Feedback from our No Shushing Concert Events!
Julie,
My daughter, Natalya, and I had a fantastic time on Sunday! We attended an event at the library over a year ago and wanted to participate again. Natalya immediately recognized Benjamin from the library event. It was a thrill for her to sit so close and hear him play.
Natalya has a new vocabulary word… “conductor”. What a great idea to let the kids
learn hands-on how to conduct! I felt the symphony members played as if they were in front of an elite audience dressed in their finest. They were professional and happy. I am grateful they spent their Sunday engaging with this beautiful group of families. Natalya liked trying the bass.
Ah, the dancers! My favorite moment was at the end during the open dance. I saw a dancer pick up a young girl and twirl her around. I told everyone about it at work Monday. Outstanding! My daughter liked being so close the dancers. At a typical event we are usually far away. She had a permanent grin on her face because we were so close.
Thank you again for putting this event together. It did not realize how important music and dance was to my daughter until I saw her face at the Sunday event. Grateful.
Sincerely,
Amy Miller
Julie, I wanted to tell you I postponed a trip to California with Oliver by a week so we can attend the next Brainsong! The last one was our first since we’re new here and it was just beautiful on many levels. Thank you for your hard work on it!
Birte
Dear Julie,
I wanted to thank you again for including The Clearwings in the BrainSong No Shushing Concert again. It seemed like a great success, and it was a joy to see all of the families enjoying themselves in such a relaxed and supportive environment. Mark and I both greatly appreciated the opportunity to share our music with you all. It’s truly a highlight of our year. Your work is an inspiration. Thank you!!
Warmly,
Raven
As always the kids were a blast! It was fun to play duets with Jazzy- she has worked hard on her violin and I was glad she could share that.
And, really, does it get any better than getting kisses on the back while you are performing! That is a career highlight for me!
Thanks for including me,
Pam
Hi Julie!
You and BrainSong are amazing! The spirit of inclusion behind the event today was palpable. It is so nice to be able to go out in the community with Teran and not worry about his behavior, knowing that we are in a supportive environment, that people understand. Teran is always very hesitant to participate in community events at all. It was a huge success that he came in the room, walked around, smiled, watched the dancing, enjoyed the music, and looked at the instruments. He even sat down peacefully and enjoyed his ice cream! It was great for Aurora (Teran’s sister) because she could enjoy the music, dancing, time with her brother, and time with other familiar kids from ARTism. It was great for me (mom) because other adults were super welcoming. Staff we know from City of Boulder and the ACL were really helpful, getting my kids ice cream, keeping an eye on them, chatting with me, etc. Thank you so much for all your work and enthusiasm in organizing these events. We love it! Loved the Justin’s almond butter and the Ben and Jerry’s too!
Aurora, age 7, says “It was nice to have a celebration of Autism, especially Autism kids because not a lot of people understand them. It was nice because people learn about Autism, and appreciate Autism kids.” … Donna
Hello thank you for this amazing fun field day. It was such an experience for all my children. They had fun dancing, & want to go back to see beautiful ballet dancers! My daughter said it was really cool. Very fun & entertaining for the whole family. Thank you again. You absolutely can post our feedback for other families. As in this concert their are no rules. Josette & family
…The June Brainsong concert likely made my daughter’s summer. Some things are difficult for Piper to understand- music is not one of them. Music and dance are things that she unflinchingly enjoys. Where she can be free. Where she’s willing to risk. It’s where we see fewer reservations, lots of confidence, and lots of joy. It kind of seeps out of her being- so much so, that it’s difficult to take her to “real” venues. SITTING for a concert isn’t exactly in her vocabulary. The opportunity for us to expose her to live, classical music on HER terms could not be passed by. My heartfelt thanks to the musicians and dancers who made this possible- she was in HEAVEN. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The Guildners
Elena had a blast. Thank you so much, Juli.
If there is a ballet class that will take her, we are interested. The one here won’t take her even though it’s for special needs kids, because she won’t sit for the instruction part.
Every single day, when I come home from work, she has been crying to go to “ballet class”. So, I take her to watch live music bands in town so she can at least dance to live music.
She does take adaptive piano lessons at Foundation Music School in Fort Collins and loves them.
