ALP/Playground Approach & Tools
ALP/Playground approach and tools - Intensive course
Developing innovative communication skills to foster meaningful connections with individuals on the autism spectrum Cultivating 'Inner Playfulness' using the ALP/Playground Approach and Tools
ALP/Playground Stage I
Head of program and leading Lecturer and instructor - Ms. Keren Rosenbaum, MA
About the Program -
"Autism is not a language barrier; it is simply a different language" - Haley Moss, and in the words of Mel Baggs, a prominent autism advocate: "I communicate best outside of language altogether, but there are no tools to interpret that." Imagine the incredible potential if we possessed a universal code that could unlock the power to understand one another and break down barriers of communication.
Interpersonal communication is composed of verbal language, gestures, touch (non-verbal communication), as well as sounds and rhythms (paralinguistic communication), creating a multi-layered and expressive form of interaction. For many, especially those on the autistic spectrum, connecting with oneself, others, and the world can be challenging. Effective communication serves as the core for building trust, calmness, confidence, joy, and self-regulation—qualities that are crucial for overcoming challenges and creating a solid foundation for genuine learning and meaningful personal growth.
Recent studies indicate that this population has particularly high levels of synesthesia, allowing them to experience the world in a way where senses operate simultaneously, which may result in sensory and emotional overload. In addition, studies also show that 'playing' contributes to the development of physical, cognitive, and social skills for every individual, particularly for people facing communication challenges, such as neurodivergent individuals (ADHD, dyspraxia, dyslexia, OCD, Tourette syndrome, and more) and especially those on the autism spectrum (ASD).
Donald Winnicott viewed playing as "an end in itself, not merely as a means to an end" (Winnicott, 1971, Playing and Reality), he emphasized the importance of the therapist's ability to play experientially and the patient's ability to communicate through play, as therapy in its own right. As adults, we experience less and less of the ability to play, but playfulness does not disappear—it simply hides. Refreshing the "muscle of playfulness" is especially important for therapists, teachers, and parents of children on the autism spectrum.
Engaging in playful communication significantly enhances the connection and bonding between individuals, fostering empowering and experiential learning opportunities. Playful interactions create a relaxed and open environment, encouraging participants to express themselves more freely and authentically. This openness leads to deeper understanding and trust, which are essential for effective learning and personal growth. Incorporating playfulness into communication strategies can be particularly beneficial for individuals on the autism spectrum, as it provides alternative avenues for expression and connection. By embracing playfulness, we can create more inclusive and supportive environments that cater to diverse communication needs. When play is fully embraced, we achieve the deepest levels of reflexive and responsive communication, ultimately driving powerful and transformative change.
The ALP/Playground Approach was developed by interdisciplinary composer and conductor Keren Rosenbaum, known for her innovative “Reflexive Music” and its unique music notation “The Invisible Score" inspired by her own synesthesia (neurological phenomenon where stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to involuntary reaction in another sensory).
The evolving cross-sensory synesthesia experience unveils a vibrant world of inner playfulness, both within oneself and in perceiving the environment. “It feels as if everything is continuously engaged in an infinite play, creating a boundless sense of wonder and connection”.
The ALP (Active Listening Playground) serves as a language, mindset, thinking pattern, a "performative stage". The technique aimed at enhancing social communication skills, fostering stimulation, surprise, and encouraging each person to integrate these tools into their personal and professional lives in order to support connecting people and communities worldwide.
The progression from ALP to the ALP/Playground Approach and Tools was a natural evolution, driven by the need to expand and deepen the impact of this innovative therapeutic framework. This approach provides an experiential way of viewing life, treating it as a playground for all the senses aiming to strengthen one's connection to oneself, others, and the environment. It creates a space for creativity, discovery, and personal development, fostering genuine connections between individuals and communities—much like an orchestra where every instrument contributes to a shared harmony. This approach is implemented in schools, distressed communities, international social organizations, cultural centers, and more.
Playfulness helps strengthen a sense of control in real-time, contributing to both sensory and emotional regulation. Synesthesia awareness, which involves recognizing and understanding the blending of sensory experiences, serves as a central tool in this approach, allowing individuals to experience the world in a rich, multi-sensory way. This contributes to an environment of mutual discovery, where all participants collaborate to genuinely understand and express their inner worlds. By immersing ourselves in the playground environment, we reconnect with our senses through the lens of synesthesia, deepening communication and fostering more meaningful interactions.
The Playground Approach is highly effective for professionals working with individuals on the autism spectrum, as it utilizes synesthetic awareness and cross-sensory expression to create a 'synesthetic mutual vocabulary.' This tailored approach helps build connections that align with diverse sensory experiences, offering a powerful means to foster safety, trust, control, and safeness.
The ALP/Playground approach empowers individuals to foster creativity, empathy, and effective interpersonal communication by embracing reflexive and responsive interactions. By embracing a philosophy of inner playfulness, participants unlock mental agility, making
intuitive and inspired choices that spark genuine transformation, turning every moment into an opportunity for deeper connections with oneself and others. This synergy between reflexive music, synesthetic awareness, and playfulness nurtures empathy and understanding, ultimately enriching our connections and creating a more interconnected and compassionate world.
Reflexive Music
Visual Score
An original and innovative notation technique used to create Reflexive Music. The Reflex Invisible Score, developed by composer, interdisciplinary artist and performer Keren Rosenbaum since 1992. The original arranging and scoring of events creates a surprising integration of sound, visual play and physicality. The method also incorporates lighting, video, and interactive mediums in new technology. The unfolding of the score allows for a simultaneity in multiple events that becomes a completely unique experience and opens up the boundaries of musical expression.
Using outside triggers such as earphone triggers visual triggers, movement triggers and others. The invisible score notation requires of performers an improvisatory freedom in a very strict structural environment. The performers follow internal inspirations to respond and engage in conversations and at the same time are interrupted by earphone triggers that force them into an invisible structure.
The triggered events are notated and allows a much advance manipulation of the composition and at the same time affects and influences the improvised outcome. This ongoing project has been successfully performed and practiced by Reflex Ensemble members as well as many performers and students around the world. As a practice, it fascinates with its complexity and immediacy, and as a performance it is constantly surprising as it reveals the human-ness within structure.
The REFLEX INVISIBLE SCORE Technique was published in the book Notations 21 book by Theresa Sauer in 2009. The original notation and music scores became the foundation ALP Approach and the ALP Tools are all based on Reflexive Music Scores originally performed by the Reflex Ensemble. ALP (Active Listening Playground) Approach can be learned and practiced in the Reflexive Music Academy founded under Composing Community Global Organization.
