The Musical Autist

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

Creating Platforms for Autistic Culture and Advocacy through Community Music Therapy

  • About Us
    • What is a “musical autist”?
  • Elevating Autistic Musicians
  • Blog & Announcements
  • Sensory Friendly Concerts
  • Empowerment Jam Sessions
  • Troupes
Subscribe to our newsletter and blog posts

A St. Patrick’s Day Sensory-Friendly Concert!

March 1, 2012 by The Musical Autist 10 Comments

The first Sensory-Friendly Concert of 2012 will be Saturday, March 17th at 6:30pm.

 

So who is headlining?

Our very own…the very first…official “Autism-Friendly Artist,” Joseph Bowens!

                        

So who is Joseph Bowens? And how does he relate to The Musical Autist?

Why thank you for asking! :^)

This question is well deserving of a little short story.

In August of 2010, my music studio was filling up, and thriving with awesome kiddos on the autism spectrum. Having been a piano teacher for many years, and knowing the ins-n-outs of recitals, competitions, and providing for my students exposure to the fine arts – particularly live jazz and classical concerts in the DC/MD area, I simply could not make peace with the fact that my students on the spectrum, for the most part, were socially excluded from these types of activities.

I love my students, and this greatly bothered me! I remember very well, how live music fed my “musical brain” as a child, and I wanted to do the same for my students. I grew up with my piano teacher taking ME to live classical music concerts, but only because I proved that I could sit still…*perfectly still.*

Also, being a teacher in the public school system, I know full well that INCLUSION is not just the latest buzz word, it is a necessity for kids on the spectrum.

My mind was (and still is) constantly trying to wrap itself around topics such as “autism prevalence increase” and “neurodiversity” and “inclusion,” and how such topics will continue to implicate our culture and society as a whole.

But how do these big words and concepts translate into applicable ways that I can give opportunity for my students on the spectrum in the fine arts?  Even more, I was thinking…. EVERYBODY on the autism spectrum deserves equal access to the fine arts, ACROSS THE LIFESPAN.  I didn’t want to do just another great thing for cute kids with disabilities. We all know that kids grow up to be adults.

All of this was transpiring in August of 2010, right before I started my 5-hr-total of daily commuting to Shenandoah University, to receive my credentials as certified music therapist.  Already having a Bachelors in Music, this was my only option, in terms of getting my MT-BC credential. This is also the smartest (and most challenging) thing I’ve ever set out to do, in terms of serving my exceptional students with special needs (not just autism, although that’s the majority).

So this is where 5 factors collided and gave birth to my brainchild-blog, “The Musical Autist” as well as the first “Sensory-Friendly Concerts.”

(#1) After 10 years of layman’s studies (reading whatever I could find online and checking books in libraries) in both autism and the field music therapy, (#2) determinedly connecting with every neurodiversity and music therapist blogger out there (a fairly small number, back in 2010), (#3) realizing the boom in online communication because of social media, and (#4) in all my googling, never finding exactly what I was looking for and dreaming of….I realized one thing:

Instead of demanding from society that my music students be welcome in formal concert venues, despite their very autistic “rocking and hand-flapping” behaviors, why not bring the fine arts musicians to us?  After all, Autism Society and AMC Theatres had been successfully launching “Sensory-Friendly Films,” and I had been nominated to receive a Hometown Hero Award from my local chapter of Autism Society that school year, so I wondered if they also might support me in doing “Sensory-Friendly Concerts” (which they did last year)….

While all of these events and ideas were transpiring, in walked the final factor (#5)….where The Musical Autist, as a concept, truly began.

I was meandering around Guitar Center one day, back in August of 2010, when I was stopped still in my tracks by the most beautiful sound of a Chopin Etude in the adjoining room.  I listened intently for quite a long time, just out of sight. I began to realize I was listening to a true piano virtuoso. His playing went from Monk, to Liszt, to Peterson, to Beethoven….  I finally entered the room, moved to tears, and thanked this fellow for giving me some musical-soul-food, that I didn’t even know I had so desperately been needing that particular day.

He kindly introduced himself as Joseph Bowens.

We chitchatted for awhile… he is from Baltimore, a Christ-follower like me, in his early 20’s, and an extremely interesting fact is that he only began playing the piano when he was 17. (!!!)  He is now a student at Peabody Conservatory of Music.

I asked him if he knew anything about autism, and if he’d be willing to play a concert for a few of my students and other people in our local community with special needs.

He said, “yes, yes absolutely.”  It was a divine appointment.

