Assignment: Concert Report MUS 021: Dr. Bjorkedal Attend a live (no podcasts, etc) western classical music performance and write a typed report. Make sure to review all instructions prior to attending a performance. Concert Guidelines: 1. The level of the performance must be college-age performers or professional—no middle/high school/etc. performances. 2. The performance must be of western art music, similar to the genres discussed in text chapters assigned in the syllabus—orchestra, chamber music, solo instrumental performances, opera, choir, ballet, musicals, etc. If you have doubts about a concert qualifying as “western art” music, e-mail the professor before attending. 3. You must attend the entire performance- no late arrivals or early departures. Report: Format: 2-4 pages, typed, double-spaced on 8.5 x 11 paper with one-inch margins. Report should include a title, a header with your name and the date, and page numbers. Writing Voice and style: Your colleagues taking this class should be able to read the report and gain a clear concept of your experience. You will not need to define the terminology we have covered in class, but you do need to keep in mind that your audience will not HEAR this concert and will rely on a sense of the experience solely from your descriptions. This paper should have an academic style- formal, with no contractions used. Content: The report is YOUR observations of the concert. A successful report will address these categories: 1. Performance setting and types of music: Give the date, place, and name(s) of groups performing. Briefly describe the performance setting- for example, you might include your observations on the ambiance of the performance space, performers’ attire dress, audience’s attire, etc. and how it affected your concert-going experience. Which types/genres of music were performed (symphony, opera, solo, chamber, etc). What pieces did you hear, who were the composers, and what were historical eras of these pieces? 2. The main body of your report should focus on accurately and interestingly applying the knowledge gained in this class to the specific music you heard at the concert. Narrow your focus to two movements or short pieces from your concert and do one of the following: a. Choose two movements or short pieces from the program and contrast/compare these works with references to specific musical elements. b. Choose two movements of short pieces and give an overview of their characters- what types of moods or feelings they evoked with references to specific musical elements. c. Choose the music composition you liked best and describe why using specific musical elements. Choose the music composition you liked least and describe why using musical elements. Use YOUR ears (not the internet’s ideas…) and listen for the basic elements discussed in class and apply them to the pieces of your concert. Try to highlight what really “stuck out” to you about the musical selections highlighted ...

1. Assignment: Concert Report
MUS 021: Dr. Bjorkedal
Attend a live (no podcasts, etc) western classical music
performance and write a typed report. Make sure to review all
instructions prior to attending a performance.
Concert Guidelines:
1. The level of the performance must be college-age performers
or professional—no middle/high school/etc. performances.
2. The performance must be of western art music, similar to the
genres discussed in text chapters assigned in the syllabus—
orchestra, chamber music, solo instrumental performances,
opera, choir, ballet, musicals, etc. If you have doubts about a
concert qualifying as “western art” music, e-mail the professor
before attending.
3. You must attend the entire performance- no late arrivals or
early departures.
Report:
Format: 2-4 pages, typed, double-spaced on 8.5 x 11 paper with
one-inch margins. Report should include a title, a header with
your name and the date, and page numbers.
Writing Voice and style: Your colleagues taking this class
should be able to read the report and gain a clear concept of
your experience. You will not need to define the terminology
we have covered in class, but you do need to keep in mind that
your audience will not HEAR this concert and will rely on a
sense of the experience solely from your descriptions. This
paper should have an academic style- formal, with no
contractions used.
Content: The report is YOUR observations of the concert. A

2. successful report will address these categories:
1. Performance setting and types of music: Give the date, place,
and name(s) of groups performing. Briefly describe the
performance setting- for example, you might include your
observations on the ambiance of the performance space,
performers’ attire dress, audience’s attire, etc. and how it
affected your concert-going experience. Which types/genres of
music were performed (symphony, opera, solo, chamber, etc).
What pieces did you hear, who were the composers, and what
were historical eras of these pieces?
2. The main body of your report should focus on accurately and
interestingly applying the knowledge gained in this class to the
specific music you heard at the concert. Narrow your focus to
two movements or short pieces from your concert and do one of
the following:
a. Choose two movements or short pieces from the program and
contrast/compare these works with references to specific
musical elements.
b. Choose two movements of short pieces and give an overview
of their characters- what types of moods or feelings they evoked
with references to specific musical elements.
c. Choose the music composition you liked best and describe
why using specific musical elements. Choose the music
composition you liked least and describe why using musical
elements.
Use YOUR ears (not the internet’s ideas…) and listen for the
basic elements discussed in class and apply them to the pieces
of your concert. Try to highlight what really “stuck out” to you
about the musical selections highlighted in this section.
Content (continued)
3. Evaluate your concert going experience: What did you enjoy
about the concert, what would have improved your experience,
how did the performance fit or foil your expectations? Were
there any aspects of the performance that were unfamiliar or

