Frequently Asked Questions
The Approach, Association, and Ascent
What is the Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education?
The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education is a connected philosophy and framework for helping people become musical and develop lifelong relationships with music. It begins with the student and considers how musical learning unfolds: through experience, listening, singing, movement, playing, reading, creating, repertoire, practice, performance, and the gradual development of broad and connected musicianship.
The Approach also considers how teachers make decisions. It brings together principles of learning, sequencing, healthy technique and movement, musical understanding, creativity, and professional judgment within a framework that provides direction without requiring every student, teacher, instrument, or learning situation to look the same. Teachers are encouraged to understand and follow the student while also providing the leadership, knowledge, challenge, structure, and support that good teaching requires.
What is the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education?
The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education is a professional membership organization for music teachers and the organizational home of the Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education. Through membership and its programs, the Association provides professional community, publications and teaching resources, courses, coaching, certification, access to curriculum, and other opportunities for professional development. It also administers the Dennis Frayne Ascent, the student achievement and recognition program associated with the Approach.
The Association exists to help music teachers deepen their musicianship, strengthen their teaching, develop professional judgment and leadership, and build rewarding lives in music education. By supporting teachers as musicians, educators, professionals, and people, the Association helps them serve their students well while contributing to the larger life of music education.
What is the Dennis Frayne Ascent?
The Dennis Frayne Ascent is a comprehensive student achievement and recognition program that challenges, encourages, recognizes, and celebrates students through meaningful Demonstrations of Learning across many dimensions of musicianship.
Every student begins at Trailhead Level 1 and progresses through eight Tiers and fifty Levels in sequence. The first seven Tiers each contain seven Levels, while the eighth Tier, Summit, consists of the culminating Ascent Level 50. Along the way, students perform, sing, listen, read, create, improvise, compose, conduct, collaborate, and undertake other musical work as they complete the published requirements for each Level.
The Ascent is offered through eligible Teacher Members of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education and is designed to provide meaningful goals, recognize genuine accomplishment, and support students as they continue becoming more musical.
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 serve different but connected purposes.
The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education is the educational philosophy and framework. It considers the student, learning, musicianship, teaching, repertoire, practice, performance, creativity, and professional judgment within the larger purpose of helping people become musical and build lasting relationships with music.
The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education is the professional membership organization. It supports teachers through professional community, certification, courses, coaching, publications, curriculum access, and other opportunities for continued learning and professional development.
The Dennis Frayne Ascent is the student achievement and recognition program. Through a connected sequence of eight Tiers, fifty Levels, and meaningful Demonstrations of Learning, students undertake musical work, complete published requirements, and receive recognition for the accomplishments they earn.
The Approach provides the educational foundation, the Association supports teachers and administers the program, and the Ascent provides students with a structured pathway of musical experiences, accomplishments, and recognition.
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 complements those efforts by offering an integrated framework that connects the Dennis Frayne Approach with practical resources and opportunities for sustained professional study, including certification and courses, coaching, publications, curriculum resources, and an ongoing teacher community. Members can bring questions from their own teaching, use practical resources such as student arrangements, and continue developing their musicianship and professional judgment.
At the heart of the Association is a belief that strong teaching develops over time through study, reflection, experience, encouragement, and community. The Association offers a connected professional home where teachers can continue learning, contributing, and strengthening music education together.
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 interested in continued professional growth. Members teach in many different settings and musical areas, including:
Independent private music studios
Community music schools
Public and private schools
Early childhood music programs
Colleges and universities
Churches and faith-based settings
Ensembles and other community programs
Professional performance settings in which musicians also teach
Teachers of piano, voice, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, guitar, ukulele, composition, conducting, classroom music, and other areas of music instruction are welcome.
Teachers may be at any stage of their careers and may work with beginners or advanced students, children or adults, in individual lessons, groups, classrooms, ensembles, or other settings. Teacher Membership provides a professional community in which educators can deepen their musicianship, strengthen their teaching, exchange ideas, develop professional judgment, and build rewarding lives in music education.
What do Teacher Members receive?
Teacher Membership combines educational resources with ongoing professional support. Members receive access to 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, simplified 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 develop, members will also have access to an organized member library of Dennis Frayne writings, study materials, teaching resources, and related tools, along with new publications, events, collaborations, and other resources developed to support rewarding and sustainable lives in music education.
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.
What is the private teacher community like?
The private teacher community is a supportive professional learning community where members can exchange ideas, ask questions, share experience, and discuss real teaching situations. Teachers can explore lesson planning, sequencing, student motivation, musicianship, repertoire, studio management, professional decisions, and the everyday opportunities and challenges of teaching music.
In addition to the online community, Teacher Members are invited to participate in the Monthly Teacher Workshop led by Dr. Dennis Frayne. Members may bring questions, student situations, teaching challenges, professional decisions, and other issues they would like to explore. Together, participants examine the situation, consider possible approaches, share experience, and learn from one another.