On the way home in the car, she did this “trim original” thing with the ipad videos I took of her, where she reduced them all to 1 second each. I tried so hard to get her to stop. After she goes
to sleep and releases the ipad, I’ll see if there are any of the videos left intact that I can save somewhere. Anyway, if you have any videos or photos, and if you get around to sending them out, we would love to see them.
She knew a lot of what the orchestra played from having watched Little Einsteins, so she really liked hearing them. She loved trying out the harp and the cello. This past Christmas, she had cried and cried for a harp, but all we could find that was affordable was one that sat flat on a table, but she was happy with that. We go to music stores where she tries out different instruments, but they never have harps or cellos there.
Just now, we came back from Walmart after looking for a conductor’s stick just like the one she tried at the Brainsong event. We couldn’t find anything she liked, but she saw a flag she liked and she was okay with that. I told her she can just use one of her drumsticks like a conductor’s stick.
Sorry to write a novel. Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciated today’s event. Dancing to live classic music, conducting music, and trying out the instruments were all incredibly wonderful treats for her. Thank you, Julie, Mel Persion
Hello Julie,
Thank you for putting together the collaborative event with both the musicians and us dancers. What a lovely coming together in service and celebration of the arts! I loved seeing the children/adults come alive when we danced together ~ how heartwarming! Both guiding them in movement, and taking the cue from their natural inclinations, I found myself opening up to the ‘therapy’ of dance, the expression and freedom inherent in it, and how it can break down barriers that normal communication cannot.
I hope it is not our last collaboration, and that I (in particular) will be able to engage with your community in the future.
Kindly,
Kate Wagner , Dancer
Once again, Elena had a wonderful time dancing to live music.
Thank you so much.
When it was over, she cried and cried on the way home in the car.
And the next day, she wanted to go back.
We so appreciate your putting together these events for our children.
Elena really liked getting to play the harp and the xylophone also.
Mel Persion
Hi Julie,
Thank you so much for planning this amazing event!
This was literally the best family event I’ve been to with my kids.
Mostly because it was so focused on just kids enjoyment.
Limiting attendees to keep the numbers small, nothing overwhelming.
I have 2 boys – 3.5 and 1- and both were so happy and enjoyed every second
Of our over 2 hrs we were there( only left bc my 1 year old needed to nap).
I was thinking to myself after how with all those kids I saw ZERO
Tantrums. Because kids were able to behave like kids and yell, jump around, dance
And have fun without being told to sit down, be still, be quiet.
It was just so amazing. Thank you!!
Carolyn Nohe
This just made my entire day. AMAZING .. .the power and joy and FUN of music! — Chris Parente, Channel 2 News responding to clip on youtube below!
I think your ‘No Shushing Concert’ was a big hit! You provided an opportunity for kiddos with or without disabilities a time to enjoy either camp-loving-upbeat-educational music by Jeff and Paige or classical violin music by [I forgot that sweet boy’s name] in an environment where they are allowed to move to the music the way their bodies say is okay, or walk out of the concert if the music is too intense, or a time to sit and listen with their neighbors. Boulder County is lucky to have such a passionate, proactive, creative mother to host such special treats for our children. Thank you!
Carly Godzdanker, MS, OTR/L
“Thanks for having me play music for such a wonderful event! It was great to see the kids get up and play the vibraphone and make music.
I think it was a big hit and the rec center seemed to be a much better location than I think Chautauqua would have been. Kudos to you and all your volunteers!!! “
Thanks again,
Rick
Me and my daughter like the event very much and we like the Rec center better. With the nice facilities, wonderful programs and excellent organizers/volunteers, me and my daughter could really enjoy the musics and games. I did not have to worry that my daughter was running around. No sun burns either
I took a lots of beautiful pictures. My daughter’s most favorite part is the bubbles and Fairies. Thank you very much for the great event!
Lingling Liu
…congratulations on a fantastic event! As much as I love Chautauqua, the community center worked even better. Such a beautiful room, easy loading, plenty of parking-and fun kids! Doesn’t get any better than that!!!
As a performer, it is an amazing feeling to make a real connection with your audience. I loved that the kids were open to trying some new things. And I have to say, the parents were so cute-they all took a turn playing the harp too!
