We are pleased to announce the success of The Musical Autist’s first venture in promoting autism-friendly concert venues.
Although there were mostly children and parents in attendance (which should be no surprise, given the time & place of our autism-boom generation), we believe we are creating a prototype.
Just for fun, let’s revisit wiki’s definition of ‘prototype’:
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.
The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον (prototypon), “primitive form”, neutral of πρωτότυπος (prototypos), “original, primitive”, from πρῶτος (protos), “first” andτύπος (typos), “impression”.
Yes, we are building early models to test our concepts. Yes, we are hoping it will be replicated and learned from.
Wait so what are we doing? Creating concert venues with quality artists, (which would traditionally be a formal event) where audience members can be free to be their autistic selves. Free to walk straight up to the musicians and stare blankly at the sound? Happily flap their hands and croon along, or simply sit on the floor and rock themselves to the sounds of the beautiful music?
That’s it. That’s all we’re trying to do.
We had our accommodations ready….plenty of volunteers, noise-reduction headphones, a quiet sensory room…. none of which were even needed! Yet still so crucial to have in place. Any autism disability rights advocate will tell you that.
We’re bringing in local jazz artists from the Bmore/DC/Annap area, instructing them to play extra softly and to stay flexible. That’s all it takes to be an “Autism-Friendly Artists.”
And as Ms.CJ had hoped and expected, the blanket under the grand piano was a hit. The vibroacoustic sensory input from grand pianos, upright basses and djembes just can’t be beat! 😀 For those with sensory-processing disorders, live music can certainly help what medications can’t even touch ~ the soul.
Now please, we’re *not* saying go off your meds. But we are certainly hoping that parents will listen to The Musical Autist as much as they’re being shouted at by the autism pharmacology industry.
Music is medicine. The better the quality, the stronger the effect.
Let’s get back to enjoying good music together as a family. Let’s invest in live music’s rightful place in our culture, while looking forward to future styles of music being created by Musical Autists everywhere.
Let’s love, support, accommodate, and accept one another for how each of us were uniquely created…
hand-flapping and all!….
~!!Go Neurodiversity Go!!~.
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