Part 1 Guidelines
This assignment will be submitted in a Blackboard link to be graded
Length of assignment: approximately 500 words
Learning Goal: the purpose of this assignment is to understand and demonstrate the practice of writing a concert review, and to understand “reviews” as a writing genre.
Preparation Step – Free Your Mind of Expectations:
[achievement = talent + preparation]
If possible, prepare for your concert with an online search to research the musicians and the music to be performed. Definitely do it after the concert, and before you write your review. This will insure you write a review informed by basic facts about the works performed and the performers. This will help remind you of important musical terms we have encountered in our class, and on the Study Guides.
For example, if a genre is presented, like a symphony, was it from the classical, romantic,
or modern era? What characteristics of the era were present in the music? Be as specific as possible by relating the music to the terms found in the Study Guides.
Every review has two basic parts: journalism and opinion.
The journalism part should always answer: “Who? What? Why? Where? When? How?”
Who were the performers?
Where and when did they perform?
What style(s) of music were performed?
Were any works receiving a premiere performance?
What kinds of instruments, voices? Were they all acoustic or amplified?
Was there concert seating, standing, dancing?
What kind of audience attended?
Make sure to check spellings of names and titles in the concert program
Not every journalism question needs to be answered, but keep in mind that reviews are for people who did not attend to the event. Be as thorough as possible.
Sample reviews can be found daily online in the New York Times, New York Magazine, The New Yorker Magazine, and many others. A sample review is reprinted in Part 3 below. Please read the review and notice how almost all the journalism questions are answered in the first paragraph. Throughout, the reviewer weaves facts with opinions, comparisons, and evaluations of the songs and performers.
Another vital part of what makes a review interesting, and sometimes illuminating,
is when reviewers observe beyond the facts. They share their informed opinion.
Here are some observations commonly found in reviews:
Was anything new to you? surprising? Why?
Was anything inspiring or uninspiring? Why?
Did the music relate to any other kinds of music you find inspiring? boring? exciting?
Was anything funny or strange to hear? Why?
Overall did the experience mean anything to you? Why?
Before you submit your review, check what you have written:
Does it state basic journalism facts, integrate musical terms from the Study Guides, and include several observations commonly found in reviews?
Part 2: Grading Rubrics for Reviewing a Concert 100 points
A highly developed Concert Review will demonstrate proficiency as follows:
Description (40 points)
Report identifies correctly the performer(s), venue, time and basic program information. Salient features of the program are noted.
Describes and characterizes individual works and movements and their respective composers. Recognizes instruments and ensembles. Utilizes musical terminology correctly and insightfully.
Reasoning & Analysis (20 points)
Makes specific observations about performance. Demonstrates grasp of interpretive vocabulary. Describes interactions among performers. Evaluates performance with reference to listening examples from class.
Communication (20 points)
Organizes report into coherent paragraphs that describe every aspect of the concert. Uses vocabulary and concepts learned in class. Grammatically correct.
Personal Experience and Observation (20 points)
Gives a lively sense of the event as experienced and as compared to other musical experiences.
Accurately describes several important elements used by the artist(s) and accurately relates them to personal observations, or observations typical of a review.