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. Private coaching gives teachers an opportunity to explore their own teaching and professional questions in greater depth. Topics may include lesson planning, student situations, sequencing, repertoire, musicianship, studio development, career decisions, or other matters related to a teacher’s particular work and circumstances.
The Monthly Teacher Workshop, however, is included as a benefit of Teacher Membership. It provides a regular opportunity for members to bring questions and situations to a shared professional conversation, learn from the experiences of other teachers, and consider possible approaches together.
Certification
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.
How are Teacher Membership and certification related?
Teacher Membership and certification are connected but separate parts of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education.
Active Teacher Membership is required to participate in certification. Membership provides access to the Association’s professional community, publications, educational resources, member benefits, group learning opportunities, and other forms of ongoing professional support. Certification is a structured program of professional study in which teachers examine the Dennis Frayne Approach in greater depth and demonstrate their learning through musicianship, teaching application, reflection, coursework, and other certification requirements.
Certification is not included in the cost of membership; certification courses are purchased separately. Teachers may join the Association without pursuing certification, and members who wish to become certified may enroll when they are ready to undertake that additional study.
Does certification in the Dennis Frayne Approach provide a state teaching license or credential?
No. Certification in the Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education is a professional certification issued through the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. It recognizes successful completion of the Association’s certification requirements and demonstrated learning within the Dennis Frayne Approach.
Association certification does not confer or replace a state teaching license, credential, degree, or other authorization that may be required by a school, employer, government agency, or other governing body.
The Dennis Frayne Ascent
Who may offer the Dennis Frayne Ascent?
The Dennis Frayne Ascent is offered through eligible Teacher Members of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education.
Participating teachers must be certified in, or actively pursuing certification in, the Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education and must meet the Association’s requirements for offering the Ascent. Eligible teachers register students, guide their preparation, submit Demonstrations of Learning for review, and support them as they progress through the program.
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.
How do students progress through the Dennis Frayne Ascent?
Every student begins at Trailhead Level 1, regardless of age or previous musical experience, and progresses through the Levels in sequence. Levels may not be skipped.
Students progress according to the time their learning and preparation require. At least 30 days must elapse between official submissions for successive Levels, but this establishes only the maximum rate at which a student may advance. It is not an expectation that students complete a new Level every 30 days.
Advancement is based on completion of the published requirements for each Level. When those requirements have been verified through the applicable Demonstration of Learning, the student earns the Level and continues to the next.
How are Demonstrations of Learning reviewed?
Qualified evaluators review each Demonstration of Learning against the published requirements for the applicable Level. The evaluator verifies that the required repertoire, performances, projects, technical activities, musicianship experiences, and other specified work have been completed.
The Ascent does not assign scores to artistic quality or rank students against one another. When all published requirements have been verified, the Demonstration of Learning is approved and the student earns the Level.
Additional information is available on the Demonstrations of Learning page.
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. 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 in advance by the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education.
There are no automatic substitutions or general equivalent pathways. Part of the Ascent experience is learning, with the help of a teacher, to solve the practical problems involved in completing substantial musical work.
If exceptional circumstances make an exact requirement genuinely and virtually impossible for a particular student to complete, the participating Teacher Member may submit a request for an alternative. The Association must approve the alternative before the student completes the substitute activity and may approve or deny the request.
Additional information is available on the How to Participate page.
What happens if a submission is incomplete?
If a submission is missing a required file, document, recording, composition, or other required component, the participating Teacher Member is notified of what is missing. The omitted material may be provided 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 Teacher Member receives an explanation of what remains to be completed. The student may then complete, correct, or redo the necessary work and submit it again for review.
A resubmission of this kind requires an additional review fee equal to 50% of the original submission fee. Current fees are published on the Ascent Fee Schedule.
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.
Where can I find complete Ascent information?
The principal Dennis Frayne Ascent pages provide different kinds of information:
Ascent Overview explains the philosophy and purpose of the program.
The Eight Tiers describes the complete sequence of eight Tiers and fifty Levels.
How to Participate explains eligibility, registration, submissions, policies, and participation procedures.
Demonstrations of Learning explains how students provide evidence of completed work and how submissions are reviewed.
Ascent Fee Schedule provides current submission and resubmission fees.
The individual Tier pages provide the published requirements for each Level.
Participating teachers are responsible for following the current published requirements and registration and submission procedures that apply to each student.
Curriculum, Writings, and Teaching Resources
Are the Dennis Frayne writings available to everyone?
Some are. Dennis Frayne writings are published publicly in several locations, while other publications, study materials, and resources are available specifically to members. As the member library is developed, it will provide an organized and searchable collection of Dennis Frayne writings together with member resources, study materials, and related tools.
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 complete Presto! It’s Music Magic curriculum is available for purchase exclusively through Teacher Membership in the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. Selected books, arrangements, and other publications may be available to the general public, but the complete curriculum is reserved for Teacher Members.
