November 22, 2025: Saturday Remix
Teachers and Staff: Happy Saturday!
And, Happy Thanksgiving! I’m grateful for each one of you, not just for what you do, but for who you are: kind, steady, creative people who make our studio feel like home away from home. You bring out courage in students, warmth in our lesson rooms, and joy in our community, and that spirit is felt by every family who walks through our doors (or in some cases, we walk through their doors!). 🙂❤️🎶
Wishing you and your loved ones a cozy week of rest, laughter, and good food, with moments of music that fill your homes and hearts. Thank you for the light you share all year, and many blessings to you and your families this holiday season.
Thanksgiving Week Off-Days
Reminder, we are closed during Thanksgiving Week for regular lessons. Lessons are ON for Sunday, 11/23, and then OFF for Monday, 11/24 through Sunday, 11/30. No regular lessons over this period. (Happy Thanksgiving!)
Some teachers have special assignments during the off-week (such as introductory lessons and teacher orientation) – those lessons and meetings are ON, of course!
Regular lessons are back ON starting Monday, 12/1.
A Few Procedural Reminders
No food or drinks in the lesson rooms except water in containers with lids. (This applies to students, teachers, and everyone.) If a student brings something other than water, find a way to leave it outside the room, or up on a shelf / out of the way until their lesson is over.
Nothing on the pianos except music and stuffed animals. (No pencils! Keep pencils on the desks and side tables, or in your hands.)
Students cannot bring a friend to their lessons. If any student brings a friend (unless you have been notified/instructed by the office), please ask the friend to wait in the 108 waiting area, or outside, and to contact the office with any questions or requests regarding this.
Notify the office if a student asks to change instruments, even if you teach that instrument. For example, if a piano student wants to learn drums, or a violin student wants to switch to viola, etc. Always please let the office know right away. (Instrument changes are not approved unless you hear directly from the office.)
On the other hand, it is okay if a student brings in an instrument to experiment with or dabble with in your lessons. This can be a fun way to work on musicianship and other skills. But their primary instrument remains their primary instrument.
Regarding the 15 minutes before and after lessons: please remember that this applies to lessons when you are the teacher, but not to training or orientation sessions. When you are taking training of any kind at the studio, the start time and end time to enter in your timesheet are the actual start and end times (assuming you are here during those times).
Pay Attention to Student Birthdays and Holidays
Strive to know when your students have birthdays or celebrate special holidays. Student birthdays are posted in the lesson rooms and waiting areas (and they will often tell you themselves with pride and enthusiasm!)... And, it’s fun and educational to learn about the many important days that some of your students and families might celebrate. Here are just some of the many holidays that take place over the coming weeks and months:
Thanksgiving Day (US Cultural/National): November 27
First Sunday of Advent (Christianity): November 30
Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) (Buddhism): December 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Roman Catholic Christianity): December 8
Hanukkah (Judaism): December 14–22 (begins at sundown on Dec 14)
Winter Solstice / Yule (Shab-e Yalda / Yalda Night, e.g., Persian): December 21
Christmas Day: December 25
Kwanzaa (Pan-African/Cultural): December 26, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Ghambar Maidyarem (Zoroastrianism): December 31, 2025 – January 4, 2026
New Year's Eve: December 31
New Year's Day: January 1
Gantan-sai (Shintoism): January 1
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God (Roman Catholic Christianity): January 1
Mahayana New Year (Buddhism): January 3
Epiphany (Christianity): January 6
Orthodox Christmas Day (Orthodox Christianity): January 7
Makar Sankranti / Pongal (Hinduism): January 14
Laylat al-Isra' wa al-Mi'raj (Islam): January 16 (approximate, eve of Jan 16)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (US National): January 19
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Sikhism): January 20
Vasant Panchami (Hinduism): January 23
Tu B'Shevat (Judaism): February 1–2 (begins at sundown on Feb 1)
Laylat al-Bara'a (Islam): February 2–3 (begins at sundown on Feb 2)
Nirvana Day (Buddhism): February 15
Maha Shivaratri (Hinduism): February 15–16
Presidents' Day (Washington's Birthday) (US National): February 16
Lunar New Year / Spring Festival (Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese/Tibetan Cultures): February 17
Ramadan begins (Islam): February 17 (begins at sundown)
Ash Wednesday (Christianity): February 18
Losar (Tibetan New Year) (Buddhism/Tibetan Culture): February 18
Shri Ramakrishna Jayanti (Hinduism): February 18–19
Orthodox Great Lent begins (Orthodox Christianity): February 23
Always strive to learn about your students and help them honor and celebrate their cultural traditions with music!
Q: Will someone be at the recitals to help my young beginner student?
A: Yes! We encourage all students to perform at recitals, including very young students and very beginners, even if they have had only one lesson. We will be there to help them get on stage, situated, and even guide and play with them as needed.
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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, and a Happy Thanksgiving!
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)
(949) 468-8040 (personal cell)
www.lagunaniguelschoolofmusic.com
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