Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education?
The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education is a clear, connected way of teaching music that emphasizes understanding, thoughtful sequencing, and a positive learning environment. It is not a single method or set of materials, but a framework that helps teachers guide students toward real musical understanding, confidence, and long-term growth.
What is The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education?
The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education is a professional membership organization that supports the growth and success of music teachers. It provides certification, courses, coaching, publications, professional community, and other resources designed to help teachers build confident, effective, and fulfilling careers in music education. The Association also serves as the home of The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education and administers The Dennis Frayne Ascent, creating a connected framework that supports both teachers and the students they serve.
What is The Dennis Frayne Ascent?
The Dennis Frayne Ascent is a comprehensive student achievement and recognition program that encourages, recognizes, and celebrates lifelong musical growth. Through a series of meaningful Demonstrations of Learning, students develop and demonstrate musicianship across a wide range of musical skills and receive recognition as they progress through the program.
Open to students of every age and ability, The Dennis Frayne Ascent is offered through eligible Teacher Members of The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. It is designed to motivate continued growth, celebrate genuine accomplishment, and help students build a lifelong relationship with music.
What is the difference among The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education, The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education, and The Dennis Frayne Ascent?
These three parts work together to support music teachers and the students they serve.
The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education is the educational philosophy and teaching framework. It brings together principles, curriculum, musicianship, teaching practices, and professional growth into a connected approach to music education.
The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education is the professional membership organization. It provides certification, courses, coaching, publications, professional community, and ongoing support for music teachers.
The Dennis Frayne Ascent is the student achievement and recognition program. Through meaningful Demonstrations of Learning, it encourages, recognizes, and celebrates the lifelong musical growth of students studying with participating Association teachers.
Together, the Approach provides the educational foundation, the Association supports and develops teachers, and the Ascent recognizes and celebrates student achievement.
Who is Dennis Frayne Association membership for?
Dennis Frayne Association membership is designed for music teachers in the United States who are committed to continual growth and excellence in music education. It welcomes private lesson teachers, group instructors, classroom music educators, community music school teachers, college and university faculty, church musicians, and performing musicians who also teach.
Whether you are just beginning your teaching career or have decades of experience, the Association provides a professional community where educators can deepen their musicianship, strengthen their teaching, exchange ideas, receive encouragement, and continue growing throughout their careers.
What do members receive?
Association membership combines educational resources with ongoing professional support. Members receive access to an organized library of Dennis Frayne writings, exclusive publications and teaching resources, a private teacher community with direct participation from Dr. Dennis Frayne, practical guidance for real teaching situations, custom arrangements for students, access to purchase the Presto! It’s Music Magic curriculum, and opportunities to participate in certification, courses, coaching, and other professional development.
As the Association continues to grow, members will also benefit from new publications, events, collaborations, and additional resources developed to support meaningful, sustainable careers in music education.
Who may become a Teacher Member?
Teacher Membership is open to music educators throughout the United States who share the mission and values of The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education and are committed to continual professional growth. We welcome teachers from many different educational settings and musical backgrounds, including:
Independent private music teachers
Community music school teachers
Public and private school music educators
Early childhood music educators
College and university music faculty
Church and faith-based music educators
Performing musicians who also teach
Teachers of piano, voice, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, guitar, ukulele, composition, conducting, and other areas of music instruction
Whether you teach beginners or advanced students, children or adults, one instrument or many, Teacher Membership provides a professional community where educators can continue growing in confidence, musicianship, teaching, leadership, and professional fulfillment.
What are the Teacher Membership levels?
Teacher Membership is offered at several levels, allowing educators to choose the degree of involvement that best matches their professional goals and interests. Each level builds upon the previous one, providing increasing opportunities for learning, participation, recognition, and leadership within the Association.
Current Teacher Membership levels include:
Teacher Member – The foundation of Association membership, providing access to publications, educational resources, professional community, member benefits, and opportunities for continued learning, including certification.
Endorsed Teacher – For teachers who have demonstrated a deeper commitment to The Dennis Frayne Approach through certification and active participation in the Association. This level recognizes educators who are applying the principles of the Approach with consistency and professionalism.
Teacher of Teachers – The Association's highest level of Teacher Membership, recognizing experienced educators who not only teach students but also contribute to the development, encouragement, and mentoring of fellow music teachers while helping advance the mission of the Association.
Teachers may remain at the Teacher level or pursue additional certification, participation, endorsement, mentoring, and leadership opportunities according to their professional interests and the applicable Association requirements.
