Concert Etiquette

As part of your study, some of you may be attending "Classical" concerts for the first time. Although you may be unfamiliar with proper concert behavior, relax! For the most part, the practice of good concert etiquette is nothing more than an exercise in common courtesy. In an article entitled "Behavior Among Music Lovers," the well-known syndicated columnist Miss Manners commented on inexcusable, voluntary actions by some concert-goers, which can ruin other people's enjoyment of the performance. These undesirable actions include:

1) EATING

2) WHISPERING or TALKING of any kind

3) CONDUCTING IN ONES LAP

4) NECKING

5) TAPPING

6) HUMMING/SINGING

7) WEARING VIEW-OBSTRUCTING HATS

It is too bad that a few forgetful (or unknowing) audience members insist on displaying such unacceptable behavior. Traditionally, music appreciation students cause a large percentage of these disturbances. Although the majority of appreciation students are exemplary listeners, over the years the few ill-behaved ones have stereotyped this bad image for all music appreciation students. They arrive late and leave early (some even so rude as to enter or leave while the music is being played), hold lengthy conversations during the concert, put their feet up on the seats in front of them, make excessive noise while taking notes on the concert (such as ripping paper out of a note pad, loud pencil scratching on the paper, etc.), eat hard candy (which requires the very noisy removal of the outer wrapper), and generally ruin the concert for those around them. You should recognize that most "classical" concerts tend to be more serious in nature as compared to the atmosphere of rock, jazz or "pop" concerts. This does not infer that "classical" music is better—only that it has its own particular style and purpose, and these must be anticipated and respected by you as a listener. While attending a "classical" concert, please be considerate of those trying to enjoy the music, even if you happen to find the music unpleasant for some reason.

The following list of suggestions will help you avoid embarrassment and derive greater pleasure from the concert experience:

1.      Arrive before the posted concert time. This will give you time to locate a good seat and look over the program in advance.

2.      If for some reason you do arrive late, please wait at the back of the hall until an appropriate break in the musical program (the end of a movement or work). Do not disturb other listeners by attempting to seat yourself while the music is being performed.

3.      Hold your musical (and non-musical) comments until the musicians have left the stage (which will happen at breaks between sections of the program, intermission, or the end of the concert). WHISPERING AND UNSOLICITED LAUGHTER truly disturb those around you and can certainly be heard for several rows in a quiet hall.

4.      If an assignment requires that you takes notes during the concert—PLEASE USE CAUTION. Write gently and quietly. USE A FELT TIP PEN (no pencils or ball point pens, please). Bring a couple of blank sheets of paper with you, so you do not obliterate the printed program before you turn it in, and so you can keep the paper shuffling to a minimum. Only sketch out your ideas. Write them out more fully during the intermission break.

5.      Concerts usually last between one and two hours. Be prepared to stay for the entire performance. Leaving early is not only rude but it is insulting to the performers who have worked for many weeks/months to prepare this music. Put yourself in their position—How would you like to have only part of a term paper read after putting so much effort into it?

6.      Know when and where to applaud. Unless it is the final movement of a work, or the last song of a set, you should be sure NOT to applaud. You can tell this by looking at the printed concert program. Multi-movement works are indicated by several successive tempo indications underneath the title of a work; titles of individual songs are put in quotation marks, and then put in order of presentation:

PROGRAM

Symphony No.40 in G Minor, K.550                                 W.A. Mozart

      Molto allegro

      Andante

      Allegretto

      Allegro assai

3 Songs                                                                                Franz Schubert

      "Erlkönig"

      "Heidenröslein"

      "Der Wanderer"

For example, if you were present at the Mozart/Schubert concert shown above, you would notice the audience applauding only at the conclusion of the four-movement Mozart symphony (after the "Allegro assai" movement) and after the last song of the Schubert set ("Der Wanderer"). This allows the performer(s) to keep the interpretive focus of the music intact until the entire work (or set of pieces) is completed.

If you are unsure when to clap, it is best to wait for the applause to start before you take part.

7.      IF YOU HAVE AN ALARM WATCH or a CELL PHONE—DEACTIVATE IT !

8.      Do not bring recording devices or cameras to the concert; they may be confiscated. (Be advised that there are laws prohibiting the recording of many types of public concerts.)

9.      DRESS NICELY. Make an occasion of it.

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