April 2024 Newsletter
In This Month’s Newsletter
How Does the Summer Work?
Important Dates
Upcoming Recitals and Forums
Welcome Our New Students
Student of the Month
Spotlight on April Showers
Days and Deeds of Dr. Dennis
Music Playdates in the Park
Interested in unschooling?
Did You Read Your Newsletter Contest?
Referral Program
How Does the Summer Work?
The Laguna Niguel School of Music, Dennis Frayne Music Studios, now teach almost 100 students! We still have open lesson slots, and our goal is to enroll new students in all our available open spots this Spring, Summer, and Fall!
As the end of the school year approaches, we often get asked these questions:
Q. How do lessons work in the summer?
A. All the Dennis Frayne Music Studios are open year-round, and we do not close during the summer.
Q. Do a lot of students quit during the summer?
A. No! Most of our students continue taking lessons during the summer. It’s the best way, as it maintains continuity and prevents learning loss. Some students withdraw but then new students start lessons during the summer months.
Q. If we withdraw for the summer, can we keep our spot for Fall?
A. Lessons are first come first serve, so if you withdraw for the summer, we cannot guarantee that we will have the same spot available for you in the Fall, as we will open the spot to new students. Also, we increase our rates to offset inflation each year at the Fall quarter, and you would come in at the new rate.
(Families who stay enrolled keep their Price for Life Guarantee, and their rate never increases!)
The three big questions for all parents and students to consider (after continuity and learning loss) are:
Do you want to stay with the same teacher in the Fall?
Do you want priority scheduling and selection of lesson day and time?
Do you want to ensure your rate does not increase?
If the answer to one or more of these is Yes, and you plan to take a vacation, there are still ways to do this:
1. Continue taking lessons during the summer. Your vacation may line up with one of our scheduled off-weeks.
2. Take advantage of online lessons (these can take place while traveling with or without your instrument), video tutorials, and other coursework your teacher will provide for you.
3. Make up missed lessons with group make-up classes when you return. We offer unlimited make-up classes, and these classes provide unique opportunities for students to participate in music learning experiences that supplement and enhance their regular lessons. So it is a win-win!
We realize that some of you will go on vacation for a portion of the summer. By continuing lessons, while you are here, taking advantage of online lessons while traveling, watching the video tutorials and completing other coursework assigned by your teacher, and attending group make-up classes when you return, you will make up for any missed lessons, keep your same teacher and spot for Fall, and maintain your Rate for Life!
And there’s one more possibility: Sublease your spot to a family or friend. You can send a family member or friend to your place for the dates you will miss. Just let Dr. Dennis or the office know who is coming to take your place and when. Make sure that they reimburse you directly for the lessons.
If you are taking summer lessons and need a specific time for Fall, please contact us as soon as you know your schedule and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Each September, we get calls from students who have been with us for years but withdrew for the summer. They want to return to the same teacher, day, and time, but the spot has been filled by another student. If you LOVE your teacher, keep your spot by continuing during the summer and taking advantage of all the options to make it easier!
If you have any questions, please call us at (949) 844-9051.
FUN and IMPORTANT DATES
April 1 - April Fool's Day
April 22 - Earth Day
Upcoming Recitals and Forums
Recital: In - Person
Saturday, May 11, 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
RSVP required
Shepherd of the Hills UMC 26001
Muirlands Blvd Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Please welcome
our NEW Students who enrolled
in February
Dave C.
Journey C.
Melisa C.
Evan F.
Michelle H.
George L.
Lilly S.
Nikki S.
Mike T.
Yourik Y.
Student of the Month
Nicole Gultcova
Nicole started learning to play the piano when she was 7 years old. At the Laguna Niguel School of Music, with teacher Dr. Dennis, after starting midway through Book 1, she is now graduating to Book 2! She says the best part of playing the piano is playing songs
that she likes. She wants to sing while playing the piano and someday would like to play the violin.
Nicole's favorite subject in school is science, and her favorite hobby is gymnastics. She appreciates how gymnastics teaches her new physical skills and also personal improvement.
Spotlight on April Showers
April Showers, composed by Louis Silvers with lyrics by B.G. DeSylva in 1921, has left an indelible mark on American popular music. The song's imagery of rain showers in April symbolizes hope and renewal, resonating with audiences during a time of cultural dynamism and social change.
Set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, a period marked by economic prosperity and rapid transformation, April Showers emerged as an anthem of resilience. Its upbeat melody and uplifting lyrics provided solace and inspiration to a society navigating the complexities of modernity.
Debuting in the 1921 Broadway musical Bombo, the song quickly garnered widespread acclaim, solidifying its status as a musical gem of the era. Since then, it has been featured in various forms of entertainment, including films, radio broadcasts, and recordings by renowned artists.
With verses like "Though April showers may come your way / They bring the flowers that bloom in May," the song encapsulates the spirit of optimism amidst adversity. Its enduring popularity transcends generational boundaries, embodying the timeless appeal of music to uplift and unite people.
As April Showers continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences worldwide, its legacy remains vibrant and relevant. Through its evocative melody and poignant lyrics, the song stands as a testament to the enduring power of music to touch the human spirit and inspire hope for generations to come.
Days & Deeds of Dr. Dennis
Coto de Caza is such a beautiful area! My experience with Coto de Caza involves the friends and families that lived there and we visited often when my children went to Serra Catholic School in RSM (now St. Junipero Serra Catholic School).
In particular, I appreciated the parents who hosted pack and troop meetings for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts (Troop 818). And the good friends who hosted sleepovers for the kids! For several years (pre-COVID), my wife, Grace Byeon, and I visited Coto de Caza from time to time because she cantored (sang) for masses sponsored by the Catholic Orange Canyon Chapter of Legatus, which were often held in beautiful Coto de Caza facilities.
Inspirations
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you,
not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”
- Luke 12:27
"Our spring has come at last with the soft laughter
of April suns and shadow of April showers."
- Byron Caldwell Smith
Music Playdates in the Park
Laguna Niguel and surrounding areas.
Weekly playdates on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Meet friends, dance a little, sing along, and play with some musical instruments and other fun toys!
Find us near the playground. Free to all participants!
Did You Read Your Newsletter Contest?
April 2024
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 Rumi Maddux
Rumi 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, Rumi!
Everyone, be sure to read your newsletter each month!
