July 12, 2025: Saturday Remix
Teachers and Staff: Happy Saturday!
Teacher Training / Coaching on Monday, Aug 4, 2025
The first week of August includes some scheduled off-days (Sunday, 8/3 thru Friday 8/8). On Monday, 8/4, I am offering some teacher training & coaching. Some of the topics will include how to do effective:
Introductory Lessons
Guest Teacher Lessons (especially with non-primary instruments)
Guest Student Lessons (especially with mixed-instruments and mixed-levels)
Small Group Lessons
Healthy, Happy, & Productive Music Lessons according to our Music Studio Philosophies
Student Rewards & Special Programs (Forum, Prize Tickets, Musical Ladder, Student of the Month, Concert Performance Team, CM/RCM Exams)
I also will offer some time for general Q&A.
Please pencil in your calendar if you are interested in attending. I will send another email soon to request RSVP and commitments.
The Teacher Boxes in each Lesson Room
Check the teacher boxes in your lesson rooms for items that might be addressed to you! And, use the teacher boxes to deliver things to the office. This is where you will find, for example, About Me clipboards for Introductory Lessons, sheet music or books you have requested, and Musical Ladder certificates and wristbands.
Start Time Reminder: The 15-Minute Rule
As studio music teachers our goal is that we arrive 15 minutes prior to our first lesson, and stay for 15 minutes after our last lesson. I know that there are some predetermined exceptions to the general rule, but besides these exemptions, the rule should be followed all other times. 15 minutes before, and 15 minutes after.
Remember, we never want students to arrive at the school for a lesson and not have their teacher there ready for them. Ready to greet them warmly and enthusiastically as they enter the lesson room. We want students to always have the best and most positive experience possible. And we want teachers to present themselves to students and families in the most professional light possible.
On your timesheet, enter your actual start time and end time. You only get paid for the 15 minutes before and after if you are actually there, working. If you arrive late or leave early, you do not receive that time as if by default; please only log your actual time in and your actual time out.
The same is true regarding lessons missed by students. If you remain working despite the student’s absence (no-show), then you can log that time. But if you leave (which you should not, because sometimes students arrive late), then you do not receive that time. You must enter your actual time in, and your actual time out.
Please ask if you have any questions about this policy.
Theme Recital Coming in September
We have a theme recital coming up on September 26, 2025. The theme is Songs of America. Please encourage your students to learn one or more patriotic songs, folk songs, or other pieces of music that represent the breadth and depth of American culture.
These kinds of songs and pieces are often found in abundance in method books and music curriculum, and we can also provide others as needed. If you want some music that we don’t already have, please let us know, and we will strive to get it for you.
Start Selecting, Learning, & Practicing Holiday Music with your Students!
It’s easy to wait too long to start preparing for holiday music. We recommend that you start selecting, learning, and practicing holiday music now, in July & August. Holiday music includes everything from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas & Hanukkah to New Years and others that your students celebrate. It also includes seasonal music for the Fall and Winter seasons, not necessarily related to holidays.
If you think summer is too early to start holiday music, reconsider! Students should be learning a variety of music (not just holiday music), but they should definitely start learning and practicing very early, to be well-prepared for holiday recitals, soirees, and family times at home.
The holidays are a season, not one day or one single performance! And it’s a long season! Don’t fight against the several-months-long holiday season – embrace it!
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Q. Should we be using WiFi at the music studio, and what is the login information?
A. When using the lesson room computers, you do not need the WiFi, since they are connected directly to the network via cables. You simply login to the computer or laptop / Windows. When you are using your own laptop or device, then you need to use the WiFi to access the Internet. The login information is:
MUSICLESSONS or MUSICLESSONS5G
musiclearning30110
This same WiFi is available to our guests (students, parents, families), and you can provide this information to them if they ask. It is also posted on some of the bulletin boards, etc.
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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. And in general, a good old summertime!
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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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