How to Participate in the Dennis Frayne Ascent
Getting Started
Students participate in the Dennis Frayne Ascent through eligible Teacher Members of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. This page explains who may participate, how students begin and progress through the program, how registration works, how Demonstrations of Learning are submitted and reviewed, how achievement is recognized, and where to find current fees and participation policies.
For an introduction to the philosophy and purpose of the program, visit the Ascent Overview. To explore the complete progression through all eight Tiers and fifty Levels, visit The Eight Tiers.
Who May Participate?
Students of every age and level of musical experience may participate in the Ascent if they are studying with an eligible participating Teacher Member of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. Beginning students, experienced musicians, children, teens, and adults may all participate.
Who May Offer the Ascent?
The Dennis Frayne Ascent may be offered by eligible Teacher Members of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education who are certified in, or actively pursuing certification in, the Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education and who meet the Association’s requirements for offering the Ascent.
Teacher Membership is currently available to music teachers in the United States. Eligible participating Teacher Members may enroll and prepare students for the Ascent according to the Association’s published requirements and procedures.
Beginning the Ascent
Every student begins at Trailhead Level 1 and progresses through the Ascent in sequence. Levels may not be skipped, allowing each new Level to build upon knowledge, skills, and musicianship developed through earlier work. The first seven Tiers each contain seven Levels, followed by Summit, the eighth Tier and culminating Ascent Level 50. The complete fifty-Level Ascent is currently available.
Students progress according to the time their learning and preparation require, and there is no maximum amount of time allowed to complete a Level or the program. At least 30 days must elapse between official submissions for successive Levels. This establishes the maximum rate at which a student may advance; it is not an expectation that students complete a new Level every 30 days.
Registering Students
Participating Teacher Members register students for the Dennis Frayne Ascent. Once a student is registered, the Teacher Member guides the student’s preparation for each Demonstration of Learning and submits completed work according to the Association’s published procedures.
Students and families do not submit Demonstrations of Learning independently. The participating Teacher Member serves as the connection between the student and the Association throughout the submission and review process.
Demonstrations of Learning
Each Level of the Dennis Frayne Ascent is completed through one or more Demonstrations of Learning based on the published requirements for that Level. Students prepare the required work with the guidance of their participating Teacher Member, who submits it to the Association for review.
Demonstrations of Learning may include performances, recordings, compositions, arrangements, technical activities, conducting, projects, documents, photographs, or other evidence specified by the Level requirements.
To learn more about their educational purpose and how they are reviewed, visit Demonstrations of Learning.
Memorization and the Use of Music
Unless a requirement explicitly states otherwise, solo repertoire and other principal performance parts must be performed from memory. Accompanists and performers serving in ensemble roles may use music unless the requirement specifically requires memorization. Any exception applies only to the selection, activity, or role for which it is stated.
Published Requirements and Exceptional Alternatives
The published requirements for each Level are the requirements students are expected to complete. There are no automatic substitutions simply because a requirement requires unusual planning, travel, collaboration, access, or effort. Part of the Ascent experience is learning, with the guidance of a teacher, to solve practical problems that arise in completing substantial musical work.
If an exact requirement is genuinely and virtually impossible for a particular student to complete because of exceptional circumstances, the participating Teacher Member may submit a request for an alternative to the Association.
Any such request must be submitted and approved in advance, before the alternative activity is completed. The Association will review the circumstances and may approve or deny the proposed alternative. An unapproved substitution does not satisfy the published requirement.
Review Process
Submitted Demonstrations of Learning are reviewed by qualified evaluators against the published requirements for the Level. The purpose of the review is to verify that the required repertoire, performances, projects, technical activities, musicianship experiences, and other specified work have been completed and documented.
The review does not assign scores to artistic quality or compare one student’s work with another student’s work. When all published requirements have been verified, the Demonstration of Learning is approved and the student earns the Level.
If one or more requirements remain incomplete, the participating Teacher Member is notified of what remains to be completed. The student may then complete, correct, or redo the necessary work and submit it again for review.
Recognition and Permanent Achievement Records
Students who complete a Level of the Ascent receive an official certificate and the recognition designated for that Level. Depending upon the Level, recognition may include pins, buttons, wristbands, ribbons, medals, medallions, plaques, trophies, and other awards associated with particular achievements.
Each completed Level also becomes part of the student’s permanent achievement record within the Ascent. This record preserves the student’s progress through the program and the accomplishments earned along the way.
Archives, Permissions, and Public Recognition
In addition to the student’s permanent achievement record, approved Demonstrations of Learning and related submitted materials may be retained as part of the Association’s archives in accordance with the Participation Agreement and applicable Association policies.
