Posted on Mon, Feb. 25, 2008

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Blind child finds music is the key

Born without eyes, 10-year-old is learning her way around the piano - and around her world as well

By TERRY LEE GOODRICH

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

S-T/STEWART F. HOUSE

Anais Martinez sings along as she plays Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star during piano practice Friday.

• Blind child finds music is the key
•  An ear for music

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- When it's time for recess, most elementary school kids are eager to run outside and play.

Not Anais Martinez. Anais, 10, a fourth-grader at Snow Heights Elementary School, prefers to head to a school piano and play some tunes.

Because of a disorder, her eyes never formed. But the fact that she cannot read music has never held her back.

Swaying back and forth in rhythm, she plays by ear -- from Christmas carols to Bach -- and on March 25 will give her first performance away from school for the NE Richland Lions Club during a luncheon in Haltom City.

Anais' talent quickly outgrew the small xylophone and undersize piano at school. And her electric keyboard at home is in sad condition.

But the Lions are about to change things, said Bill Mapston, the club's past president.

"We're going to buy her a piano," he said. "We've pledged $500 to have it delivered to her house."

Anais' mother, Rosa Martinez of Richland Hills, says her only child finds joy through music.

The girl has a pervasive developmental disorder, said Martinez, 29, a child-care provider.

"She had a breathing tube until she was nearly 3, and I couldn't hear any voice -- none of the goo-goos and gaa-gaas babies make. But my mother gave her a toy piano, and people gave her musical toys, and she loved them."

Anais quickly learned to sing.

When she started music therapy at school, Martinez was delighted to learn of her daughter's abilities from her teacher, Kay Boland, who teaches visually impaired students at Snow Heights.

"Miss Kay was very nice last year and brought a little piano to her and got someone to give her lessons," Martinez said.

"All of the people at her school have been a blessing. This was a way to get her more motivated."

School staffers are equally delighted with Anais.

"I've heard her play, and she's a delight," said Dora Thrash, school secretary. "She loves to sing, too -- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

As Anais learns Braille, she sometimes goes to the school office to read to employees. They say they enjoy her singing -- sometimes in an operatic style -- and improving skills. Anais is also learning to use a white cane to navigate around the school.

When Boland gave Anais the small keyboard, "she just sat down and started playing stuff she liked, mostly Christmas songs," Boland said.

"Then I brought in songs from when I took piano lessons years ago."

She found out Anais was a quick study.

"She'll listen two or three times and practice until she gets it right," Boland said.

Rosa Martinez said she cannot wait for her daughter's debut before the Lions.

"I've never seen her play for an audience," she said. "Anais is getting really excited about it."

TERRY LEE GOODRICH, 817-685-3812
tgoodrich@star-telegram.com