And now here we are today.  :^)

Saturday, March 17th, at 6:30pm, we will have Joseph Bowens perform, along with several other local musicians who are interested in becoming The Musical Autist’s “Special-Needs-Friendly-Artists.” And of course, we will have some performances by “Resident Musical Autists.”

We are only doing FOUR Sensory-Friendly Concerts this year. 

March 17th, June 16th, Sept 15th, and Dec 15th, all falling on the third Saturday of those months.  We will have all sorts of different jazz and classical artists come perform for us.

If you are local, mark your calendars!  If you are trans-local, follow us and encourage us!  Ask us how you can do this in your own area.  We are strong believers in self-sustaining local community.


Thank you for taking the time to read our blog, we’d love to hear your comments.

Christy Joy Shiloh

 

 

 .

Share & Comment:

  • Tweet

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Carol Diachenko says

    March 1, 2012 at 8:19 pm

    Incredible! Well done Christy Joy Shiloh!!! Even though, as your mom, I already know most of the story – it still brings me great pride and joy to hear it again! Can’t wait for the concert!!

    Reply
    • CJ Diachenko says

      March 3, 2012 at 11:56 am

      love you momma!
      CJ Diachenko recently posted..A St. Patrick’s Day Sensory-Friendly Concert!My Profile

      Reply
  2. Carolyn says

    March 1, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    Awesome! Great job explaining your vision. I can’t wait:)

    Reply
    • CJ Diachenko says

      March 3, 2012 at 11:57 am

      I could not be doing all this without your help! I am so thankful for you, for everything from your expertise as a special educator to my dear, dear friend!
      CJ Diachenko recently posted..A St. Patrick’s Day Sensory-Friendly Concert!My Profile

      Reply
  3. Antoinette Morrison says

    March 2, 2012 at 11:48 am

    Beautiful story! That would make a great movie! Wonderful exapmle, your concertsand not demanding of society, of taking what you already have and making something benneficial out of it!

    Reply
    • CJ Diachenko says

      March 3, 2012 at 11:58 am

      Thanks! That reminds me, somebody in NY just contacted my recently about helping them produce a movie, and wanted our input! Might be pretty cool! 🙂
      CJ Diachenko recently posted..A St. Patrick’s Day Sensory-Friendly Concert!My Profile

      Reply
  4. Susan says

    March 2, 2012 at 1:21 pm

    This is such a beautiful, original, wonderful concept! I look forward to hearing more about this concert and reading your heartfelt, uplifting writing:)

    Reply
  5. CJ Diachenko says

    March 3, 2012 at 12:01 pm

    thank you Susan! I love your blog posts equally as much!! http://makememusical.blogspot.com/ Your ideas and experience totally inspire me around my own studio. 🙂
    CJ Diachenko recently posted..A St. Patrick’s Day Sensory-Friendly Concert!My Profile

    Reply
  6. kate blue says

    March 13, 2012 at 7:41 am

    just found out about this today and am already booked on Saturday, BUT will bookmark the other dates for sure! What a great thing for our kids!

    Reply
    • CJ Shiloh says

      March 16, 2012 at 12:43 pm

      Look forward to meeting you! The next SF Concerts are June 16th, Sept.15th and Dec.15th! 🙂

      Reply

Share Your Comments & Feedback: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

elevatingautisticmusicians

11

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Mar 15

Open
Last Main Street Wauchula open mic of the season. Finished it out with a bang @mainstreetwauchula

Last Main Street Wauchula open mic of the season. Finished it out with a bang @mainstreetwauchula ...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Mar 12

Open
Do you have stage fright? As an autistic musician I struggled with this a lot. Even neurotypical people suffer from stage fright. Learn how to change your mindset and overcome this in our newest blog article. As always...link in bio.

Do you have stage fright? As an autistic musician I struggled with this a lot. Even neurotypical people suffer from stage fright. Learn how to change your mindset and overcome this in our newest blog article. As always...link in bio. ...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Mar 3

Open
How @jennifermsumba turned a quirky little song she wrote into an award winning film! Link in bio. @disabilityfilmchallenge @eastersealssocal @nicnovicki @elevatingautisticmusicians #autisticmusician #filmmaking #songwriting #originalmusic

How @jennifermsumba turned a quirky little song she wrote into an award winning film! Link in bio. @disabilityfilmchallenge @eastersealssocal @nicnovicki @elevatingautisticmusicians #autisticmusician #filmmaking #songwriting #originalmusic ...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Feb 23

