In This Month’s Newsletter

An Interview with Dr. Priya La Londe
Important Dates
Upcoming Recitals and Forums
Welcome Our New Students
Student of the Month
Studio Spotlight
Days and Deeds of Dr. Dennis
Did You Read Your Newsletter Contest?
Referral Program

An Interview with Dr. Priya

Excerpts from an interview with Dr. Priya, who speaks about her experience at Laguna Niguel School of Music (Dennis Frayne Music Studios).

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!

Riyaan had been taking piano for about a year and a half previously, but his experience here, now, is very different. This is the most independent, confident, and excited he’s been, and I would say he’s genuinely more interested and enthusiastic now than he’s ever been before. One of the things that is kind of unique and different about Dr. Dennis’ and Miss Suzanne’s approach is that they really empower the kids to be independent. They also help them to develop a repertoire of music, rather than just sort of learning a batch of songs for one week and then moving on. They learn a set of songs and then they keep on playing those songs as they continue to learn more.

My older son, Riyaan, became excited to take Dr. Dennis’ advice and perform a solo recital. This is after just a couple of months of lessons. He got on our computer at home and he created a program, chose the order of his songs, and then we came here to the studio with my family, my husband, and my parents, we all came to see Riyaan perform. We dressed nicely, my son dressed nicely, and he performed his own solo recital! It was really all his initiative with the support of Dr. Dennis. So, I would say that’s something that sets Dr. Dennis apart. He writes his own curriculum; he puts songs together in a sequence that helps kids really build from where they are, and this has given Riyaan a lot of confidence. In the pre-piano class, which is a small group of 3-4-year-olds, there’s a lot of singing and also playing on keyboards. The kids are sometimes sort of acting out music, singing music, and working on songs in many different ways. After just a couple of lessons, my 3-year-old can play a song on the black keys and sing it at the same time.

As someone with a background both in early childhood development and also music, I haven’t come across teachers like this in a long time. They really have something going on here that’s quite special. They understand that kids are naturally gifted. They’re musicians and they bring kindness, joy, and the view that kids have talent and confidence, and you just have to nurture it. It comes through in the way they talk to the kids, the way they conduct the lessons – it’s just their whole approach. I feel really blessed and grateful that my kids are here.

Dr. Priya La Londe

IMPORTANT DATES:

Online Forum - June 10
Father’s Day - June 18
Online Recital - June 24
Independence Day - July 4
In- person Recital (at Hoson House) - Aug. 26
Other Online Forums - June 10 ; July 15 ; August 19

Upcoming Recitals and Forums

Recitals:

Online Recital:

June 24, 2023, Saturday morning 9:00 am

RSVP required Zoom

In-person Recital:

Hoson House 1961 Irvine Blvd, Tustin, CA 92780

August 26, 2023, Saturday afternoon 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm

RSVP required

Forums:

Saturday mornings at 9:00 am

Zoom

No RSVP required

June 10; July 15 and August 19

Please welcome our NEW Students who enrolled in May!

Elias C.

Asher F.

Cindy F.

Student of the Month

Elliot started piano lessons with Dr. Dennis in January 2020, as a beginner. He has progressed through the Presto! It’s Piano Magic series Books 1, 2, and is nearly finished with Book 3, about to start Book 4, which brings him through late intermediate and early advanced level piano music! Elliot has also completed the MTAC Certificate of Merit exams levels 2, 3, and 4, including earning State Honors.

Elliot enjoys learning different types of music. He played the violin and trumpet in elementary school and will return to the violin for middle school. Elliot likes the STEAM lab, learning math, and playing soccer. And, he has fun collecting junior ranger badges at national parks!

Studio Spotlight

Ms. Theresa is our office assistant and sales manager for Laguna Niguel School of Music, Dennis Frayne Music Studios. When Theresa is not working for the music studio, she enjoys being in nature, rockhounding, crystal wrapping, working out, hiking, reading, and camping. She is a new mother of a four-month-old girl, who loves being around music, even when inside the womb! Music is huge in Theresa’s family; she says it has given them many benefits and has created something healthy to bond over. Theresa says she loves recommending our studio to families of all ages of students, children, and adults, but mostly to those who have experienced some kind of trauma from overly strict, unfriendly, or stressful teachings. Her goal while working with Dennis Frayne Music Studios is to provide healthy and positive music education to all corners of Orange County, CA. If you ever run into Theresa at any events, please stop by and say hello! She would love to hear all about your experience with music lessons.

Days & Deeds of Dr. Dennis

Rancho Santa Margarita (RSM) is one of my favorite cities in Orange County. I have so many wonderful memories, especially around raising my children. Two went to Serra Catholic School (now St. Serra Catholic School) for nearly eight years, and one went to Santa Margarita Catholic High School for two years. They spent time doing so many activities, including many the city and community offered, as well as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts, and Cal Elite Gymnastics, music lessons at Rancho Canyon Music, little league, soccer, swimming lessons, the library, and more. We lived for a time in one of RSM’s many townhome complexes and were able to walk to school for a few years. Today we don’t live in RSM, but we still go shopping and dining there, and I teach several students that live in RSM!

Inspirations

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

- Proverbs 22:6

“A father’s smile has been known to light up a child’s entire day.”

- Susan Gale

Did You Read Your Newsletter Contest?

June - July 2023

To encourage everyone to read the Dennis Frayne Music Studio Newsletter, each month we’ll feature a new contest winner or a new contest. Be sure to read your newsletter each month to see if your name has been drawn or you might miss out!

This month’s winner is Catherine Kansaz

Catherine has won 10 tickets which can be redeemed for prizes at the

Dennis Frayne Music Studio, Laguna Niguel!

To collect your prize tickets just bring this to the office.

Congratulations, Catherine!

Everyone, be sure to read your newsletter each month!

Referral Program

If you have a friend who might like to take lessons, refer them to

Dennis Frayne Music Studio, Laguna Niguel.

If they register for lessons, we’ll give you each twenty-five dollars plus make donations to Scholarship Squirrel and Children’s Hospital of Orange County!

You will receive your $25 as a credit on your account, they will receive $25 off their first registration/tuition payment, and Scholarship Squirrel and CHOC each will receive a $25 donation.

It’s very easy to refer someone. Just send an email to us both and share their name(s)!

There’s no maximum to the amount of credits and donations that you can receive and give!

Help us grow our music studio and let’s give a little back to our community and to children in need of special assistance and care.

June - July 2023 Newsletter