At Dennis Frayne Music Studio, piano lessons are musical, joyous, healthy, and rewarding. Our teachers respect, honor, value, believe in, and nurture each and every child, student, and family.

Our teachers are trained, mentored, and coached in curriculum, methods, and strategies that build student-teacher rapport, increase student self-confidence, and affirm each individual person’s interests, musical tastes, learning styles, and sense of self-worth. Piano lessons take place in healthy, tension-free learning environments.

Students progress at a pace that keeps them interested, enthusiastic, and wanting more. Students who begin piano lessons here are not damaged, but they blossom and flourish — and in fact many of our students come here to heal.

So your child develops tension-free and problem-free technical skill, superior musical and playing ability, and performance confidence.

Truthfully, most piano studios and music schools operate in ways that cause damage to a high percentage of students as described above. This is evidenced by the large numbers of students who quit piano, who make very slow progress, who are afraid to perform on stage, who never have any music ready to play on the spot or from memory for others, who struggle to find the right “position” on the piano keyboard before playing (note: pianos do not have positions; if your child is being taught “piano hand positions” you should stop lessons with that teacher), who grimace and apologize as they play, who are unmusical, and who lack self-confidence even after (or because of) years of lessons.

So your child receives joyous music instruction in a healthy learning environment.

It is so important to address the unfortunate yet critical fact that many young children are damaged by unskilled and ill-informed (even if well-intentioned) piano teachers, music schools, and poorly-designed curricula and methods. This damage shows up as hesitancy, unease, fear, anxiety, tentativeness, stress, bodily tension, physical pain, self-doubt, lack of self-confidence, low self-esteem, frustration from little or no progress after years of lessons, even anger and hating piano and music lessons.

This damage can last a lifetime. It is caused by teachers’ poor choice of curriculum, stressful, tedious, and boring teaching methods and strategies, unmusical lesson sequencing, the use of gimmicks and forced shortcuts rather than developing natural playing technique, unhealthy learning environments, narrowminded views toward some music genres that youth love, high-stakes succeed-or-fail performance philosophies, infrequent positive, rewarding performance opportunities, and subtle or not-so-subtle shaming of students.

We teach all students of all ages, all interests, and all ability levels. Everyone can achieve in music and at the piano. Everyone can make progress at a pace they are proud of. Everyone can learn to play the music they love and enjoy most.

We teach everyone, and you or your child, the way you learn, at the right pace for you and your needs and interests, and in a manner most rewarding for you and most fulfilling for your goals and dreams.

Most piano teachers and music teachers blame students for their lack of success. They will say students are either talented or untalented, musical or unmusical, “naturals” or not, hard workers or lazy, practice or don’t practice, dedicated or undedicated, have ability or don’t have ability, etc. At Dennis Frayne Music Studio, you will never hear us say such things. We teach students of all ages, all interests, and all ability levels, and everyone succeeds to the level they desire!

Because we have the highest quality, skilled, certified, and most experienced music teachers in South Orange County. Our piano teachers are trained in and become certified in the Presto! It’s Piano Magic curriculum, teaching methods, and strategies. Our teachers engage in ongoing professional development, perform music, and are active in the music education world and the local community. Our faculty includes teachers with music degrees, music certificates, masters degrees, doctorate degrees, State of California teaching credentials in music education, special education, and many have more than one teaching credential.

In addition to their teaching credentials and experience, our teachers have warm personalities, are extremely friendly, treat each person as unique and valued individuals, and are dedicated to teaching you the styles of music that you want to learn in the way you learn best.

Because we are the only local music school who teaches piano using the proprietary Presto! It’s Piano Magic curriculum and method series. This curriculum plays a significant role in our ability to customize the pacing of lessons — whether individual private or group lessons — to the needs, desires, and goals of each student.

Whether a fast, accelerated, or more leisurely approach is desired, we teach the way you want to learn. Progress is faster than other schools even at our more “leisurely” pace. (Ask us about our Music Teachers Association of California Certificate of Merit piano pacing comparison, strategy, and path to completion of exams.)

Because we offer many performance opportunities, including music recitals and concerts in various locations and venues, ranging from in-home soirees and piano parties to world class music halls and our destination recitals.

Our forums (practice performances among peers) and master classes help students become comfortable playing in front of others, and with others, in ensembles, small groups, and combos. Students develop self-confidence performing on stage, and this self-confidence translates into other areas of their education, career, and life.

Because we have a comfortable parent lounge and workspace for siblings to read, do arts and crafts, play with toys and puzzles, and do homework. We stock a variety of materials and supplies for everyone’s use.

We also provide large observation windows so that you can watch your child's individual private lesson while you wait. Or if you prefer you can sit in on their individual private lesson at any time.

Because we offer early morning and early afternoon lessons for homeschoolers, retirees, college students, and working professionals. We offer lessons as early as 9:00 a.m. and we teach many students in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Lessons include “Mommy & Me” and Pre-Piano classes for very young children and their parents, and our one-of-a-kind “Piano & Brew” for adults who wish to add a social aspect to group piano lessons.

If you are a homeschool parent, retiree, college student, or working professional who has a flexible schedule, take advantage of our early morning and early afternoon lesson spots.

Because we support teachers, music education, the arts, youth, and education in the community. We care about our students, our teachers, and our community.

Our teachers are dedicated employees who believe in our school, our teaching methods, our philosophies, and strategies, and plan to stay with us for a long time; not independent contractors who are less focused, less skilled, less accountable, unsupervised, and come and go.

Although we are a for-profit organization we give generously to local non-profits, schools, youth programs, and scholarship funds.

Because we offer a money-back guarantee! Most music schools require a month’s tuition upfront that is non-refundable if you decide to quit. While our tuition is also paid upfront, if you decide to quit because you are unsatisfied with your or your child’s progress at the piano, we will refund you the entire last month’s tuition. Yes, that’s a full month! We don’t think this will happen, but if it does, not only will we *not* keep your tuition for unused lessons, but we will give you the last month’s tuition back if you decide to quit because you are not satisfied with the piano student’s progress or pace of learning. (There is no other music school that offers this guarantee!)

Located on Crown Valley Pkwy in the heart of Laguna Niguel, our school is convenient to many areas of South Orange County. Close to our school, you will find great shopping, dining, and even the beach! Our location is convenient to (and we have many students from) Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo, and San Juan Capistrano.