You should begin by describing the concert “as a whole.” In other words, give your general impression of the performance. You should mention whether the group is professional or a community group made up of students and amateurs.
The following points should be included:
Musical styles-does the piece fit into any of the style categories studied in class, such as Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Twentieth Century?
Musical genre-is the piece a concerto, symphony, tone poem, mass, motet, or some other genre?
Musical forms-is it a fugue, sonata-allegro, theme and variations, etc.? You will often find this information in the program notes.
Memorable features. Did you notice anything about the tempo, rhythm, melody, texture, harmony? Was the tempo fast, slow, moderate, or did the tempo change. Was the melody lyrical or triumphant (or suggest any other mood)? Was the melody Conjunct (smooth or mostly stepwise) or disjunct (choppy with wide melodic skips)? Would you describe the melody as a “theme” (longer) or a “motive (short, perhaps just a few notes)?” Was the texture monophonic, polyphonic or homophonic? Was the harmony pleasing or dissonant, or some of both? Did you hear any noticeable dynamic changes, such as forte to piano or vice versa? Were any instruments featured or used in an unusual way? Were there any interesting rhythmic features like dotted rhythms or syncopation?
Remember that the more detail you include the better grade you'll receive. Use good grammar and correct spelling. Be sure that your ideas are stated clearly. Use the same procedure you would for any English paper.
Make an effort to use a more journalistic style of writing. For ideas on how to write your reviews, read the Arts section of the New York Times or other newspapers or magazines. Your review should describe the music so the reader will feel as though he or she attended the concert.
In order to receive a satisfactory grade for your reviews the guidelines listed above should be followed. In general, to receive an “A” you must include as much detail as possible about the performance you heard. Pick three or four separate pieces and write about them. Include titles of pieces, and separate movements if there are any. Be specific!
Grading Rubric:
90-100 pts. Review contains all required information, is well-written and includes many details about several works from the chosen concert. Your review will apply terms and concepts learned in class to the music you hear in the live concert. The review will give the reader a clear impression of what is it was like to attend the concert.
80-89 pts. Review contains all required information, is fairly well-written, but includes fewer details about different works from the chosen concert. The review still lists several compositions performed, but gives little impression of what the concert was like. The review only uses some concepts or terms learned in class.
75-79 pts. Review contains all required information, is only moderately well-written and contains almost no details about the concert. Only the general impression about the music is made apparent with no attempt to include terms or concepts learned in class.
70-74 pts. Review contains all required information, but has no details or impressions about the music.
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