going to see
Celebrate pittsburgh concert Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestrA Sensory Friendly Performance Pre-Visit Stories
Heinz Hall I am going to Heinz Hall in the city of Pittsburgh. Heinz Hall is a theater where the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performs musical concerts.
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tickets I will need a ticket to enter Heinz Hall. The ticket tells me where I will sit during the concert. I will get a ticket from the box office.
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lobby When I enter Heinz Hall, I will enter into a big lobby. The lobby might be crowded and noisy. There are activities I can do before finding my seat. If I don’t like the lobby, I can go to a quiet area in Heinz Hall. 4
people Many people will be at Heinz Hall to see the concert. The theater and lobby may be crowded. I will stay close to my Mom or Dad when I am in the crowds. If I want to get away from the crowds, I can go to the quiet areas in Heinz Hall. 5
waiting When I go to Heinz Hall, I may have to wait in a line to enter. I might have to wait in line to get to my seat. I might have to wait in line in the bathroom. I might have to wait in line to do the activities or meet a musician.
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usher/tickets The usher is a friendly helper. I will give my ticket to the usher to enter the theater. The usher will use a scanning machine to check my ticket. The usher helps me and my family find our seats.
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usher in aisle If I need help to find my seat, I can ask the usher. If I need help to find the bathroom, I can ask the usher. If I have a question about Heinz Hall or the concert, I can ask the usher. The usher has many jobs to do during the concert. I should keep my questions short. 8
finding my seat I can match the number and letter on my ticket with the number and letter on the seats. When I find a match, this is my seat.
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quiet areas If I need quiet time, I will tell my Mom or Dad. I can leave the activities or concert to go to the quiet areas in Heinz Hall. I can relax in the quiet areas or walk around the lobby.
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video monitors If I need a break from the concert, I can go to the lobby. I can still listen and watch the concert on a TV monitor in the lobby.
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bathrooms If I have to go to the bathroom, I will let my Mom or Dad know. I can go to the bathroom any time I need to. The toilet will flush when I stand up. The sound of the flushing toilet can be loud and flush more than one time but it will only be for a short time. 12
concert
A concert is a musical performance.
The music will get louder and softer at different times during the concert. The music will get faster and slower at different times during the concert. I might feel excited when the music gets faster or louder. I might feel calmer when the music gets slower or softer. If I don’t know what is happening I can whisper questions to my parents.
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Pittsburgh The concert will be about Pittsburgh. Every musical piece I hear will be about a place or person connected to Pittsburgh. If I don’t know the connection of the music to Pittsburgh, I can look in the program book or ask my parents.
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meet musicians I can meet the musicians and see their instruments. I can ask the musician questions about the musical instrument. I can ask the musician about playing an instrument. I can ask the musician about being in an orchestra. Other people will want to ask the musician questions too. I should keep my questions short. 15
movement activity There is a movement activity before the show. I can do the movement activity if I want to. I will follow the adult who is leading the movement activity. I can move my body to the music.
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Fiddlesticks I might see Fiddlesticks, the mascot for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Fiddlesticks is a person in a costume dressed up like a cat. Fiddlesticks is friendly. Fiddlesticks will not do anything to scare me. I can hug Fiddlesticks if I want to. I can take a picture with Fiddlesticks. 17
sound exploratorium Before the concert, I can go to the Sound Exploratorium. The Sound Exploratorium is an activity where I can see, touch, hear, and learn about musical instruments. The Sound Exploratorium activity can be noisy with loud and sudden sounds. If the sounds are too loud, I can cover my ears or wear headphones. If I don’t like the Sound Exploratorium, I can go to the Quiet Areas.
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conductor When the orchestra is on the stage, I will see a person standing in front of the orchestra. This person is called the conductor. The conductor leads the orchestra. I will see the conductor use a stick called a baton to lead the orchestra. I will see the conductor move the baton in the air to let the musicians know the speed of the music. 19
audience conducting During the concert, the conductor will ask the audience if we want to help him conduct the musicians. I can conduct if I want to. I will move my arms in the air like the conductor. I will move my arms up and down to the beat of the music. 20
musicians An orchestra is a group of musicians playing different instruments. Sometimes, I will see the musicians playing at the same time. At other times, I will see the musicians playing at different times.
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clapping People clap when they like what they are hearing or seeing. I can clap if I like what I hear or see. People clap only for a short time and then the clapping is over. If the clapping sound is too loud for me, I can cover my ears until it is over. 22
drawings During the concert, I will see a large screen with drawings. I can look on the stage for the person who is drawing the pictures. The pictures he is drawing are shown on the large screen. The drawings tell me about the music. 23
tap dance During the concert, I will see tap dancers on the stage. Tap dancers have metal on the bottom of their shoes. The metal will tap on the stage floor and make a clicking sound. When many tap dancers dance together, I will hear lots of clicking sounds. If I don’t like the tapping and clicking sounds, I can cover my ears. 24
sing-along During the concert, there will be a song that I can sing. The conductor will let me know which song I can sing along to. I can sing softly or loudly. I don’t have to sing if I don’t want to. If the singing sounds get too loud for me, I can cover my ears until the song is over. 25
leaving theater When the concert is over, I will leave my seat and walk in the aisle to leave the theater. All the people will leave the theater at the same time. The aisles will be crowded. I will walk slowly while leaving the theater.
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Authors: Roger I. Ideishi, JD, OT/L, FAOTA Program Director & Associate Professor Program in Occupational Therapy Temple University, Philadelphia, PA Christina Smith, MOT, OTR/L Graphic Designer
A special thanks to: Jessica Ryan Manager of Education and Community Programs Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Photography by: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Staff Joanne Rogers Celebrate Pittsburgh Honorary Chair This concert has been funded, in part, by the generous support of The Jack Buncher Foundation, Pirates Charities, and Bender Consulting Services, Inc.