What Presto! It’s Music Magic benefits are available to Teacher Members?
Teacher Members receive unlimited access to digital single-selection music from Presto! It’s Music Magic Publishing, member pricing on books, collections, teaching materials, and other eligible publications, and free shipping on physical purchases within the United States.
Teacher Members are also eligible to purchase the complete Presto! It’s Music Magic curriculum. The curriculum was developed as a practical application of the Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education, and members can draw upon the Association’s courses, certification, publications, professional community, and other resources as they learn about and use the curriculum in their teaching.
Selected books, arrangements, and other publications may also be available to the general public. Access to purchase the complete curriculum, however, is a benefit of Teacher Membership.
Do I need to use Presto! It’s Music Magic to benefit from the Approach?
No. The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education is an educational philosophy and teaching framework whose principles can be applied with many different method books, repertoire choices, instruments, and educational settings. Teachers can use the Approach to guide decisions about learning, sequencing, musicianship, technique, creativity, repertoire, practice, performance, and the needs of the individual student regardless of the materials they use.
Presto! It’s Music Magic was developed specifically within the Dennis Frayne Approach and provides one practical application of its philosophy, sequencing, and Core Tenets. Teachers using the Approach may also draw from a wide range of repertoire and educational materials as they make decisions based on the needs, interests, goals, abilities, and development of the students they teach.
Membership, Pricing, and Getting Started
What is the Founding Membership?
Founding Membership recognizes Teacher Members who join the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education during its founding period. It is a status within Teacher Membership, not a separate membership level or term.
Founding Membership is available to Teacher Members whose membership becomes active on or before December 31, 2026, up to a maximum of 100 Founding Members. Founding Members establish the annual and five-year Teacher Membership rates in effect when they join, which are protected under the Price-for-Life Guarantee as long as Teacher Membership remains continuously active.
What is Association Sponsor Membership?
Association Sponsor Membership provides a way for individuals, families, alumni, community members, businesses, foundations, and organizations to support the mission and work of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. Sponsor support helps the Association develop and sustain teacher education, publications and educational resources, student recognition, research, outreach, and other initiatives that strengthen music education.
Association Sponsor Membership is separate from Teacher Membership and does not include teacher resources, certification, or participation in professional programs intended for Teacher Members. Sponsor Membership is offered at several annual contribution levels, and one-time contributions are also welcome from those who wish to support the Association without becoming a Sponsor Member.
What is the Price-for-Life Guarantee?
The Price-for-Life Guarantee protects eligible recurring Teacher Membership and advanced membership rates. When a teacher joins, the annual and five-year Teacher Membership rates then in effect become protected. If the member later enters an advanced membership level, the annual and monthly advanced rates then in effect establish the member’s protected advanced pricing.
Members may change eligible membership or billing terms and advance to higher qualified levels under the guarantee while maintaining continuous participation. A downgrade or lapse may establish new pricing. Separately purchased certification, courses, coaching, events, curriculum, products, Dennis Frayne Ascent fees, and other programs or services are not included.
Complete terms and examples are provided on the Price-for-Life Guarantee page.
What are the current membership rates?
Current membership rates, benefits, and available 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 on the appropriate membership pages so the information remains accurate and up to date.
These pages provide the current rates, available membership terms, benefits, and other applicable membership information.
How do I join?
Visit our Membership page to explore the available membership types, benefits, terms, and application information. From there, you can choose the membership that best fits how you would like to participate in or support the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education.
Teachers joining during the Founding Membership period may select either the annual or discounted five-year Teacher Membership option at the founding rate. Those who wish to support the work of the Association without joining as Teacher Members may explore Association Sponsor Membership and its available support levels.
Once you have selected the appropriate membership, follow the application or enrollment instructions provided on that membership page.
Can I cancel my membership or subscription?
Yes. Teacher Membership and advanced membership subscriptions renew automatically according to their selected terms unless cancellation is requested before the next renewal date. Members who wish to cancel automatic renewal should contact the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education.
Cancellation prevents the next renewal but does not end a term that has already been paid. Teacher Membership remains active through the end of the current annual or five-year term, and an advanced membership subscription remains active through the end of the current monthly or annual term.
If Teacher Membership or an advanced membership subscription lapses, the protected Price-for-Life pricing associated with that membership or subscription ends. If it is later resumed, the rates then in effect become the new protected rates.
Ready to Explore Further?
To explore the Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education in greater depth, begin with the Core Tenets and The Complete Musician, then browse the writings, publications, and other resources available throughout this website.
Music teachers who would like to become part of the professional community can explore Teacher Membership, including member resources, the Monthly Teacher Workshop, certification, courses, coaching, curriculum access, and other opportunities for professional development.
Those who would like to support the work of the Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education can also learn about Association Sponsor Membership.