My name is Dennis Frayne. Although I consider myself primarily a teacher, I am also a pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, music director, author, publisher, and manufacturer of music teaching aids, toys, and games!
I am a native of Southern California in the USA, born in Westchester and raised in North Tustin, Orange County, California. I went to St. Cecilia Catholic School in Tustin, and then Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. I have attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, and Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, where I received Associate of Arts degrees in Music and Theater Arts. Early in my career I studied piano with Mrs. Farr in North Tustin, and then Dr. Ruth Stevenson Alling, the founder of the LoKnoPla Music Institute and creator of the LoKnoPla Piano Method for Beginning Piano Students, when she opened a music studio in Santa Ana. I have been teaching piano ever since! Later I received my Bachelor of Music (BM) degree in Music Education, with a Choral, Vocal, and Piano emphasis, from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), as well as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Theater Arts, and California teaching credentials in Music, Theater Arts, Arts and Entertainment, Business, and Information Technology. Then I received my Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with an emphasis in Social Justice and Equity from California State University, Fresno (CSUF). And now I am working toward my Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) at California State University, Fresno and Channel Islands (CSUCI).
Other piano and voice teachers I have studied with include Dr. Rebecca Rollins, Pamela Worcester, Dr. Norm Weston, Dr. Scott Farthing, Chizuko Asada, Timothy MacDougall, Craig Richey, Dr. Kirill Gliadkovsky, and Michael Bartel.
I have taught many music students privately, as well as many music students in both private and public schools and classrooms. I taught music, choir, and musical theater at Blessed Sacrament Church School in Westminster, and at St. Edward the Confessor Parish School in Dana Point. I taught music, choir, band, and class piano at Whitmore Charter School of Art and Technology in Ceres. I taught music, choir, band, guitar, and percussion (drums and keyboards) in the Menifee Union School District, and class piano at Our Lady of the Valley in Hemet. I have directed church choirs and/or played piano (and sometimes organ) for St. Cecilia Church in Tustin, Blessed Sacrament Church in Westminster, and Our Lady of the Valley Church in Hemet. I have directed after-school musical theater, choir, and other music programs (and still do!), including KidSingers in Santa Ana, and I accompany ballet and modern dance classes at The Wooden Floor in Santa Ana.
Throughout my career as a piano teacher and voice teacher, I have taught and coached a great number of children from different backgrounds, including some that are highly gifted. I also have taught and coached many youth and adult students, including beginners, advanced performers, and other music teachers. I have helped students with successful auditions, including getting accepted into OCSA (Orange County School of the Arts) and California State University, Long Beach (Bob Cole Conservatory of Music) music programs. I have helped students earn music scholarships and win admittance into summer music programs, opera programs, summer camps, and workshops. And I have helped youth students improve academically and stay in school, and I have helped teenagers and adults regain self-confidence.
My students participate in a variety of events throughout the year, including recitals, concerts, music festivals, auditions, exams, master classes, and competitions. I believe music is for everyone, and everyone can make music part of their lives, whether it is for their career, for school, for church, or for pure enjoyment and personal satisfaction. Music provides us opportunities for self-expression, music offers us unique challenges that can strengthen us in other areas of our lives and studies, and music results in positive experiences and rewards that can last a lifetime. Music is a miraculous gift for ourselves, for our children, our friends, and our audiences. Music heals, music connects people, music entertains, and music contributes to spiritual fulfillment and joy.
In addition to teaching, I am also an active performer. I enjoy playing solo recitals, private parties and events, church services, and I accompany vocal and instrumental performers, choirs, musical theater, and dance. And, I am a working composer (piano, vocal, choral, and other instrumental), arranger, and publisher of music curriculum and vocal and instrumental method books, including the Presto! It’s Piano Magic series, and Presto’s Music Teaching Aids, which piano students use in my music studio, music schools, and music classrooms.