Presto! It’s Piano Magic

A Comprehensive Piano Curriculum Built on the Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education

For more than three decades, Dr. Dennis Frayne has developed and refined a comprehensive approach to beginning piano instruction that helps students become confident, capable, and joyful musicians.

Presto! It's Piano Magic is the flagship piano curriculum of The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education and serves as the instructional foundation for the Association's teacher certification program.

While many piano methods teach students how to play pieces, Presto! It's Piano Magic is designed to help students become musicians.

Learn About the Dennis Frayne Approach

Philosophy

More Than a Method Book

Presto! It's Piano Magic is not simply a collection of lessons and repertoire. It is the practical application of a connected philosophy of music education.

Every lesson, every activity, every song, and every sequence reflects educational principles developed through decades of teaching, continual refinement, and careful observation of how students naturally learn music.

Eight Guiding Principles

Sound Before Symbol

Students experience music first through singing, listening, movement, imitation, and exploration before reading notation.

Singing from the First Lesson

Students sing throughout the curriculum because singing strengthens audiation, musicianship, expression, memory, and musical understanding.

Sequential Learning

Every lesson builds naturally upon previous understanding.

Students experience success because concepts are introduced at the right time and in the right order.

Comprehensive Musicianship

Technique.

Reading.

Theory.

Ear training.

Improvisation.

Composition.

Performance.

Creativity.

They develop together as one connected musical education.

Student-Centered Teaching

Rather than forcing students to fit a method, the curriculum helps teachers understand students and respond thoughtfully to individual learning.

Developmentally Appropriate Learning

Children, teenagers, and adults all learn differently.

The curriculum respects those differences while maintaining meaningful challenge and high expectations.

Diverse Musical Experiences

Students encounter music from many cultures, traditions, historical periods, and styles because every musical tradition has something valuable to teach us.

Joyful Learning

Music learning should be engaging, meaningful, challenging, and deeply rewarding.

Joy is not the absence of rigor.

Joy is what gives rigor purpose.

Student Recognition

Students studying with participating Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education teachers may also take part in The Dennis Frayne Ascent, where their growing musicianship can be demonstrated and celebrated through meaningful Demonstrations of Learning.

Scope & Sequence, Book 1

Scope & Sequence, Book 2

Why Teachers Choose Presto! It's Piano Magic

Teachers use Presto! It’s Piano Magic because its lessons, repertoire, musicianship, theory, technique, ear training, singing, creativity, and music reading are designed to work together rather than as separate parts of a student’s education.

The curriculum gives teachers a carefully sequenced framework while leaving room for professional judgment, individual students, additional repertoire, and the many directions a musical education may take.

Presto! It's Piano Magic is the flagship instructional curriculum of The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. To ensure that teachers receive the preparation and ongoing support needed to use the curriculum effectively, it is available exclusively to eligible Teacher Members of the Association.

Many other publications from Presto! It's Music Magic Publishing — including sheet music, repertoire collections, games, teaching aids, classroom materials, printables, and other educational resources — remain available for purchase by the general public.

If you are a music teacher interested in using the complete Presto! It's Piano Magic curriculum, we invite you to learn more about Teacher Membership and The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education.

The Curriculum Is Part of Something Larger

Presto! It's Piano Magic does not stand alone.

It is one part of a connected educational community that includes:

The Dennis Frayne Approach to Music Education

The educational philosophy that guides every publication, course, and teaching practice.

The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education

A professional community where teachers learn together, encourage one another, and continue growing throughout their careers.

Teacher Certification

A comprehensive course of study that helps teachers apply the principles of the Dennis Frayne Approach with confidence and clarity.

The Dennis Frayne Ascent

Students studying with participating Association teachers may also take part in The Dennis Frayne Ascent, where their growing musicianship can be demonstrated and celebrated through meaningful Demonstrations of Learning.

Who Can Purchase the Curriculum?

Presto! It's Piano Magic was never intended to be just another piano method. It has been designed as a complete curriculum to embody an entire philosophy of music education.

The complete Presto! It's Piano Magic curriculum is available to eligible Teacher Members of The Dennis Frayne Association for Music Education. Membership provides access not only to the curriculum, but also to professional learning, a supportive community, ongoing coaching, certification opportunities, and a growing library of educational resources.

Many other Presto! publications and teaching materials remain available for purchase by everyone.