Who may offer the Dennis Frayne Ascent?
The Dennis Frayne Ascent is offered exclusively through eligible Teacher Members of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. This helps ensure that students are guided by teachers who are actively engaged with the educational philosophy, standards, and professional community that support the program.
Teachers who are certified in the Dennis Frayne Approach, or who are actively working toward certification through the Association's required coursework, may register eligible students for participation in the Ascent. This allows teachers to begin offering the program while continuing their own professional growth.
We believe the Ascent is most meaningful when it is part of an ongoing relationship between teacher and student. For that reason, teachers guide students through each level, prepare them for their Demonstrations of Learning, submit demonstrations for review, celebrate each achievement, and encourage continued growth throughout the journey.
The Dennis Frayne Ascent is designed specifically for teachers in the United States. However, participating teachers may enroll eligible students from anywhere in the world, making the program available to musicians of every age and ability while preserving the important role of the teacher in each student's musical development.
How do students progress through the Dennis Frayne Ascent?
Every student begins the Dennis Frayne Ascent at the very beginning, Trailhead (Tier 1, Level 1), regardless of age or previous musical experience. the Ascent is designed as a carefully sequenced journey in which each level builds upon the knowledge, skills, and musicianship developed in the previous one. For that reason, levels are completed in order and may not be skipped.
Students progress at their own pace. Some may complete a level every month, while others may spend many months, or even longer, working toward a particular milestone. The goal is not to move through the program as quickly as possible, but to develop genuine understanding, confident musicianship, and lasting musical growth.
To encourage meaningful learning and consistent progress, demonstrations may be submitted no more than once every 30 days. This provides time for thoughtful preparation, reflection, and continued musical development between levels.
The Dennis Frayne Ascent is a lifelong journey. Every level represents real accomplishment, and every student is encouraged to enjoy the process, celebrate each milestone, and continue ascending with confidence, purpose, and joy.
Are the Dennis Frayne writings available to everyone?
Dennis Frayne writings may be published publicly in several locations. The member library, when it becomes available, will provide an organized and searchable collection, along with member resources, study materials, and related tools as they are developed.
What is the private teacher community like?
The private teacher community is a supportive professional learning community where members encourage one another, exchange ideas, ask questions, and discuss real teaching situations. Teachers can seek practical guidance on lesson planning, sequencing, student motivation, musicianship, repertoire, studio management, and the everyday opportunities and challenges of teaching music.
In addition to the online community, members are invited to participate in regular group coaching sessions led by Dr. Dennis Frayne. These interactive conversations provide opportunities to explore educational philosophy, discuss teaching strategies, work through specific student situations, answer questions, and learn together as a community of music educators committed to continual growth and excellence.
What are simplified arrangements, and how do they work?
One of the unique benefits of Association membership is the ability to request simplified arrangements of music for your students. Whether a student needs a piece adapted to match their current level, a difficult passage made more accessible, or a favorite song arranged for a particular instrument or ensemble, we strive to help teachers provide meaningful musical experiences while preserving the character and educational value of the original music.
Simplified arrangements of music in the public domain are provided at no additional cost. When music is protected by copyright, arrangements may be available for purchase when licensing permits. During the Founding Membership period, members are not limited to a set number of arrangement requests.
The long-term goal is not only to provide arrangements, but also to help teachers develop these skills themselves. As part of certification, teachers learn practical principles of arranging and adaptation so they can confidently create effective, musical arrangements that meet the individual needs of their own students.
Can anyone purchase the Presto! It’s Music Magic curriculum?
No. The Presto! It’s Music Magic curriculum is available exclusively to Teacher Members of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. Teacher Membership provides access to purchase the curriculum for use in teaching. The curriculum is not available for sale to the general public.
The Presto! It’s Music Magic curriculum has been developed specifically for teachers who are actively engaged with the Dennis Frayne Approach. To ensure that educators have the training, support, and community needed to use the curriculum successfully, it is available exclusively to Teacher Members of The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education.
What is included with Presto! It’s Music Magic?
Teacher Members receive a variety of benefits through Presto! It's Music Magic Publishing, including unlimited access to all digital single-selection music, member pricing on books, collections, teaching materials, and other eligible publications, and free shipping on physical purchases within the United States.
The complete Presto! It's Music Magic curriculum is available exclusively to eligible Teacher Members of The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. More than simply providing access to a curriculum, the Association prepares and supports teachers through educational philosophy, certification, courses, coaching, publications, and an ongoing professional community. Together, these resources help teachers understand, apply, and confidently teach the curriculum as it was designed.
