Rock me Amadeus

I grew up going to the Young People's Concerts at Lincoln Center. It was a wonderful introduction to classical music. I developed a discerning ear and quickly learned what I did, and did not, like. For example, I learned I loved Beethoven, but wasn't excited by Brahms. At the time, I was taking piano lessons and playing violin in school (neither of which I had any talent for) so it was exciting to hear something I could potentially learn how to play (albeit much more simplified). One of the most memorable moments for me was a Mozart concert.

There were pieces from throughout his life, but one that stuck with me all these years was from the Magic Flute.

I don't particular care for the opera itself, but the presentation was visually stunning. I remember two performers, in brightly colored costumes dressed as birds, in a giant cage.

Now that I'm a mom, I realized how important it is to instill an appreciation of the arts. When the little man was younger, we attended the equivalent to the young peoples concerts offered by the South Dakota Symphony. I listen to classical NPR in the car. We volunteer with the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society, so it's a big part of our lives. I probably would have started taking him to concerts earlier, but autism doesn't always allow for attention spans. 

He's at the totally perfect age to go, and the holiday collage concert was the perfect place to start. It was a great night out to help kick the holiday season into high gear. Check out this video for a preview:http://youtu.be/Hz90uyHGWf4. 

The symphony and chorus performed some familiar holiday classics, as well as some newer ones. There are a variety of performing groups within the symphony, including an Irish quartet, brass, string quartet and even a rick band.

The Little Man loved the rock interpretation of My Favorite Things. The show ended with a sing a long of Christmas carols. That was my favorite part.

Like everything else with autism, the symphony presents it's own unique challenges. There is concert etiquette, for example. Even though he's 11, we still use social stories to prepare. We checked with those sitting around us if it would be ok for him to use his iPad when his attention started to wander. Despite enjoying the choral music (click here for a sample:  http://youtu.be/y5aGv6WdTws) it's sensory overload, so he buried his head in my side. 

It was a great, grown up night out and a welcome event during the busy holiday season.