About Us
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Copyright 2009 Where Music Begins, All Rights Reserved |
Biographies
Cathy Hirata ~ Executive Director
Cathy has been involved in music for over 40 years. Her background includes formal voice and piano with the founding
members of Opera San Jose -- New York Metropolitan Opera Singer Irene Dalis and former Oberlin College Professor David
Rohrbaugh and she has performed with the San Jose Symphony and San Jose Opera. A scholarship recipient and graduate of
San Jose State University, she received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, a secondary teaching credential in
music education and is currently enrolled at the University of California Davis Mind Institute certification program in autism
studies. Ms. Hirata has one of the largest studios that provides adapted music lessons to students with special needs in the
Bay Area. In addition to being a Senior Associate Simply Music Teacher, she is a Certified Signing Smart and Licensed
Kindermusik Educator, and the Co-Representative for the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the California Partnership of Kindermusik
Educator’s. She is a published author and lecturer and has been recognized by Kindermusik International as a Maestro for her
work with children with special needs.
Cathy Hirata ~ Executive Director
Cathy has been involved in music for over 40 years. Her background includes formal voice and piano with the founding
members of Opera San Jose -- New York Metropolitan Opera Singer Irene Dalis and former Oberlin College Professor David
Rohrbaugh and she has performed with the San Jose Symphony and San Jose Opera. A scholarship recipient and graduate of
San Jose State University, she received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, a secondary teaching credential in
music education and is currently enrolled at the University of California Davis Mind Institute certification program in autism
studies. Ms. Hirata has one of the largest studios that provides adapted music lessons to students with special needs in the
Bay Area. In addition to being a Senior Associate Simply Music Teacher, she is a Certified Signing Smart and Licensed
Kindermusik Educator, and the Co-Representative for the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the California Partnership of Kindermusik
Educator’s. She is a published author and lecturer and has been recognized by Kindermusik International as a Maestro for her
work with children with special needs.
Lindy Hirata ~ Signing Smart, Kindermusik, Simply Music, ASL
Lindy is the Director of American Sign Language programs for Where Music Begins. She is Certified in both Signing Smart and
American Sign Language and a Licensed Kindermusik, and Accredited Simply Music Teacher with several years' experience
teaching developmentally-appropriate music and sign language classes to children in the Tri-Valley area. Her ample teaching
skills, affinity for young children, and ease with parents are in high demand. Parents and children alike immediately respond to
her warmth and kindness, and Lindy is quickly becoming one of the most requested Kindermusik teachers in the East Bay.
Miss Lindy teaches with two academies: Where Music Begins and Kindermusik with Miss Lindsay & Friends.
Lindy is the Director of American Sign Language programs for Where Music Begins. She is Certified in both Signing Smart and
American Sign Language and a Licensed Kindermusik, and Accredited Simply Music Teacher with several years' experience
teaching developmentally-appropriate music and sign language classes to children in the Tri-Valley area. Her ample teaching
skills, affinity for young children, and ease with parents are in high demand. Parents and children alike immediately respond to
her warmth and kindness, and Lindy is quickly becoming one of the most requested Kindermusik teachers in the East Bay.
Miss Lindy teaches with two academies: Where Music Begins and Kindermusik with Miss Lindsay & Friends.
Cathy DeWilde ~ Simply Music
Cathy is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and currently resides in Pleasanton. She loves teaching
both adults and children and is very patient and kind. She has a strong commitment to music education. With a
background of thirteen years of traditional piano training, Cathy has experienced first hand the incredible success of Simply
Music. She was first introduced to the Simply Music program by enrolling her own children in piano lessons with Cathy
Hirata. She was amazed at how quickly they gained such a huge repertoire of sophisticated songs. Practicing was fun and
not a chore.
Cathy is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and currently resides in Pleasanton. She loves teaching
both adults and children and is very patient and kind. She has a strong commitment to music education. With a
background of thirteen years of traditional piano training, Cathy has experienced first hand the incredible success of Simply
Music. She was first introduced to the Simply Music program by enrolling her own children in piano lessons with Cathy
Hirata. She was amazed at how quickly they gained such a huge repertoire of sophisticated songs. Practicing was fun and
not a chore.
Kathleen Petryshun - Simply Music
Jan Ibarra - Marketing
Jan Ibarra - Marketing
About Us
Where Music Begins is a privately owned music academy providing outstanding music education to students of all ages and
abilities. We believe that everyone is naturally musical and that children learn best in environments that nuture all aspects
of their development while encouraging development in the cognitive, emotional, perceptual, social, language and
physical areas of everyone. We are committted to the understanding of how each student learns enabling us to mold our
programs to the needs and "learning ability" of each student. Our focus is on the process not the performance allowing
children and adults to experience the joy and magic of making music while fostering each student's individual musicality,
creativity and imagination while providing a well rounded music education, and exposing students to a variety of music
styles, composition, accompaniment and jazz.
Our teachers are highly qualified university educated individuals with extensive experience in teaching and performance.
Kindermusik, Simply Music and Signing Smart Educators are certified in the programs they teach. All of our teachers
regularly participate in continuing education programs to improve their skills.
Where Music Begins is a privately owned music academy providing outstanding music education to students of all ages and
abilities. We believe that everyone is naturally musical and that children learn best in environments that nuture all aspects
of their development while encouraging development in the cognitive, emotional, perceptual, social, language and
physical areas of everyone. We are committted to the understanding of how each student learns enabling us to mold our
programs to the needs and "learning ability" of each student. Our focus is on the process not the performance allowing
children and adults to experience the joy and magic of making music while fostering each student's individual musicality,
creativity and imagination while providing a well rounded music education, and exposing students to a variety of music
styles, composition, accompaniment and jazz.
Our teachers are highly qualified university educated individuals with extensive experience in teaching and performance.
Kindermusik, Simply Music and Signing Smart Educators are certified in the programs they teach. All of our teachers
regularly participate in continuing education programs to improve their skills.