Open
NEW blog post about co-songwriting and autism, link in bio. “I can hear it.” He said. And he started playing some chords on his guitar as I shyly sang the melody I had been thinking of. From there we took off! Verse and chorus ideas were flowing. I was contributing even more lines from my book and other new lines right on the spot! We were smiling and laughing and singing. When it came time to write the bridge, the melody and phrasing came up through me and we wrote the lines in minutes! What a beautiful moment in time. #songwriting #songwritingsession #autism #autisticmusician @rebrandingautism @elevatingautisticmusicians @themusicalautist

NEW blog post about co-songwriting and autism, link in bio. “I can hear it.” He said. And he started playing some chords on his guitar as I shyly sang the melody I had been thinking of. From there we took off! Verse and chorus ideas were flowing. I was contributing even more lines from my book and other new lines right on the spot! We were smiling and laughing and singing. When it came time to write the bridge, the melody and phrasing came up through me and we wrote the lines in minutes! What a beautiful moment in time. #songwriting #songwritingsession #autism #autisticmusician @rebrandingautism @elevatingautisticmusicians @themusicalautist ...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Feb 18

Open
What is our new program Elevating Autistic Musicians all about?
#autism #music #autisticmusicians @elevatingautisticmusicians @themusicalautist

What is our new program Elevating Autistic Musicians all about?
#autism #music #autisticmusicians @elevatingautisticmusicians @themusicalautist
...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Feb 17

Open
Get to know autistic musician Sunny Ceferatti and Learn more about Relative Pitch vs. Perfect Pitch in our newest blog article! Link in bio. 
Photo description: Young Asian woman sitting on a couch chair in front of a fire place. Photo text says- Music has had a positive impact on me. I can’t really articulate the emotions that I feel about when I’m really into a song. My voice gets louder and I guess my emotions would be like passion. And like if the song has really powerful lyrics, yeah. I can connect with them. A quote by Sunny Ceferatti #autism #autisticmusicians #perfectpitch #relativepitch #music #musician @elevatingautisticmusicians @themusicalautist @sunnycefaratti @rebrandingautism

Get to know autistic musician Sunny Ceferatti and Learn more about Relative Pitch vs. Perfect Pitch in our newest blog article! Link in bio.
Photo description: Young Asian woman sitting on a couch chair in front of a fire place. Photo text says- Music has had a positive impact on me. I can’t really articulate the emotions that I feel about when I’m really into a song. My voice gets louder and I guess my emotions would be like passion. And like if the song has really powerful lyrics, yeah. I can connect with them. A quote by Sunny Ceferatti #autism #autisticmusicians #perfectpitch #relativepitch #music #musician @elevatingautisticmusicians @themusicalautist @sunnycefaratti @rebrandingautism
...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Feb 8

Open
Relative Pitch vs. Perfect Pitch- when I was 14 years old, I discovered my ability to play songs by ear. We were visiting my brother at his college, and when we entered one of the buildings and I heard the most beautiful piano music being played. I immediately recognized it as George Winston’s “Joy”. I had always wanted to be able to play his music, but at the time he did not print sheets. So I asked this young man, how did you learn that? And he shrugged his shoulders and said “I just listened to it”. The whole ride home I thought about what he said while listening to GW’s December album on my CD Walkman lol. I said to myself, “I can do that too”. Follow us here and on our website (link in bio) for my upcoming article with the rest of this story. I will also discuss Relative Pitch vs. Perfect Pitch, which one I have, and the differences between them. You can also follow me at @rebrandingautism @georgewinstonpiano #autisticmusician #autismandmusic #perfectpitch

Relative Pitch vs. Perfect Pitch- when I was 14 years old, I discovered my ability to play songs by ear. We were visiting my brother at his college, and when we entered one of the buildings and I heard the most beautiful piano music being played. I immediately recognized it as George Winston’s “Joy”. I had always wanted to be able to play his music, but at the time he did not print sheets. So I asked this young man, how did you learn that? And he shrugged his shoulders and said “I just listened to it”. The whole ride home I thought about what he said while listening to GW’s December album on my CD Walkman lol. I said to myself, “I can do that too”. Follow us here and on our website (link in bio) for my upcoming article with the rest of this story. I will also discuss Relative Pitch vs. Perfect Pitch, which one I have, and the differences between them. You can also follow me at @rebrandingautism @georgewinstonpiano #autisticmusician #autismandmusic #perfectpitch ...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Feb 6

Open
An autistic adults thoughts on Sia’s new film ‘music’ which casts a neurotypical actress as an autistic character. Follow our link in bio for the full article. Written by: @rebrandingautism  @siamusic #autism @communication_first #autisticmusician @disabilityfilmchallenge

