August 9, 2025: Saturday Remix
Teachers and Staff: Happy Saturday!
Welcome back to regular lessons! And thank you all for striving to teach music in ways that live out and embody our studio philosophies.
“At Dennis Frayne Music Studios, music lessons are joyful, exploratory, tension-free, and tailored to each student’s unique way of learning.
"Our teaching spaces are filled with engaging tools — small percussion instruments, rhythm shakers, musical games, puppets & scarves, and colorful teaching aids — that help make concepts tangible and fun. Off-bench activities like singing, dancing & stretching, simple movement games, watching & listening, reading & writing, exploring technology, even arts & crafts and coloring, keep learning relaxed and interactive, helping students absorb skills naturally and without pressure.
"By honoring each student’s needs and promoting autonomy, we create low-stress, healthy environments that spark curiosity, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love of music.”
Teacher Orientation 2025 Kickoff
Thank you and congratulations to the first teachers who have completed their teacher orientation! We had a great group of teachers on August 4, and we are looking forward to more upcoming orientations!
Everyone should have signed up by now. Remember, every teacher must attend one mandatory teacher orientation session between now and the end of the year. Sessions are 2 hours, and there are a variety of days and times offered between now and then. (See instructions in the form.)
Teacher Orientations and Trainings are PAID work time, and take place at the Laguna Niguel School of Music.
Here is the link if you need it:
https://forms.gle/2zyYJRFxN1AmFgvG6
Musical Ladder - Test Completion
Certificates, wristbands, and trophies will be distributed in August for all July completions. We will keep you posted on exact timing but it will be soon.
If you didn’t get all your tests completed for July, let’s get them done as soon as possible in August! Everyone should be completing their tests and marking them completed in the Musical Ladder portal.
If a student was absent for their scheduled test, please conduct the test at their next lesson. Please put the completion date accurately – the date they actually complete their test.
Remember – no student can ever fail their test (and not pass their level)! They can postpone their test, perhaps. They can do not as well as they hoped for and then retake the test, but ultimately, they must pass their test, in a reasonable timeframe according to when they are supposed to complete it.
When you log into the Musical Ladder portal you will see your students. Click on the + sign to open one student up. Then select Tests to open up a window to mark their test complete. You can add notes if desired, please keep everything positive and encouraging!
Let myself or Mr. Denny know if you have any questions or cannot figure anything out. Let myself or the Office know if there is an error regarding students.
Remember, Please Commit to Reading All Communications
Please commit to reading all communications coming from me and from the Office. The Friday Medleys, Saturday Remixes, Newsletters, and operational emails coming to you have valuable and important information that we are depending on you to read and know. Please stay informed!
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Q: Are one-hour lessons 60 actual minutes?
A: Yes! At our music school an hour is 60 minutes! Not 50 minutes, not 55 minutes, not 58 or 59 minutes. 60 minutes.
We go by the “61-not-59” minute rule. In other words, it’s okay to give students an extra minute or two, but it is not okay to cheat students out of even one minute.
EXCEPTION: When students are late, their lesson still ends on time. So, if their lesson starts at 5:00pm, but they arrive at 5:10pm, their lesson is still over at 6:00pm. It is okay to give them an extra minute or two, but in this case you would not go until 6:10pm. Even if a student arrives very late, let’s say there are only 20 minutes left of their lesson when they arrive, then give them the 20 minutes or so, but not more. (They can always request a make-up lesson, too – just let them know to contact the Office.)
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Thank you, everyone, for all that you do!
Have a magical Saturday, a musical weekend, and a safe and healthy coming week. Back-to-school month is here!
Thank you,
Dennis Frayne
"Dr. Dennis"
Laguna Niguel School of Music
Dennis Frayne Music Studios
30110 Crown Valley Pkwy, Suites 105/107/108
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 844-9051 (office cell)
(949) 468-8040 (personal cell)
www.lagunaniguelschoolofmusic.com
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