Thanks for including me in this event. Pam Eldridge, harp
This is Edna ( the one with the 4 kiddos and blue shirt lol) Jonathan – in the vibraphone in green shirt – Daniel bouncing all over the place Samantha in the Orange dress got home and took a shower I think she almost turned into the bubble fairy lol – and Chloee the one in the colorful dress she loved every moment of it.
I LOVED IT!!! Jonathan told his therapist all about it and had to call grampa to tell him he played the drums
Everyone was so helpful so happy and understanding thank you thank you
Thanks,
Edna 
HI Julie, as a volunteer (and my other volunteer friends would probably agree with me), the event was wonderful. We were so busy and loved it! Some events I’ve volunteered at, I just stood around because there was nothing to help with, but at the Brainsong event, we felt needed and so appreciated. You and those who have helped you, have done an amazing job coordinating and leading the event.
One thing I would maybe recommend is to arrange for the volunteers (who are qualified to help), to assist with monitoring the children so that the parents can take a break, get food, socialize etc. IBHS would be more than happy to help. I was super excited to hang out with Sarah for a bit Thanks for everything and letting us help! Ania
Julie,
The event was incredible. And magical is the perfect way to describe the joy I saw on everyone’s face – young and old. Lizzy is still talking about it!
The EBCC was the perfect venue.
Let’s do it again! I would love to help if you need me and I would love to get together!
Enjoy the day!
Carol 
Julie,
I just read with glee the article in the Denver Post about the upcoming interactive concert for and with children with autism. We would love to register our daughter and ourselves…
Raising a now 24 year old daughter through the early years of the meteoric rise in ASD, we have experienced the discrimination that, in the early years, was born of ignorance, but is now a result, I believe, of selfishness. Being recipients of the stink eye through many Barney performances, circuses, and other events, it warms my heart to see that Holly may have the opportunity to joyfully and without recrimation experience music.
Please let us know how to register, or please accept this as our registration for 3.
Jim, Sherry, and Holly of Centennial
Again, thanks for making my Father’s Day morning.
…..
How my heart leapt for joy when I saw the info for your libration concert. I love, love, LOVE everything about it. In fact, the requirements of “no compliance, no shushing, etc.” brought tears to me eyes- how did you no that’s how my 8 year old daughter has to experience the world. What an awesome day to live as “liberated individuals!”
We cannot wait to attend and will be looking for the registration to open soon!!
Thank you for creating such a wonderful day for some very special people!
Jen of Arvada
Hi Julie,
It was a great time in my opinion. Very well organized, great variety, and wonderful people. You can expect to be seeing us a lot at these types of events. If the rest of these events are like the one on Saturday, our move from Louisiana will be well worth it. Was so nice to meet you as well. Hope to see you soon.
Thanks,
Frank Farmer
HI Julie,
It was a pleasure to take part again in this event. Out of all of the ones we go to this “music fest” is our favorite. I especially liked the usage of the two rooms, one for performance and the other for more of a music therapy type engagement with the instruments. …
Thanks, Nic
Julie, I wanted to tell you I postponed a trip to California with Oliver by a week so we can attend the next Brainsong! The last one was our first since we’re new here and it was just beautiful on many levels. Thank you for your hard work on it!
Birte
Julie,
My daughter, Natalya, and I had a fantastic time on Sunday! We attended an event at the library over a year ago and wanted to participate again. Natalya immediately recognized Benjamin from the library event. It was a thrill for her to sit so close and hear him play.
Natalya has a new vocabulary word… “conductor”. What a great idea to let the kids learn hands-on how to conduct! I felt the symphony members played as if they were in front of an elite audience dressed in their finest. They were professional and happy. I am grateful they spent their Sunday engaging with this beautiful group of families. Natalya liked trying the bass.
Ah, the dancers! My favorite moment was at the end during the open dance. I saw a dancer pick up a young girl and twirl her around. I told everyone about it at work Monday. Outstanding! My daughter liked being so close the dancers. At a typical event we are usually far away. She had a permanent grin on her face because we were so close.
Thank you again for putting this event together. It did not realize how important music and dance was
to my daughter until I saw her face at the Sunday event. Grateful.
Sincerely,
Amy Miller