February 28, 2026: Saturday Remix
Teachers and Staff: Happy Saturday!
Teaching Small Group Lessons
Students in small group lessons will usually progress at a slower rate than they might if they were in individual private lessons. It is important to remember that this is okay. Students who choose small group lessons understand that things will move more slowly. It is important for teachers to understand this and be at peace with it.
On the flip side, there are benefits to small group lessons (besides the lower cost for families), which include an element of social interaction that some students crave, as well as ensemble opportunities that students cannot get in private individual lessons. It is important for teachers to take advantage of this and create learning opportunities that maximize this potential.
So… When planning and executing small group lessons, here are a few very basic things to keep in mind:
Don't be afraid to slow down the pace. Make a conscious decision to slow everything down, and not be concerned about it.
During the lessons, strive to do some things together, and some things individually, while the other student watches. Teach your students to watch while you are working with another student. Students learn by watching in this way.
Don't be afraid to spend time teaching students how to be good students in a group setting. Set policies and procedures. Sometimes teachers must spend a whole lesson or more practicing procedures, especially with younger students. This is totally okay and recommended.
Include lots of musicianship activities without the instrument. Note reading / music alphabet practice, rhythm practice, ear training, and more can be done without the instrument and can engage students at different levels easily.
Have students practice performing in front of each other, a lot, and strive to memorize all music. Each student should develop a repertoire of music that they can perform for anyone, anywhere, at any time. Having other students in the class to perform for can facilitate performance skills and develop a kind of confidence and ease of playing in front of others that is unique to this learning environment.
Use backing tracks. A lot.
Play duets. Same-level students can alternate parts. When students are at different levels, the more advanced student can play a harder part, and the less advanced student can play an easier part. They should learn and memorize duets in this way and practice performing them. (Students playing duets together is a very different thing than students playing duets with teachers.)
We strive to make small group lessons age consistent, and to a reasonable degree, level consistent. However, even if students begin at a similar level, they may not progress at the same rate. So plan for multi-level students. Develop strategies to do some things at the same level, and some things at differing levels.
Student age groupings (and how we name them) are generally as follows:
TO = Toddler = ages 3-4
CH = Child = ages 5-7
YO = Youth = ages 8-12
TE = Teen = ages 13-17
Sometimes the outer edges of the groupings may bend by one year, depending on unique students and situations.
As always, please let us know what additional assistance we can provide! Teachers who strive to improve their small group teaching skills will soon get very good at doing this!
Encourage Recital Participation
Be sure to encourage recital participation to your students. Since we have recitals happening frequently, and in support of our studio philosophy that all students should be actively developing a repertoire of memorized music that they can play any time, anywhere, for anyone, students should always be preparing for and prepared for recitals. Even very young children and beginner students can perform in recitals.
Special Theme Recital Opportunity
Our special Theme Recital opportunity, “Songs of Ireland & Latin America,” is coming up soon on Friday, March 13, evening, at Chamber Music OC in Lake Forest. Participating students will perform both Irish and Latin American music.
The objectives for participation are: Play at least two songs, pieces, or movements; Play from memory (some exceptions may apply); Play at least one song or piece that is related to or expresses each theme; Wear Irish or Latin American style costumes and accessories!
Our Spring Quarter Studio Recitals take place Saturday & Sunday, 3/28 & 3/29, in the afternoon, at the Laguna Hills Community Center.
Our annual Destination Recital takes place Mother’s Day weekend, on Saturday, May 9, all day. We will travel by train to the Namba Performing Arts Center, located in historic downtown Ventura. We will leave in the morning, have lunch, perform the recital in the afternoon, attend a special event / activity after the recital, and then enjoy an ice cream treat before we head home! Each student will receive a recital t-shirt, certificate, and fun gift bag!
Upcoming Off-days
In March 2026, we have two scheduled off-days (school is closed; no lessons):
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 (St. Patrick’s Day)
Friday, March 20, 2026 (Nowruz / Persian New Year / Lunar New Year)
No regularly scheduled lessons on these two days only. (We then will have a longer off-week period in early April, from 4/1 - 4/9 2026.)
Q: Where are printed instructions and information about technology at the studio?
A: You can find instructions and information about technology at the studio in two locations: 1) In the physical Teacher Resources manual (blue binder) found in each lesson room; and 2) on the shared online Google drive/folder Teacher Resources.
If you cannot locate these resources please let us know. If you are seeking instructions or information on something that is not provided in these resources, please let us know so we can add them! You may also contact Mr. Denny, who teaches and also serves as our resident tech expert and support.
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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.
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)
Lake Forest School of Music
Baker Ranch, CA 92630
(949) 402-7210
www.dennisfraynemusicstudios.com
www.lagunaniguelschoolofmusic.com
www.lakeforestschoolofmusic.com
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