An autistic adults thoughts on Sia’s new film ‘music’ which casts a neurotypical actress as an autistic character. Follow our link in bio for the full article. Written by: @rebrandingautism @siamusic #autism @communication_first #autisticmusician @disabilityfilmchallenge ...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Feb 5

Open
🎹🎸🎤🎧A quote from today’s blog post by @rebrandingautism Click link in bio for the full story written by autistic musician, writer and filmmaker Jennifer Msumba. Follow us here for lots more content to come written by and for #autistic musicians! #autisticmusician #autism #autismacceptance #music

🎹🎸🎤🎧A quote from today’s blog post by @rebrandingautism Click link in bio for the full story written by autistic musician, writer and filmmaker Jennifer Msumba. Follow us here for lots more content to come written by and for #autistic musicians! #autisticmusician #autism #autismacceptance #music ...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Jan 26

Open
Everybody, meet Jade!

Jade Excell is a 12 year old autistic student musician from Maryland. She has been studying with Groove Studios - Ukulele , druming and singing in a disability inclusive music program and at the Academy of fine Arts in Gaithersburg, classical piano. She has been playing in talent shows in her school and community for the last 5 years and in 2020 was accepted to be part of the Maryland Fine Arts office yearly Celebration of artists. Jade was accepted into the Middle School Percussion Ensemble at Mason Community Arts Academy, George Mason University in 2019 to play percussion. Jade released 6 cover songs when she was only  8 on Spotify of her favourite songs. She has since learnt by ear her favourite songs from Nickjr, Disneyjr on ukulele and shared those on her instagram @Jadie_autistic_musician and facebook pages- Autismgirlsandmusic. She loves kid music, R& B music and classical music. Jade you rock!! 🎹🥁🎤 #autisticmusician #elevatingautisticmusicians #autism #musician

Everybody, meet Jade!

Jade Excell is a 12 year old autistic student musician from Maryland. She has been studying with Groove Studios - Ukulele , druming and singing in a disability inclusive music program and at the Academy of fine Arts in Gaithersburg, classical piano. She has been playing in talent shows in her school and community for the last 5 years and in 2020 was accepted to be part of the Maryland Fine Arts office yearly Celebration of artists. Jade was accepted into the Middle School Percussion Ensemble at Mason Community Arts Academy, George Mason University in 2019 to play percussion. Jade released 6 cover songs when she was only 8 on Spotify of her favourite songs. She has since learnt by ear her favourite songs from Nickjr, Disneyjr on ukulele and shared those on her instagram @Jadie_autistic_musician and facebook pages- Autismgirlsandmusic. She loves kid music, R& B music and classical music. Jade you rock!! 🎹🥁🎤 #autisticmusician #elevatingautisticmusicians #autism #musician
...

elevatingautisticmusicians

View

Jan 17

Open
Today we would like to feature Micah @rock_on_micah who is a 19 year old autistic musician. He has had a love for music for many years and he started an all  music YouTube channel in June 2020. Together with his dad they are a two man band called The Positive Autism. Micah is on vocals, keyboards and harmonica. His dad plays guitar and bass. They write and produce original songs, covers and even take requests! In November Micah released his first album of original songs called Autism Rocks! I Am Micah on iTunes, Amazon and all the digital platforms. Way to go Micah!! You can also find him on his YouTube channel Autism Rocks- Music by the Positive Autism. Micah thank you so much for sharing your talent and your story with us 😃 #autisticmusician #elevatingautisticmusicians @themusicalautist

Today we would like to feature Micah @rock_on_micah who is a 19 year old autistic musician. He has had a love for music for many years and he started an all music YouTube channel in June 2020. Together with his dad they are a two man band called The Positive Autism. Micah is on vocals, keyboards and harmonica. His dad plays guitar and bass. They write and produce original songs, covers and even take requests! In November Micah released his first album of original songs called Autism Rocks! I Am Micah on iTunes, Amazon and all the digital platforms. Way to go Micah!! You can also find him on his YouTube channel Autism Rocks- Music by the Positive Autism. Micah thank you so much for sharing your talent and your story with us 😃 #autisticmusician #elevatingautisticmusicians @themusicalautist ...

Follow on Instagram

 

Connect With Us

Want to keep up with everything that's going on at The Musical Autist? Follow us across our Social Networks.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

Recent Blog Posts

  • Troupe 2022 Cookout!
  • Support Neurodivergent Musicians!
  • Autism and the Artistic Eye
  • SWAP Autistic Acceptance Compilation Album Blog Post

Copyright ©  2020 The Musical Autist · All Rights Reserved · Log in