Guidelines for writing a concert review
A Good Concert Reviewer:
1. aims the review at a general, broad public (as though for a newspaper or general interest magazine). While using appropriate music terminology concerning the elements of music (melody, rhythm, meter, tempo, harmony, form, etc.), the student should avoid lengthy, in-depth discussions of performance technique.
2. uses information from the printed program (if there is one).
a. Identify the what, when, and where of the performance.
b. Identify performers by full name at first mention, then (usually) by last name thereafter. If the performance was more informal in nature, one might choose to use the performers' first names.
c. Correctly identify the works performed that one wishes to discuss.
d. Credit the program notes when appropriate. It is usually good to include background or other information from the printed program, but keep in mind that plagiarism is an honor violation in any written work (see Student Handbook).
3. does not rely entirely upon memory to record impressions of a performance, but takes notes during the performance. Write your thoughts and reactions on the printed program, so you may refer to them when you write your review.
4. does not necessarily discuss everything that was performed in a "laundry list" approach. ("Next, so-and-so played the oboe and so-and-so played the piano in a duo titled, "A Piece of Music.") Instead, the reviewer delves into those works or elements of the performance to which s/he reacted most strongly, providing a thoughtful evaluation of the performance (or whatever aspects s/he feels comfortable reviewing).
5. double spaces the review.
6. avoids use of meaningless generalities and inaccurate adjectives, such as (but not limited to): "really," "literally," or "nice."
7. writes in whatever style s/he is comfortable. Reviews can be somewhat technical (a vocalist's review of another vocalist's performance, although keep in mind guideline #1 above), narrative (telling the story of one's impressions over the course of the performance), or anything in between.