On Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 11am, minor production changes will make the Blue Man Group show more sensory-friendly, including the reduction of sound and light levels at select moments along with a social story available here. In addition, audience supports will be in place, including:
Headphones available
Trained volunteers
Calming area
Judgment-free environment
Blue Man co-founder Phil Stanton: "We've heard from many families affected by autism that their children responded to the Blue Man character in a very moving way. We don't know the exact reason. We can only speculate that it has to do with the Blue Men communicating in their own unique way — non-verbally, through visuals, touch and sound."
All tickets to the 11am June 20, 2015 performance are offered at a discounted rate with Blue Man donating $5 of every ticket to Autism Speaks.
Purchase tickets here. Click on "find tickets" and enter the promo code AUTISMSPEAKS. Groups of 15 or more, please call (617) 542-6700.
Join a virtual field trip that can encourage students to study and respond to the arts! Starting June 16, 2015, examples of the positive power of the arts will be on full digital display, courtesy of the 40 Days Digital Arts Festival. This celebration brings together people of all abilities from all over the world through international exchanges of art exhibitions, educational materials, art performances, and professional development materials.
What Is In The 40 Days Festival?
The 40 Days Festival is a repository of materials such as lesson plans, videos, photographs, letters, etc of art and education exchanges. The project is truly diverse:
There are many projects that are school programs that have been exchanged between two countries and have the lesson plans, evaluation materials and samples.
There are projects that are professional art exchanges of music and art in which one country is showcasing the talents of professional artists with disabilities in another country.
There are professional development materials for educators and artists to use that countries have shared with each other and are now accessible to anyone.
There are projects with military ties. One project involves Veterans with PTSD working with refugees on a writing project. Another project involves video and film of individuals’ experiences and memories of war.
There are projects that showcase how different Affiliates run some of our more popular projects such as Young Soloist.
There are projects that are a sharing of culture through the arts.
Be sure to visit the festival website often as a new project will be unveiled daily for the next 40 days.
Posted Friday June 12 2015 at 7:29 pm
in Education
VSA MA COOL Schools seeks a passionate and experienced music teaching artist/music therapist to lead a music program for students ages 5 - 21 with significant disabilities. The program will run on Fridays from September 2015 - April 2016.
Description
VSA MA is seeking an experienced music teaching artist to work with two groups of approximately 15 students each at the “Creative Kids Program” at the Boston College Campus School (Chestnut Hill). Students have significant disabilities and medical needs and are 5 - 21 years old. The program focuses on supporting individual IEP goals through music. Education students from Boston College serve as one-on-one buddies to students participating in the program. The program runs on Fridays in two 10-week cycles, one in the Fall semester and one in the Spring.
Requirements
Candidates should have demonstrated experience in music therapy and/or music education, and significant experience working with students with disabilities. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students with significant disabilities and medical needs. Candidates must be willing to lead short group discussions with Boston College “buddies” after each session to debrief student progress towards goals and provide support. Strong oral and written communication skills and an ability to work as part of a team are necessary. Candidates must also be committed to on-going professional development as an arts practitioner and educator and to participating in other meetings as required.
Please send a resume and cover letter providing more information on your artistic and professional experience, and sample lesson plan/curriculum to education@vsamass.org
