The brass family of instruments includes the trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba, and related instruments such as the cornet, flugelhorn, euphonium, and sousaphone.

Mommy & Me and Parent & Me music lessons are a wonderful way for very young children, ages 0–2, to begin their musical journey alongside a parent. In these lessons, the mother or father does not simply watch the lesson.

When a student learns a reed instrument such as clarinet, saxophone, oboe, or bassoon, they are engaging in a form of study that is both intellectually demanding and deeply practical.

Play isn’t a break from learning in music lessons; it’s how children learn best. When a student claps a pattern, echoes a two-note phrase, or invents a tiny ending, the “game” is really practice in timing, attention, memory, and decision-making — with instant feedback you can hear.

Clapping is one of the simplest, most effective ways to build musical brains. A steady beat in the hands becomes a steady beat in the eyes and ears, which is why clapping correlates with improvements in reading fluency, attention, and working memory …

Learn new music this holiday season, and also play your old songs again!

Revisiting last year’s holiday pieces invites students to step into ease and expression.

American folk music and children’s songs carry gratitude in plain, durable ways—easy words, hummable tunes, feelings you can share without a music degree. Think of “Simple Gifts” and “Shenandoah,” “You Are My Sunshine” and “This Little Light of Mine”: songs that thank the ordinary—home, friendship, daylight, safe harbor. They travel well across generations because they’re short, sincere, and memorable; one chorus is often enough to say what you mean.

Why Music Gives Students an Edge in College Admissions

Parents often ask: Does studying music really make a difference for college admissions? The answer is a resounding YES!

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At Dennis Frayne Music Studios and the Laguna Niguel & Lake Forest Schools of music, performance opportunities are woven into the learning experience — not treated as rare, high-pressure events.

Frequent recitals, themed concerts, and the unique Forum give students safe, supportive stages to share music, build confidence, and learn from peers.
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Families looking to enrich their lives with the joy of music will find a welcoming home at Dennis Frayne Music Studios—the studio behind the Laguna Niguel and Lake Forest Schools of Music.

Every Fourth of July, Americans gather to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, parades, and of course—music! Patriotic songs have long been a beloved part of the holiday, filling the air with familiar melodies that stir pride and joy. From stirring anthems like “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful” to folk classics such as “This Land Is Your Land,” patriotic music reflects the country’s diverse history, landscapes, and dreams. These songs bring generations together and remind us of the ideals and struggles that helped shape the United States.

American music has deep roots in the songs of enslaved African Americans, who used music as a way to express pain, hope, faith, and resilience. These early songs—often called spirituals or slave songs—were full of coded messages, biblical imagery, and emotional depth. They weren’t just a form of survival; they were a way of holding on to identity, building community, and dreaming of freedom.