Selected books, arrangements, and other publications may also be available to the general public. The complete curriculum, however, is reserved for eligible Teacher Members who are actively participating in The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education.
Do I need to use Presto! It’s Music Magic to benefit from the Approach?
Not necessarily. The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education is a philosophy of teaching and learning, not simply a curriculum. Its principles can strengthen music instruction regardless of the method books, repertoire, instruments, or educational setting a teacher uses.
That said, Presto! It's Music Magic was developed as the fullest expression of The Dennis Frayne Approach. Every lesson, activity, and sequence has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the educational philosophy and core tenets of the Approach, providing teachers with a practical framework that brings these ideas to life in everyday teaching.
At the same time, we believe great teachers thoughtfully select music and resources that serve the individual needs, interests, goals, and abilities of their students. We encourage teachers to draw from a wide range of quality repertoire and educational materials while applying the principles of the Dennis Frayne Approach. Our goal is not simply to promote one curriculum, but to help teachers make wise instructional decisions that lead to confident, joyful, and lasting musical growth.
What is certification in The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education?
Certification is a comprehensive program of professional study designed to help music teachers deepen their musicianship, strengthen their teaching, and confidently apply the principles of the Dennis Frayne Approach in real teaching situations. Rather than focusing only on educational theory, certification combines philosophy, practical teaching strategies, lesson sequencing, musicianship, reflection, and guided application, helping teachers build the knowledge, confidence, and professional judgment needed to teach students of different ages, abilities, backgrounds, and goals.
What does Level 1 Certification include?
Level 1 Certification provides a thorough introduction to the Dennis Frayne Approach and establishes the foundation for continued professional growth. Teachers study the educational philosophy, core tenets, lesson design, sequencing, healthy technique, comprehensive musicianship, and practical teaching strategies that shape the Approach, while learning to teach from Presto! It's Piano Magic, Book 1 with confidence and understanding. Throughout the program, participants apply what they are learning directly in their own teaching, receive guidance and feedback, and continue developing both as educators and as musicians.
Do I need to be a member to become certified?
Yes. Active Teacher Membership is required for participation in certification. Membership provides access to the professional community, coaching, publications, educational resources, and ongoing support that complement the certification experience. Together, Teacher Membership and certification create a connected pathway for continual professional growth throughout a teacher's career.
Does membership include certification?
No. Teacher Membership and certification are complementary but separate parts of The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education.
Teacher Membership provides access to the Association's professional community, publications, educational resources, member benefits, and ongoing opportunities for learning and growth. Certification is a structured program of professional study for teachers who wish to explore the Dennis Frayne Approach in greater depth and apply it more fully in their teaching.
Active Teacher Membership is required to enroll in certification, but certification courses are purchased separately. This allows teachers to begin benefiting from the Association immediately and pursue certification whenever the time is right for their professional goals.
Does membership include private coaching?
Private coaching is available to Teacher Members but is not included with membership. Coaching sessions are scheduled individually and offered for an additional fee.
Many teachers value the opportunity to discuss lesson planning, teaching challenges, sequencing, repertoire, student progress, studio development, and other professional questions in a personalized one-on-one setting. Private coaching provides practical guidance tailored to each teacher's unique needs and teaching situation.
While private coaching is offered separately, regular group coaching sessions are included as a benefit of Teacher Membership. Together with publications, educational resources, certification opportunities, and an active professional community, these conversations help create an environment where music teachers continue learning, refining their craft, and supporting one another throughout their careers.
What is the Founding Membership?
A limited number of teachers may join as Founding Members. This includes either an annual membership at the founding rate or a discounted five-year membership. Founding Members receive full access to all current and developing benefits, along with unlimited arrangement requests during the founding phase. Like all members, Founding Members receive the Association's Price-for-Life Guarantee. Their founding membership rate will never increase as long as they maintain continuous active membership.
What is the Price-for-Life Guarantee?
At The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education, we believe long-term members should be rewarded for their commitment, not penalized with higher membership rates simply because they have remained loyal.
Our Price-for-Life Guarantee means exactly what it says.
When you become a member, your membership rates are locked in at the rates in effect on the day you join. As long as your membership remains continuously active, you may renew using either the annual or five-year membership option at those original rates, even if membership prices increase in the future. Any future price increases apply only to new members joining the Association.
For example, if you join when the membership rates are $199 per year or $695 for five years, you may continue renewing at those same rates for as long as your membership remains active, regardless of future price increases. You may also alternate between annual and five-year renewal options while retaining your original membership rates.
