music concert report

Extra Credit Concert Reports MUS 021: Dr. Bjorkedal

EXTRA CREDIT: Submit additional concert reports. Each report can earn up to 150 points. A student may submit 1 extra credit concert report per term. 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. 4. The concert must be during the term that you are currently taking this class and must be in the

greater Los Angeles area unless you have specifically spoken to the instructor about an ‘out- of-town’ concert.

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.

Extra Credit Concert Reports MUS 021: Dr. Bjorkedal

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.

Extra Credit Concert Reports MUS 021: Dr. Bjorkedal

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 surprising to you? If so, what? What was the overall reaction of the audience or people that came with you?

Grading Extra Credit Concert reports are subject to the same grading rubric as the assigned concert reports. Concert Reports are worth up to 200 points each.