Selected approved Demonstrations of Learning may be included in the Association’s public archive or shared through the Association’s website, official YouTube channel, social media, publications, educational presentations, and other Association resources. Not every Demonstration or submitted item is published publicly. Technical activities and other materials submitted primarily for review may remain part of the program record without being included in the public archive.
Participation in the Ascent includes permission for the recording, archival, publication, and educational use of approved Demonstrations of Learning and related submitted materials as described in the Participation Agreement and applicable privacy and permissions policies. For minors, the required permission is provided by a parent or legal guardian.
To help protect the privacy of younger participants, minors are identified publicly by first name and last initial only. Adult participants are identified according to Association policy. Additional information about archival use, public recognition, privacy, and permissions is provided in the Participation Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Copyright & Permissions Policy.
Participation Fees
A submission fee applies to each Level of the Ascent. Submission fees support program administration, review of Demonstrations of Learning, student recognition, production of certificates and awards, and maintenance of the archives.
Current fees are published separately on the Ascent Fee Schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a student changes teachers?
A student’s completed Levels and permanent Ascent achievement record remain with the student if they change teachers. Previous accomplishments do not need to be repeated.
To continue progressing through the Ascent, the student must study with an eligible participating Teacher Member who is authorized to offer the Ascent. The new teacher can then continue guiding the student’s preparation for the current Level and those that follow.
Can Ascent requirements change after a student begins a Level?
Once a student begins a Level, the published requirements for that Level remain in effect until the Level is completed. A student already working on a Level will not be required to switch to revised requirements for that Level.
The Association may revise requirements from time to time as the Ascent continues to develop. Revised requirements may apply to students who begin that Level after the revisions take effect.
What happens if a submission is incomplete or does not include all required materials?
If a submission is missing a required file, document, recording, composition, or other required component, the participating Teacher Member will be notified of what is missing. The missing material may be submitted without an additional fee.
If all required materials have been submitted but review determines that one or more published requirements have not been completed as specified, the participating Teacher Member will receive an explanation of what remains to be completed. The student may complete, correct, or redo the necessary work and submit it again for review. Each such resubmission requires an additional review fee equal to 50% of the original submission fee.
Submission instructions and checklists are provided to help students and teachers prepare complete submissions and verify that all required materials are included before the work is submitted.
What do “primary language” and “secondary language” mean in the Ascent?
A student’s primary language is the student’s first language, as designated by the student. For many students this will be English, but it may instead be a home language or another first language.
A secondary language is an additional language. For example, a student whose primary language is English might use Spanish, Korean, Italian, or another language as a secondary language. A student whose primary language is Spanish might use English as a secondary language.
Students begin by singing in their primary language and, as they progress through the Ascent, are asked to sing in additional languages. The requirement is that the specified singing be completed in the designated language or languages. The Ascent does not separately score pronunciation, diction, vocal quality, interpretation, or artistic quality.
What if a published requirement is virtually impossible for a student to complete?
The published requirement remains the requirement unless an alternative has been approved by the Association.
If exceptional circumstances make the exact requirement genuinely and virtually impossible for a particular student to complete, the participating Teacher Member may request an alternative. The request must be submitted to the Associationand approved before the student completes the proposed alternative.
There are no automatic substitutions or general equivalent pathways. The Association reviews each request individually and may approve or deny it.
When are certificates and awards sent?
After a Demonstration of Learning has been approved, the Association strives to send the certificate and any associated recognition award to the participating Teacher Member within two weeks. Actual delivery time may vary depending upon location and shipping service.
Can students outside the United States participate in the Dennis Frayne Ascent?
Yes. Eligible participating teachers may enroll students in the Dennis Frayne Ascent regardless of where those students live.
At this time, Teacher Membership in the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education is available to music teachers in the United States. Student eligibility, however, is based on studying with an eligible participating Teacher Member, not on the student’s country of residence. A participating teacher in the United States may therefore enroll an eligible student who lives elsewhere in the world, whether lessons take place in person or online.
Certificates and other recognition awards are sent to the participating Teacher Member, who presents or forwards them to the student as appropriate.
Where can I find current Ascent fees and participation requirements?
Current submission fees are published in the Ascent Fee Schedule. Participation requirements, submission procedures, and other current program information are provided on the Ascent pages and through the applicable registration and submission processes.
Participating teachers are responsible for following current registration and submission procedures and the published Level requirements that apply to each student.
If you have a question that is not answered here, please visit our Contact page.
Continue Exploring the Dennis Frayne Ascent
Continue exploring the program:
Ascent Overview — Explore the philosophy and purpose of the Dennis Frayne Ascent.
The Eight Tiers — Explore the complete progression through all eight Tiers and fifty Levels.
Demonstrations of Learning — Learn how students demonstrate their learning and how Demonstrations of Learning are reviewed.
Trailhead — Explore the published requirements for Tier 1, Levels 1–7.
Open to all. Earned by each. Celebrated by everyone.