The Cupertino Courier

Community

Local music school hitting all the right notes after 30 years

By Erin Hussey

Many music and arts programs in California public schools were eliminated 30 years ago following the passage of Prop. 13.

Students in Sunnyvale and Cupertino, however, continued to make music with the help of the Sunnyvale Music School, an outreach program of the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church.

"A committee in this church saw the writing on the wall that Prop. 13 was going to be a real problem for the arts," says Doris Harry, school director. "They decided that they wanted to start some place where kids could get general music lessons."

The Sunnyvale Music School is a nonprofit, non-religious educational institution with open enrollment. This year marks the school's 30th anniversary.

About the time Prop. 13 was on the ballot, Harry, who holds a voice and piano degree from the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, was moving to Cupertino with her husband Tony. Harry was asked by one of the school's founding board members if she'd be willing to get the program started.

"I am such a believer in group lessons," says Harry, who continues to write curriculum and songs, as well as train teachers at the school.

"I'm not against--private--we have those here, too but a private lesson can be a very lonely way to take music. In a class you are having a good time because you are making music with other people."

The Sunnyvale Music School offers classes, lessons and camps starting at age 12 months. Its oldest student is 77. During the classes, which average around two hours each, the students learn about rhythm, how to sight-read and work together through games, hands-on activities and instruction. Children who are in the first grade or older are also able to "major" in a specific instrument such as the violin, piano or flute.

"We call it comprehensive musicianship," Harry explains.

While the school now is flourishing with more than 700 students, funding and students were sparse during its first few years.

"There was one summer when another teacher, Jan Williams, and I taught for free because we wanted the school to continue," says Harry. "But it was worth it because if you stick to something it will grow."

The school has a few major fundraisers each year, including a silent auction that usually raises around $10,000. The school also receives some funding from Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church.

"I generally give $10,000 to $12,000 per year in scholarships," says Harry. "Most of them are 50 percent if they can afford it. But if they can't, we have a few kids who are 75 percent or even 100."

While some schools are slowly starting to reintroduce music programs into their general curriculum, Harry says it's an uphill battle.

With more than 60 teachers and teacher's aides, the Sunnyvale Music School is continually growing. Harry hopes the school's future will include visual arts classes as well as more intergenerational activities and performance groups.

While not every student has graduated to become a star on Broadway, there are a number who became music teachers, advocates and professional actors/musicians.

"They are still making music and that is our goal," says Harry. "To keep using your music."

The Sunnyvale Music School, located at 728 W. Fremont Ave. in Sunnyvale, will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sept. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. Past, present and future students, teachers, parents and community members are invited to attend.

For more information about the celebration and/or enrollment, call 408.739.9248 or visit www.themusicschool.org.