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Learning to love music
New studio brings music education to special needs students

by Rebecca Guyon

It's been five years since local music teacher Cathy Hirata started teaching music programs out of her home in Pleasanton and now, with a roster of 90 students ranging from newborn babies to 77 year olds, she has decided to move out of the house and into a bigger studio. On March 11, Hirata, with the help of teachers Linda Hirata and Cathy DeWilde, is opening "Where Music Begins," a music studio that teaches piano and music appreciation through the Simply Music, Signing Smart and Kindermusik programs.

What sets Hirata's studio apart from others is that the programs are specifically geared to special needs students. The Simply Music program focuses on learning at a slow pace, taking in one lesson at a time and experimenting with the instrument. Instead of starting with reading music, the program has students learn how to play first and later learn the reading portion. Although any student can learn from Simply Music, it is particularly effective for students who are blind, deaf, autistic or dyslexic.

"Traditional methods are reading based, so students with particular disabilities may move away from music because of the tedium," Hirata said.

While Hirata has an extensive background as a music teacher, she had never worked with special needs students until she got involved with the Simply Music program. She first heard of the program from her sister whose dyslexic son was in the program and enjoying it. Hirata decided to try teaching it and she was impressed with how well it worked for her students.

"It's interesting to see the students' success," Hirata said. "Students with autism particularly do well. The students love it because it's easy to understand. They do go on into a reading program and become articulate musicians, but they have a greater understanding of the breadth and depth of music."

In addition to Simply Music, "Where Music Begins" also offers programs for younger students. Kindermusik is for children 7 years old or younger--even as young as newborn babies. This program uses music and movement exercises to develop children's cognitive, physical, social and language skills. Somewhat related, "Where Music Begins" also offers Signing Smart, a program that teaches "baby sign language" to parents and children 6 months to 2 years old. The idea behind the program is to teach babies how to communicate with their parents or caregivers through sign language before they are able to talk.

Hirata is actually a product of the Pleasanton schools' music program. She attended Walnut Grove Elementary School and Harvest Park Middle School before graduating from Amador Valley High School in 1976 where she studied music under famed band director Jim Campana. In band, she played piano and was also in the Amador choir. Although her education made her into an accomplished musician and vocalist--she was a performer with the San Jose Symphony and San Jose Opera--music was always in her blood.

"It comes from my dad's side of the family," Hirata said. "We have music in our history back 200 years." She remembers well her father's rich baritone voice, but said what really inspired her were conversations with her great aunt who was a pianist for silent movies in the 1920s. Her aunt lived in North Dakota and as a child Hirata would call her to talk about music.

Now, with the opening of "Where Music Begins," Hirata hopes to continue spreading music education to children from many different backgrounds.

Opening Day

Where Music Begins, 5460 Sunol Blvd. in the Oak Hills Shopping Center, opens March 11 with a grand opening event from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. People can meet the teachers and try a free Kindermusik, Signing Smart or introductory session to Simply Music Piano. There will also be drawings for a free semester tuition of Kindermusik or Signing Smart or a free month of Simply Music piano lessons. Call Cathy Hirata at 249-0661 or visit www.wheremusicbegins.com for more information.