Going to see the San Diego Syphony! San Diego Symphony Sensory Friendly Kinder Koncert pre-visit story. Performed at the Ballard Parent Center 2375 Congress Ave., San Diego, 92110 Saturday, February 18, 2017, 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Kinder Koncerts are generously sponsored by Linda and Shearn Platt
Ballard Parent Center I am going to a concert at the Ballard Parent Center performed by the San Diego Symphony! A concert is a show with music. Lots of people like to listen to concerts. The front of the building looks like this. If we park on Congress Ave., we can enter the building here.
Back Entrance There is free parking available around the back (off of Jefferson St. and Ampudia St.). We can also enter the building here if we park in the back.
Hallway When we go inside, we will walk down this short hallway to the auditorium. The auditorium is where the concert will be performed. When I m walking through, I can look with my eyes and keep my hands to myself.
Auditorium This is the door to the auditorium. It may already be open when we get there. There will be a person from the Symphony there to welcome us.
Performance Space The room where the concert will be in has chairs and space to move and dance. (There will not be tables set up.) In the room there may be lots of people. The people might be talking, sitting or standing while they wait. Some of the musicians might be sitting on the stage and getting their instruments ready. While I wait, I can sit with my group. It is expected that I listen to my adult and that I keep my body safe when I am waiting.
Stage This is the stage where the musicians will perform. I will see about 15 musicians with different string instruments. When it is time for the concert to start, I can choose to sit on a chair, on the ground, or stand up with my group. I will not go up on the stage where the musicians are.
Restrooms If I have to visit the restroom when I am at the concert, I can ask my adult to take me there. The bathrooms are located down a hallway. My adult can help me read the signs.
Our Conductor Sameer Patel Someone will introduce the conductor and talk to us. Our conductor is named Sameer Patel. He enjoys sharing music with people of all ages. He holds a stick that is called a baton. He is the person who is in charge of directing the musicians as they play. Photo Credit: Arielle Doneson
Our Teacher Julie Guy I will also meet Julie Guy, who shares music with children by singing and playing her guitar. She might lead some songs where we all sing together.
Musicians Photo Credit: Beth Ross Buckley At this concert, there will be a group of 15 musicians. Musicians are people who play the musical instruments. Sometimes they will all play at the same time. At other times, I might just hear one instrument. It is expected that I keep a calm body and quiet voice when I m listening to a concert. If I have questions, I can ask my adult in a quiet voice. I can also dance in the dance area if I want to.
Loud and So& Sounds Some music is loud and some music is soft. If the music is too loud, I can cover my ears, use my headphones, or I can ask an adult for a break. If I need a break, I can go out into the hallway and find the special quiet room to sit for a while until I feel ready to go back into the auditorium.
Clapping At concerts, sometimes people clap. They might clap with the music. When the music stops, people will clap to tell the musicians that they liked the music. Clapping is over very quickly. If it is too loud, I can cover my ears or put on my headphones until people stop clapping.
Leaving the Building When the concert is over, everyone will stand up to leave. It is important that I stay with my group and wait my turn so that everyone stays safe. When it is my turn, I will walk calmly out of the room. I will go back to hallway and out of the building.
List of Music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Serenade K. 525 (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik), Movement 1 Gustav Holst: St. Paul Suite mvt. 1 (Jig) Edward Elgar: Serenade, mvt. 2 Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite mvt. 3 (Gavotte) Leroy Anderson: Plink, Plank, Plunk! Jean Sibelius: Andante Festivo I will hear the pieces of music listed above. Members of the San Diego Symphony will perform them. In between these pieces, Julie Guy will lead us in songs where we can move and sing.
We will have fun! Concerts with the San Diego Symphony are fun!
Want to learn more? Here are some resources for parents: The Music Therapy Center of California: http://www.themusictherapycenter.com K.I.D.S. Therapy Associates, Inc.: http://www.kidstherapyassociates.com Autism Society, San Diego: https://www.autismsocietysandiego.org Autism Tree Project Foundation: www.autismtreeproject.org
The San Diego Symphony would like to give special thanks to our community partners: Author of Social Story: Catherine Greife, M.S., OTR/L of K.I.D.S. Therapy Associates, Inc. Concert Development: Julie Guy, M.M., MT-BC of Music Therapy Center of California Stanley Anjan, Executive Director, Ballard Parent Center Elneda Shannon, Ballard Center Manager