Sensory Friendly Concerts for Your School
Clinic Synopsis:
Sensory Friendly Concerts create spaces where people can experience a concert in a way that best meets their needs. The elements of a traditional concert setting can be a challenge for making people with diverse sensory needs feel included, but all students deserve the benefits of emotional connection through music especially as we emerge from the pandemic. Discover simple steps to implement a Sensory Friendly Concert in your school or community!
Caroline Hand
- Biographical Information
Dr. Caroline Hand, Associate Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music Performance at Ball State University, conducts the Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, directs the “Pride of Mid-America” Marching Band, oversees Ball State Athletic Bands, and teaches select courses in music education. Dr. Hand’s recent guest-conducting appearances include the International Trombone Festival, Escuela de Música in Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica; with the Ball State University Wind Ensemble at the College Band Directors National Association Conference in Kansas City, Missouri; and at the Indiana Music Educators Association Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dr. Hand also frequents public schools and honor bands as a guest clinician and conductor. Thanks to inspiration from her brother, Dr. Hand is a supporter of inclusion in the arts for people with disabilities. She advises a chapter of United Sound at Ball State and her ensembles participate in Ball State's Sensory Friendly Concert Series. She has presented on the topic at the Indiana Music Educators Association, Capital University Band Director's Workshop, and Minnesota Music Educators Winter Conference.
Douglas Droste - Biographical Information
Douglas Droste is Director of Orchestras and Professor of Music at Ball State University, and Conductor of the Music for All Summer Symposium Youth Orchestra. He previously served as Artistic Director of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra. Droste’s guest conducting appearances include the INSO-Lviv Symphony (Ukraine), and the orchestras of Kansas City, Indianapolis, Columbus, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Midland-Odessa, Fox Valley (IL), Chappaqua (NY), and Amarillo Virtuosi. A dedicated advocate of music education, Droste regularly conducts youth orchestras, is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the country, and is a Yamaha Artist and Master Educator. He has conducted numerous all-state orchestras, as well as the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, and an upcoming engagement with the Music for All Honor Orchestra of America. A talented violinist, Droste has performed with the orchestras of Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Nashville, Memphis, Lubbock, and the Lancaster Festival. He is also skilled on viola, trumpet, and as a tenor. Droste holds degrees from The Ohio State University and Texas Tech University.
Amy Hourigan - Biographical Information
Amy Hourigan, Lecturer of Music Education, began her professional music career as an elementary music education specialist in Itasca, Illinois. After eight years teaching music in the Illinois public schools, Ms. Hourigan took time off to raise her two children, Joshua and Andrew. During this time she saw how certain therapies (and therapists) had a profound effect on their clients’ progress. Amy became interested in music therapy as a means to help people meet their goals through music.
She earned her degree in music therapy from Eastern Michigan University. During her time at Eastern Michigan, she provided services to children, teenagers and adults in a variety of settings. Amy is certified through the Certification Board of Music Therapists and is the owner/operator of Music Therapy Connections, LLC in Muncie, Indiana. Ms. Hourigan is also an adjunct faculty member at Ball State University teaching a music education course for elementary education majors.
Amy is the co-author of “Teaching Music to Children with Autism: Understandings and Perspectives,” Music Educators Journal, September 2009. Ms. Hourigan is also a contributing author to Teaching Music to Students with Special Needs: A Label Free Approach by Alice Hammel and Ryan Hourigan. In addition, Amy has presented nationally at conferences including Indiana, Virginia and Kentucky Music Educators’ Association Conferences.
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