Write a concert review based on a concert presented within the ATU Department of Music between January 1, 2026 and April 28, 2026. Your review will be graded on the following:
Purpose
This assignment will give you the opportunity to attend a concert presented by the ATU Department of Music and comment on your experience attending that concert. This will empower you to become more knowledgeable about a range of musical styles and genres in a live performance setting, using knowledge developed in your Survey of Music History class to discuss the experience with musical terminology. You will identify important artistic ideas in the performance, respond critically to the creative process, and interpret the global significance of the musical works on display.
General Information
This assignment requires you to attend a concert presented by the ATU Department of Music and write a report about your experience.
These guidelines will help you to write an effective report:
1) Include your name, course and section number in the header of each page
2) Provide documentation (a photo of the program)
3) Upload the assignment to BlackBoard
4) If you choose to cite any idea that is not your own, please reference it in a separate “Works Cited” section. If this applies to you, discuss further with your professor for guidelines.
5) Before the performance, during intermission (if there is one), and after the concert, jot down notes on each piece. Please avoid using electronic devices to take notes as they can be distracting to performers. Consider the following questions to guide your notes:
o What effect did each piece have on you? How did it make you feel?
o How does each composition express aspects of the human condition? Do you hear struggle, joy, whimsy, faith, etc.?
o What aspects of each piece can you connect to the knowledge you have developed in Survey of Music History? Use terminology such as melody, harmony, texture, tempo, meter, style, dynamics, instrumentation, form, etc.
o Discuss each composition’s creative quality – why would the composer have written it? If the performers or composer discussed their motivation, this might give you helpful insight.
6) Before submitting your concert report, proofread your work carefully.
Format
1st paragraph
- Information about the performance itself including:
o Date
o Location
o Time
o Name and type of performing group/s (choir, woodwind quintet, band, etc.).
2nd paragraph
- Information about the concert environment (2nd paragraph), answering 3-5 of the following bullet points:
o What information could you get about the performers in the program (if any)? Did that help or harm your appreciation of the performance? Why?
o How would you summarize the audience demographics (students, older adults, parents, a mix, etc.)?
o Did the overall feel of the concert seem formal, casual, or in the middle? Why do you feel so?
o Did the performance use any unique instruments or technologies (special lighting, surround sound, projected visuals)?
o Where were you sitting in the audience? Did your seat help or harm your appreciation of the performance? Why?
3rd paragraph
- Information about the music performed. You should include:
o The title (including any movements) of each selection performed with:
o The composer’s name and birth/death year. This information is usually included in the program for the event. If it is not, you should look it up.
Based on the composer’s birthdate and what you have learned about musical style you should make an educated guess about what style period the composition reflects.
• Medieval: 1150-1400
• Renaissance: 1400-1600
• Baroque: 1600-1750
• Classical: 1750-1830
• Romantic: 1830-1920
• Contemporary: 1920 to present
4th paragraph
- Discuss the selection on the concert you found the most impactful. Be sure to address each question listed below:
o What effect did each piece have on you? How did it make you feel?
o How does each composition express aspects of the human condition? Do you hear struggle, joy, whimsy, faith, etc.?
o Discuss each composition’s creative quality – why would the composer have written it? If the performers or composer discussed their motivation, this might give you helpful insight.
You MUST incorporate how the composer used musical elements (at least four of: melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, tempo, meter, style, dynamics, timbre, instrumentation, form, etc.) in your answer to each of the questions above. Go even further than just mentioning the element; analyze the element. For instance, turn “This piece was exciting” into “The changing timbers throughout the piece made it unpredictable and thrilling to listen to because I wanted to know what sound combinations would happen next.”
5th paragraph
- Discuss the selection on the concert you found the least impactful. Be sure to address each question listed below (5th paragraph):
o What effect did each piece have on you? How did it make you feel?
o How does each composition express aspects of the human condition? Do you hear struggle, joy, whimsy, faith, etc.?
o Discuss each composition’s creative quality – why would the composer have written it? If the performers or composer discussed their motivation, this might give you helpful insight.
You MUST incorporate how the composer used musical elements (at least four of: melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, tempo, meter, style, dynamics, timbre, instrumentation, form, etc.) in your answer to each of the questions above. Go even further than just mentioning the element; analyze the element. For instance, turn “This piece was boring” into “Because the repeated rhythmic pattern never changed, I found this piece monotonous.”
6th paragraph
- Share your overall general reaction to the concert. Think of your conclusion as a conversation with a friend about the performance. What was your favorite part of the concert? What would have made the concert more enjoyable? Did anything strange happen? Were you glad you attended this concert? Would you attend another concert by this group? Would you encourage others to attend? What was your overall impression of the evening?