July 26, 2025: Saturday Remix
Teachers and Staff: Happy Saturday!
(Optional) Teacher Training on August 4
For the (optional) teacher training opportunity on August 4, here is the final schedule. You can attend one or two sessions (the first and third sessions are the same content).
3:00 to 4:00 pm Introductory Lessons, Student Rewards & Special Programs, Q&A
4:00 to 5:00 pm Guest Teacher Lessons, Guest Student Lessons, Healthy, Happy, & Productive Music Lessons according to our Music Studio Philosophies, Q&A
5:00 to 6:00 pm Introductory Lessons, Student Rewards & Special Programs, Q&A
NOTE: This is different from the morning teacher orientation session.
I will send more information/instructions before the date.
Teacher Orientation 2025
Thank you teachers who have completed the signup form so far!
Please use the form sent in the email and provided below to submit your responses. Please complete it as soon as possible.
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:
https://forms.gle/2zyYJRFxN1AmFgvG6
I look forward to your responses!
Off-week Coming the First Week in August
Our next little break is coming up. Our summer off-week goes from Sunday, August 3, to Friday, August 8, 2025 (closed those days - no regular lessons). Note that lessons are ON for Friday and Saturday August 1 & 2, and Saturday, August 9 and going forward.
Musical Ladder - Tests
Everyone should be scheduling their tests for their students. All should be scheduled before the end of July. The only exceptions are those who have not reached their first 3 months yet.
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 add a new test. Simply pick a date in July.
These first tests do not need to be sophisticated at all. Keep it simple. It is more for symbolic purposes and fun as we get started. We can get more sophisticated later. We just want to get all students on the track for now.
So, schedule your tests, and then take them with your student, and mark the tests completed.
Let myself or Mr. Denny know if you have any questions or cannot figure it out. Let myself or Office know if there is an error regarding students.
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!
We have holiday recitals in October (around Halloween) and December (between Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Monthly Forum for August
We will host Forum on Friday August 1 (6:15p, 6:45p, and 7:30p), and Saturday, August 2 (8:15a and 8:45a). There will be no Forum on Sunday, August 3 (during off-week). Forum takes place in the 205 Ensemble Room.
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: Why do you have so many analog clocks in the studio?
A: Analog clocks are not only useful and fun but also educational! Music students should learn how to tell time on analog clocks! First, analog clocks are used in educational and professional settings; musicians need to know how to tell the time! Second, learning to tell time strengthens both analytical and reading skills. The complexity of the 12-hour analog clock resembles the complexity of reading music notation – and opens our brains up to wider notational possibilities and understandings! Finally, learning how to tell time gives us math practice, which is good for both general education and music – because especially when it comes to rhythm, music is quite mathematical!
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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 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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