August 2024 Newsletter
In This Month’s Newsletter
The Social Benefits of Music Education for Students in School
Fun and Important Dates
Upcoming Recitals
Welcome Our New Students
Student of the Month
Spotlight on the Clarinet
Days and Deeds of Dr. Dennis
Music Playdates in the Parks
Interested in unschooling?
Summer Camps!
Did You Read Your Newsletter Contest?
Referral Program
The Social Benefits of Music Education for Students in School
Music education provides significant social benefits to primary and secondary students, fostering joy, fun, and a sense of community. Engaging in music, whether through singing, playing an instrument, or participating in ensembles, allows students to experience the pure joy of creating and sharing music. This joy translates into fun, making learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Music lessons and group performances provide a break from traditional academic subjects, offering a creative outlet that balances the rigor of other school activities. This balance is crucial in maintaining students' overall enthusiasm for school and learning.
Additionally, music education serves as an effective means for students to release tension, anxiety, and stress. The act of making music has been shown to have therapeutic effects, helping to reduce cortisol levels and promote relaxation. For many students, music becomes a safe space where they can express their emotions and process their feelings constructively. This emotional release is particularly important in the high-pressure environments of middle and high school, where academic and social stress can be overwhelming. Music offers a way for students to unwind and find solace, contributing to their emotional well-being and resilience.
Moreover, music education helps students form meaningful friendships and build social skills. Participating in music ensembles, bands, choirs, or orchestras requires collaboration, communication, and teamwork. These group activities foster a sense of belonging and mutual support among students, helping them develop strong, positive relationships with their peers. Working together towards a common goal, such as a performance or competition, teaches students the value of cooperation and shared effort.
These social interactions extend beyond the music classroom, enhancing students' ability to connect with others and build a supportive network of friends.
Through music, students not only gain a creative outlet but also cultivate essential social skills that benefit them throughout their lives.
FUN and IMPORTANT DATES
September 2 - Labor Day, Monday
October 26 - Halloween Recital, Saturday
October 31 - Halloween, Thursday
Upcoming Recitals and Forums
Recitals: In - Person
October 26, 2024 - Halloween Recital Saturday, morning
Please welcome
our NEW Students who enrolled
in June
Dean B.
Bryce B.
Bruce E.
Isaac F.
Evan F.
Nixon F.
Phillipe G.
Arvin G.
Tanner H.
Willow H.
Claire H.
Nancy I.
Ariana I.
Heather J.
Auldin J.
Dylan K.
Dasha K.
Christine P.
Bennett P.
Student of the Month
Rachel Smart
Rachel started piano lessons with Dr. Dennis when she was 5 years old…that was two years ago! Rachel loves learning new songs and performing at recitals. She played the piano at her school talent show two years in a row! Last year in kindergarten. and this year in first grade. Her teachers and classmates enjoyed her performances, and some of her friends became interested in piano, too!
Rachel would like to learn to play the harmonica. At school, she really appreciates her teachers and looks forward to learning more about math, reading, science, and art. And, "I get to see my friends everyday at school!"
Rachel is 7 years old now and lives in Mission Viejo. She has a big brother, Ryan, who also plays the piano. Their grandma and grandpa visit sometimes and love to hear them play the piano. Rachel also has been taking karate for three years and has a green belt. "It keeps me fit and strong." She started playing soccer last season and will continue to play in the Fall. Her favorite holiday is Christmas "because we get presents from Santa and it’s also my birthday month!"
Rachel and her family recently traveled to Oregon for a family member’s wedding. It was beautiful there and she enjoyed hiking to waterfalls. Rachel and her family have been to Hawaii and loved the warm beaches and luau. Her family celebrates Lunar New Year and this year went on a cruise to Mexico. Last summer Rachel traveled to Taiwan for the first time to meet her 100-year-old great-grandmother and other family members. "It was great to finally meet my girl cousins close to my age since I only have boy cousins in the US!"
Spotlight on the Clarinet
The clarinet, with its distinctive timbre and versatility, has evolved significantly since its origins in the early 18th century. Johann Christoph Denner, a German instrument maker, is credited with creating the first clarinet around 1700 by modifying the chalumeau, an earlier single-reed instrument. Denner's improvements included adding a register key, which allowed the instrument to play higher pitches and expanded its range, laying the groundwork for the modern clarinet.
As the clarinet gained popularity, composers began to incorporate it into their works, recognizing its unique sound and expressive capabilities. By the mid-18th century, the clarinet had secured a place in orchestras, chamber music, and military bands across Europe. Mozart was particularly enamored with the instrument, composing several notable works, including his Clarinet Concerto and Clarinet Quintet, which showcased its lyrical and virtuosic potential.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the clarinet continued to evolve, with significant advancements in its keywork and acoustics. The Boehm system, developed by Hyacinthe Klosé and Auguste Buffet in the mid-19th century, standardized the fingering system and improved the instrument's playability and intonation. The clarinet's role expanded beyond classical music, becoming a staple in jazz, klezmer, and popular music. Legendary jazz clarinetists like Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw brought the instrument into the spotlight, highlighting its agility and expressive range. Today, the clarinet remains a vital part of diverse musical genres, continually adapting to contemporary styles and innovations.
Days & Deeds of Dr. Dennis
The city of Orange has a special place in my heart as one of OC’s cities with such beauty and character. I have fond memories shopping at The City, and then at The Block, and also at the Orange Circle Antique Mall. Growing up in North Tustin, Orange was our neighbor. We attended mass sometimes at Holy Family Parish, had family picnics at Hart Park, rode bikes at Irvine Park, and fed the ducks at Eisenhower Park (and slid down the rocket slide when it was there). I auditioned for and got accepted to Chapman University as a piano major, but decided to go to Cal State Long Beach (Go Beach!). A number of my musical colleagues and teachers graduated from the Chapman University Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music.
Inspirations
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
“August slipped away into a moment in time, ‘cause it was never mine.”
Music Playdates in the Parks
Laguna Niguel and surrounding areas.
Weekly playdates on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 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?
August 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 Elena Monarrez
Elena 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, Elena!
Everyone, be sure to read your newsletter each month!
