Dennis’ and his Laguna Niguel School of Music. My older son Riyaan is taking private piano lessons with Dr. Dennis, and my younger son Ishaan is participating in a pre-piano group music class with Miss Suzanne. We found Dr. Dennis’ studio through a Google search, and we are glad we did. We’re just really happy here!

One of the most important states of mind that we can help instill in our students is confidence. When a child or adult begins piano or other music lessons, they are often filled with excitement and anticipation, but too frequently also, fear. Fear of making mistakes, fear of looking bad, fear of feeling inadequate, fear of being perceived as having no talent... The worst thing we can do as teachers is to confirm or worsen those fears. We should help to alleviate those fears, to mitigate them, and ultimately to develop and restore confidence.

The root of learning music, of making music, including at the piano, should be joy. Once joy is firmly established, and music learning is, well, enjoyed by the student, then it’s time to layer on challenge and complexity and the rewards that come from struggle and hard work. If we begin with complexity, right and wrong, errors and mistakes, struggle and hard work, or place emphasis on these things too soon, we run the risk of removing the joy from music-making early on, and possibly for life.