October 2025 Newsletter
In This Month’s Newsletter
Why Music Gives Students an Edge in College Admissions
Fun and Important Dates
Upcoming Recitals and Forum
Welcome Our New Students
Student of the Month: Bennett Price
Spotlight on Raden Nelson
Did You Know? Halloween at the Piano: Tchaikovsky’s “Dolly’s Funeral”
Inspirations
Music Playdates in the Parks
Did You Read Your Newsletter Contest?
Referral Program
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!
College admissions officers consistently report that applicants with a strong background in music stand out. Why? Because music demonstrates qualities that every university values. Years of lessons and practice show discipline, dedication, and the ability to commit deeply to something meaningful. In an age when many students bounce between activities, colleges notice the ones who stick with music year after year.
Music also develops the mind. Research has long shown that musical training strengthens memory, focus, math, and language skills. But more than academics, music builds creativity, resilience, and leadership. Whether in band, orchestra, choir, or lessons, students learn teamwork, communication, and the confidence to perform under pressure—skills that translate to success in college and beyond.
Equally important, colleges want students who will enrich campus life. A young musician brings energy to ensembles, musicals, and community events. Admissions officers know that these students will contribute to the vibrancy of college culture.
In the end, music study doesn’t just help with applications — it helps students become well-rounded, confident, and capable human beings.
For parents, supporting music lessons is not just about today’s practice; it’s about giving your child an advantage for tomorrow’s opportunities.
FUN and IMPORTANT DATES
Columbus / Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday, October 13
Halloween
Friday, October 31
Off-days
October 28 - November 2
Upcoming Recitals and Concerts
Recitals
All-Studio Halloween Recitals
Saturdays, October 25 & November 1
Mornings
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
Please welcome
our NEW Students who enrolled
in August
Avni A.
Soren B.
Bo B.
Luhan (Dora) D.
Cate H.
Rivaan K.
Samantha K.
Cate K.
Aryan M.
Elian S.
Jude S.
Jaden S.
Ethan S.
Jeanene S.
Aiden T.
Emma V.
Ben W.
Student of the Month
Bennett Price
Bennett started taking piano lessons about a
year ago when he was four years old. His favorite
thing about playing the piano is learning new
songs. Bennett's teacher is Dr. Dennis, who helps him learn a new song almost every week.
Bennett plays a lot at home and gets helpful and positive encouragement from his parents, and from his older brother, Charlie, who also learns piano from Dr. Dennis. At one of our piano recitals earlier this year, Bennett played about nine songs from memory!
One day Bennett would like to learn to play the drums. At school, he enjoys playing with his friends and doing math problems on his school iPad. With his family, he appreciates visiting other countries; this past summer they traveled to China. He also loves going to Disneyland and other Disney parks around the world. His favorite holidays are Halloween and Christmas, and he loves "eating ice cream at all times."
Spotlight on Raden Nelson
Raden Nelson is a flute teacher at the Laguna Niguel School of Music. A mechanical engineering
major in college, Mr. Raden has taken lessons and played flute for over a decade through many school
and community affiliated orchestras. These include performances in the Segerstrom Concert all, numerous pit orchestras, and local concerts.
Though his passion for music remains a hobby, Mr. Raden wishes to continue playing the flute for the rest of his life, wherever he can find a place to fit in. Through teaching, he hopes he can ignite the same spark of passion in his students that he has found in his life.
Did You Know?
Halloween at the Piano: Tchaikovsky’s “Dolly’s Funeral”
Did you know the famous composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky wrote a whole book of piano pieces for kids? It’s called the Children’s Album and it has 24 little songs about childhood—things like The Hobbyhorse, The New Doll, The Sick Doll, Dolly’s Funeral, Sweet Dreams, and The March of the Wooden Soldiers.
One of the spookiest is Dolly’s Funeral. It tells the story of a doll that first gets sick (in The Sick Doll) and then has a solemn little funeral march. Don’t worry—it’s not too scary! But it does sound mysterious, serious, and just a little bit sad. That’s why it’s perfect for Halloween.
When you play this piece, imagine a tiny parade of toys carrying the doll, or even a Halloween ghost story with a gentle, haunting melody. Play it slowly, with soft dynamics, like you’re walking in a quiet procession. The music is in a minor key, which is one reason why it sounds spooky!
Try this: Before you play, tell yourself a short Halloween story about the doll, then use your fingers and the piano to “act it out” in music.
Inspirations
“Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
“In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October, when the trees are bare to the mild heavens, and the red leaves bestrew the road, and you can feel the breath of winter, morning and evening — no days so calm, so tenderly solemn, and with such a reverent meekness in the air.”
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?
October 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 Jason Pham
Jason has won 10 tickets which can be redeemed for prizes at the Dennis Frayne Music Studio, Laguna Niguel!
To collect your prize tickets just bring this to the office.
Congratulations, Jason!
Everyone, be sure to read your newsletter each month!
