In This Month’s Newsletter

Gratitude & Music at Thanksgiving
Fun and Important Dates
Upcoming Recitals and Forum
Welcome Our New Students
Student of the Month: Maryam Niakouei
Spotlight on Jonah Hall
Did You Know? Gratitude and Music Improve Health
Inspirations
Music Playdates in the Parks
Did You Read Your Newsletter Contest?
Referral Program

Gratitude & Music at Thanksgiving

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.

At home with your family, get into the spirit of Thanksgiving and ask your smart speaker to “play thankful songs,” then favorite two or three tracks everyone likes and start a tiny “Gratitude” playlist.

Text a relative a ten-second voice memo of a chorus you love, or drop a lyric into the family group chat.

While cooking, let one person pick a song and another read a single line aloud that feels like thanks; on the drive, sing just the refrain—no verses, no pressure.

Bedtime can be one quiet verse of “Close to You,” recorded once on a phone so even the non-singers can hum along.

If you want one small step beyond listening, try micro-activities that fit real life. Clap a steady pulse on the table while a favorite song plays, snap along on the twos and fours, or tap a spoon to mark the beat for ten seconds—done.

Invite kids to rename a lyric for the day
(“You are my sunshine” becomes “You are my teammate,”

“my grandma”),
then share the line with that person.

Gratitude doesn’t need a concert; it needs a moment. These songs give you one, anytime, anywhere.

FUN and IMPORTANT DATES

Upcoming Recitals and Concerts

**Recitals**

**All-Studio Halloween Recitals**
Saturdays, October 25 & November 1
Shepherd of the Hills, Mission Viejo
**Concert Performance Team (CPT) Recitals**
Concert Performance Team (CPT) Recitals
are every third Sunday of each month
**Forum**
Forum takes place the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of each month
No sign-up or registration required

Ella-Loren M.
Maryam N.
Kira O.
Reyn P.
Claire P.
Layna R.
Lilah R.
Ariana S.
Heather S.
Millie S.
Anne T.
Athena Z.

Student of the Month

Maryam Niakouei

Maryam started singing when she was just 4 years old, and began classical training around the age of 7. She continued singing and studying until she was 19, then took a break to focus on college and earning her master’s degree. Life led Maryam into a career in technology, but singing has always remained her passion.

In 2024, she returned to singing and began training again. "It feels like coming home." "Singing brings me pure joy. I love how it makes me feel — it's uplifting, grounding, and deeply fulfilling. It allows emotional depth and authenticity, and it’s where I feel most like myself, raw, real, and connected. Singing helps me express my truest self more than anything else." Maryam would like to learn to play the piano. "It’s such a beautiful and expressive instrument, and I think it would complement my singing wonderfully." In addition to singing and working in her career, Maryam is also a life coach, and enjoys supporting and guiding her clients. "Helping others grow and find clarity is incredibly rewarding."

Spotlight on Jonah Hall

Jonah Hall has been in love with music for as long as she can remember. "But this love truly developed when I began singing in choir." Miss Jonah has received accolades for her solo singing, and remains enthralled by the bond that is nurtured between choir members in an ensemble.

In high school, Miss Jonah was an integral part of the esteemed Fountain Valley HS Troubadours. She performed in various venues across California, New York, the Philippines, and Vietnam, including three times at Carnegie Hall.

Jonah is currently studying in college to receive her Bachelors in Music Education with a choral specialization. Her musical knowledge is not limited to singing; she also has developed her musical skills in guitar, piano, and ukulele. Miss Jonah dreams of helping other people discover and share this love and passion for music that she has found.

Did You Know?

Gratitude and Music Improve Health

Gratitude is more than good manners—it’s a health habit that can lower stress, improve sleep,

Pair them and the effects can compound: a nightly “three things I’m thankful for” set to a favorite calming playlist, a quick voice-memo thank-you song to a friend, or a family sing-along of a simple refrain can synchronize breathing, boost connection hormones, and nudge the body toward rest and recovery—small, repeatable rituals that feel good and are good for us.

Inspirations

“Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”

— Proverbs 95:2

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.”

— Maya Angelou

Music Playdates in the Parks

Weekly on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings
from 10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Meet friends, dance a little, sing along, play with some musical instruments, and other fun toys!
Find us near the playground.
See park schedule on our website.

Did You Read Your Newsletter Contest?

November 2025

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 Dave Cevic