If your membership lapses or you choose to leave the Association, the Price-for-Life Guarantee ends. Should you decide to rejoin later, you would enroll at the membership rates in effect at that time. Those new membership rates would then become your Price-for-Life rates, provided your membership again remains continuously active.
The Price-for-Life Guarantee applies to membership only. Certification tuition, coaching, events, publications, products, shipping, and other optional purchases are offered at the prices in effect at the time of purchase.
We are building a professional community for the long term, and we hope our members will remain part of it for many years to come. The Price-for-Life Guarantee is one way the Association recognizes and thanks members who maintain a long-term relationship with the organization.
Will membership benefits change over time?
The core purpose of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education will remain consistent. As the Association grows, additional features and opportunities may be added. Founding Members will retain the benefits offered during the founding phase.
Is this Approach only for piano teachers?
No. The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education is designed for music teachers of all disciplines, including piano, voice, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, guitar, classroom music, early childhood music, ensemble music, and many other educational settings. Its principles focus on how people learn music and become musical, making the Approach applicable wherever music is taught.
While Presto! It's Piano Magic provides the primary curriculum for beginning piano instruction, the Dennis Frayne Approach extends far beyond piano. We believe every musician benefits from developing broad, connected musicianship through singing, listening, movement, creativity, music literacy, ensemble participation, and, whenever possible, experience with more than one instrument.
We also believe the piano holds a unique place in music education because it makes many musical concepts easier to see, hear, and understand. For that reason, we encourage all music students, regardless of their primary instrument, to develop basic piano skills. At the same time, we believe every instrument teaches us something about music that the others cannot. Great music education draws upon the unique strengths of each instrument to help students become complete, confident, and expressive musicians.
To learn more about this philosophy, we invite you to explore The Complete Musician.
What makes the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education different from other music education organizations?
Many organizations make valuable contributions to the profession through conferences, journals, publications, advocacy, research, and professional development. The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education seeks to complement those efforts by providing something different: an integrated framework that connects educational philosophy, practical teaching, curriculum, certification, coaching, and an ongoing professional community.
Our focus is not simply on sharing ideas, but on helping teachers confidently apply those ideas in everyday teaching. Members receive practical resources they can use immediately, thoughtful guidance for real teaching situations, simplified arrangements for students, opportunities for coaching and professional discussion, and a clear pathway for continual growth through certification and ongoing learning.
At the heart of the Association is a simple belief: great teaching develops over time through study, reflection, experience, encouragement, and community. Rather than offering isolated workshops or disconnected resources, we strive to help teachers build healthy, sustainable, and fulfilling careers while becoming increasingly skilled musicians, educators, leaders, and mentors.
We are building more than an organization. We are building a professional home where music teachers can continue learning, growing, contributing, and strengthening music education together.
What is the current membership price?
Current membership rates, benefits, and available membership options are listed on our Teacher Membership and Association Sponsor Membership pages. Because membership offerings and introductory opportunities may change over time, we maintain current pricing in one location to ensure the information is always accurate and up to date.
Each membership page includes complete details about annual membership, multi-year options, Founding Membership (when available), member benefits, and our Price-for-Life Guarantee.
How do I join?
Joining the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education is simple. Visit our Membership page to explore the available membership options, compare benefits, and submit your application. You may choose an annual membership, a discounted five-year membership, or, when available, a Founding Membership.
Once your application is approved, you'll become part of a growing professional community dedicated to strengthening music education by helping teachers grow in confidence, musicianship, leadership, and professional fulfillment.
Can I cancel my membership?
Yes. Annual memberships may be discontinued at the end of any membership year by simply choosing not to renew. There are no cancellation fees or long-term commitments beyond your current membership period. Five-year memberships are prepaid and remain active for the full five-year term. Because these memberships include discounted pricing, they are non-refundable once purchased.
If you choose to leave the Association and later return, you are always welcome back. Please note that membership rates in effect at the time you rejoin will apply, and your previous Price-for-Life Guarantee will no longer be available.
How can I get started?
Start by exploring the Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education and discovering the ideas that make it unique. Read the Core Tenets, learn about The Complete Musician, browse our publications, and explore the many resources available throughout this website.
When you're ready to take the next step, apply for Teacher Membership. You'll become part of a supportive professional community with access to educational resources, coaching, publications, certification, curriculum, and ongoing opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute alongside fellow music educators.
Whether you're just beginning your teaching career or have decades of experience, we'd be honored to welcome you into the Association.