Everyone Belongs: A Guide to Hosting Sensory-Friendly Concerts

Music is for everyone. A couple of years ago, I was asked to teach a new class at Zionsville Middle School titled “Adaptive Music.” Going into the school year, I really had no idea what to expect, and also didn’t have a great template for ‘success’ in this new class. I didn’t even know who the students would be or what they would know. Week by week, I saw how the music had a positive direct impact on every student in that adaptive music class.

I quickly learned the need to be adaptive daily. My lesson plans became an open concept with a small goal. I quickly learned that my students wanted to be a part of music, whether it be playing music, listening to it, or learning about it. They just wanted to be a part of the experience. My students all had different mental, emotional, and health backgrounds. They spent most of their day in our Essential Skills Classroom, each learning in a unique way. For those unfamiliar with Essential Skills classrooms, these classrooms are self-contained classrooms inside schools focused on life skills and functional academics for students with significant learning disabilities. Music, though, is universal.

I was a semester into teaching this new class when I attended my first Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. I attended the session “Sensory Friendly Concerts for Your School” led by Dr. Caroline Hand, Douglas Droste, and Amy Hourigan. They spoke about how Ball State University puts on a sensory-friendly concert each year for students with sensory sensitivities. What an amazing concept! I took it straight to my administration and told them I wanted to do this with my middle schoolers. How? Well, it was a learning process, but we are now through our 3rd annual sensory-friendly concert and it is the most joyous day of the year at our school. Everyone deserves a safe space to experience live music.

Now, for some nuts and bolts on how we, at Zionsville Middle School (ZMS), make this happen for kids.

Planning Phase

Planning starts in August, and the performance takes place in January.

My planning partners: how we get this concert to happen!

1. Director of Special Education for the district: This individual handles the logistics of bussing students from around the district to ZMS for a 9:30 a.m. concert in our cafeteria. I also have our director handle communication and selecting which groups/students to attend. She knows each teacher in the district who have these students in their classes and is a direct line of communication for me. I prepare the important information for her to send out easily.
2. Best Buddies Sponsor: Best Buddies is a wonderful organization and a club at our school that pairs peer ‘buddies’ with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our Best Buddies club helps organize the welcome wagon and greets students as they exit the bus. They make signs about inclusivity, hand out blow-up instruments to each student as they enter, and help set up the flexible seating, gathering supplies from all over the building.
3. Maintenance/Custodian: This individual is vital to the day-of operations of the concert. I communicate the seating arrangements of chairs and tables, making sure everything is accessible. Our cafetorium and our janitorial staff handle this prior to the concert. They also help ensure the cafetorium is clean and ready to welcome guests.
4. Supporting music staff: My amazing co-teachers are the true talent. They get out their instruments, play the program, improvise, and dance alongside students while totally shredding. It’s pretty awesome. For me, I simply wave my arms and emcee the event.

Collaborating with staff and personnel is key to having the best experience!

Sensory-Friendly Concert Considerations

Now, here are a couple of key components broken down to give you a quick template for your school or community!

1. Sound accommodations: Make sure the attendees bring ear muffs/earplugs if needed. We always collect and provide over-the-ear muffs if forgotten, but most students have their own set they bring.
2. Flexible seating: We collect bean bag chairs, exercise balls, rugs, and a large variety of other seating options from classrooms to use for this event. We set them up in small groups about 25 feet from the stage. KIDS LOVE THIS. Prior to the concert, I send out a Google form to collect data on which teachers are willing to share these seats and what type they’re sharing. This helps with our Best Buddies who are doing the setting up/tearing down.
3. Visual supports: We simplify everything. Whatever song we play, we have a PowerPoint that includes some sort of graphic created by our students to accompany that song. Other visual considerations include clear signage to the bathrooms, exits, and designated seating areas. We also explain some things the students can expect such as loud noises, dancing, etc. We do NOT change the lighting in the cafetorium. We keep all lights on.
4. Dance floor: THIS IS HUGE and has become the biggest hit. We invite our school mascot who leads the dancing and encourages students to get up on the dance floor. By song #2, the dance floor is always full.
5. Instrument petting zoo: After we finish the playing/dancing portion of our concert, we move to the instrument petting zoo. We partner with our instrument dealer to provide a few brass instruments and drums, which we set up in an area where students are encouraged to play with the help of our performer-leaders. It's so special to watch them experience new instruments and sounds. Our 8th grade student helpers take charge and clean mouthpieces between kids and get to experience some amazing one-on-one conversations with the attendees.
6. Invite everyone! Obviously, space is limited, but this experience is so important for students. Adapt it to fit your needs and the needs of your students and community members in your area. The more these concerts happen, the more inclusive music becomes for everyone.

I think Willie Nelson said it best in his book, The Facts of Life , when he said, “We are the same. There is no difference anywhere in the world. People are people. They laugh, cry, feel, and love, and music seems to be the common denominator that brings us all together. Music cuts through all boundaries and goes right to the soul.”