3. surprising to you? If so, what? What was the overall reaction of
the audience or people that came with you?
Grading
First Draft (100 Points, pass/fail): Printed out draft will be peer
reviewed in class. Draft must be a complete paper, typed,
printed, and on time in class to receive pass.
Final Draft (400 Points, Grading Rubric on Canvas): On
Canvas, you must submit:
1. Your final draft with peer feedback incorporated where
applicable
2. An upload of a scan/legible image of peer feedback you
received
3. If you received a concert program, you must either turn it in
to the professor in class or scan an image and upload it on
Canvas.
The drafts and reports are due on the dates listed on your
syllabus and the Canvas calendar.
The greater Los Angeles area hosts a plethora of concert
opportunities, many of which are free or offer discounted
student rush opportunities. Here are a few ideas to get started:
LA Philharmonic
Los Angeles Opera
Pasadena Symphony Orchestra
Southwest Chamber Music
Jacaranda Chamber Music
Muse/ique
Arcadia Public Library
Pasadena Presbyterian Church (Wednesdays at Noon series)
Neighborhood Church’s Pro-Musica

4. Lake Avenue Church Thursdays at Noon
LACMA Sundays Live
Colburn School and USC Thornton Concerts
PCC Campus performances
Here are online resources for finding local concerts:
Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter:
http://www.sundayslive.org/newsletter.cfm
Performing Arts Live Calendar:
http://www.performingartslive.com/
A few helpful hints:
1. Take a pad of paper and jot down a few notes in between
pieces to help jog your memory when you write your paper
later. However, do not write during the performance—it will
distract others, even possibly the performers!
2. Plan ahead! Keep an eye out for an event that really interests
you—writing about something you find interesting will be much
easier.
3. Be open to trying something new, but also consider
researching the program to make sure it is something you won’t
actively dislike. Find other performances of the program online
or at the library (Youtube, Spotify) so you know what you will
be seeing and hearing ahead of time.
Concert-going etiquette
Proper concert etiquette shows respect and common courtesy for
the performers and your fellow concert-goers. Remember to
always use your best judgment, but here are a few common rules
of etiquette:
· If you must leave for an emergency or have arrived late, enter
only when an usher indicates it is ok to do so. If there are no
ushers, only enter during applause in between selections.
· Don't talk during a performance.
· Cell phones and other noise making devices must be off!
· Never text or call someone during a concert. If you would like

5. to video or take pictures, ask the performers or concert
organizer ahead of time. Never use a device that makes noise or
has a flash.
· If your performance venue allows you to eat in the auditorium,
do not unwrap candy or slurp soda while the musicians are
playing. Otherwise, no food or drink should ever be brought to a
concert. The one exception is if you have a cough—have cough
drops unwrapped and ready to SILENTLY abate coughing.
· Some classical pieces of music are broken down into parts
called "movements." In between these movements the music
will stop for a few seconds. Usually, the audience does not
applaud until the conductor or performers has dropped his hands
and has turned around or risen to acknowledge the audience.
Common problem checklist
Before you turn your paper in, check for the following:
·
· Do NOT copy the program notes. You may use outside
references with proper citation (MLA or APA is fine. Check
PCC Library’s website for help:
http://www.pasadena.edu/library/citing.cfm).
1. If you wrote about a piece of music, did you refer to the
piece title and the composer? If not, go back and add in the
composer’s last name and the name of the piece about which
you are writing
2. Is it in paper form? If you used numbers to label the
paragraph, go back and delete them.
3. Scan your paper and delete any contractions. This includes:
don’t, can’t, wouldn’t, I’d, shouldn’t, didn’t.
4. Scan your paper for informal terms that do not belong in an

6. academic paper. This include “Kinda” , “I think”, “something”,
“sorta”, “sort of”, etc.
5. Read your paper out loud to see if it makes sense. If you have
to read a sentence twice or it is not clear, re-do that sentence.
6. Do not include weakening statements such as “I think” or “I
believe”. Since this is your paper, we already know that this is
what you believe.
7. Did you refer to the audience? If so, did you use the proper
form, which is audience or audience members, not audiences?