CONCERT MANNERS
AT A CONCERT, THE MUSIC NEEDS SILENCE! SO, THE AUDIENCE GIVES THE PERFORMERS SILENCE. BOTH THE MUSICIANS AND THE AUDIENCE WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON THE MUSIC, SO THE LISTENERS STAY IN THEIR SEATS DURING A PERFORMANCE.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO SIT LIKE A STATUE. YOU CAN BREATHE; YOU CAN RESPOND TO THE MUSIC, YOU CAN MOVE YOUR BODY IN YOUR CHAIR. JUST TRY NOT TO DISTRACT OTHERS FROM ENJOYMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE.
THE BASIC IDEA IS TO HELP EACH OTHER FOCUS ON THE MUSIC. MAKING NOISE OR WALKING AROUND ARE DISTRACTING NOT JUST FOR OTHER LISTENERS, BUT ALSO FOR THE MUSICIANS. (WE’RE ALL USED TO TALKING AND MOVING AROUND WHILE THE TV IS ON-IT’S EASY TO FORGET THAT AT A CONCERT THE PERFORMERS CAN SEE AND HEAR THE AUDIENCE!) IF YOU CONTRIBUTE ATTENTION AND SILENCE, IT WILL HELP THE MUSICIANS TO GIVE YOU A BETTER CONCERT. THEY CAN FEEL YOUR INVOLVEMENT, AND IT INSPIRES THEM TO GIVE THEIR BEST.
SOUNDS THAT GET IN THE WAY
TALKING
WHISPERING
COUGHING
SQUEAKING A CHAIR
OPENING A PURSE
JINGLING COINS OR KEYS
UNWRAPPING ANYTHING
RUSTLING THE PROGRAM
SAYING “SSHHH”
PAGERS, WATCHES, CEL PHONES (TURN THEM OFF!)
WAYS TO LISTEN
THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS TO ENJOY AT A CONCERT, LOTS OF THINGS TO PAY ATTENTION TO. YOUR JOB IS TO BE AFFECTED BY THE MUSIC, BUT YOU CAN BE AFFECTED BY WHAT MOST APPEALS TO YOU, OR BY WHATEVER GRABS YOUR INTEREST. HERE ARE A FEW CHOICES FOR WHAT TO LISTEN TO. CHOOSE WHATEVER YOU LIKE, SWITCH AS OFTEN AS YOU WANT, AND FEEL FREE TO ADD TO THE LIST.
SOME THINGS TO ENJOY IN CLASSICAL MUSIC
MOODS AND FEELINGS
LOUDNESS AND SOFTNESS
DIFFERENT SPEEDS
INSTRUMENTS SOUNDS
MELODIES
RHYTHMS
CHANGES AND TRANSFORMATIONS
BEAUTIFUL PERFORMING
MEMORIES THAT GET TRIGGERED
RECOGNITION OF SOMETHING HEARD EARLIER
VISUAL IMAGES THAT COME TO MIND
WHAT TO WATCH
A CONCERT IS AN EVENT FOR THE EARS, BUT THERE IS LOTS FOR THE EYES, TOO. WATCH THE PLAYERS AND FEEL THEIR ENERGY AND INTENSITY; WATCH WHAT THEY DO TO MAKE THEIR INSTRUMENTS SOUND IN DIFFERENT WAYS. WATCH AS THE MUSIC MOVES FROM ONE PLAYER, OR GROUP OF PLAYERS, TO ANOTHER. WATCH THE WAY THE CONDUCTOR CONTROLS EVENTS, OR HOW HE OR SHE GIVES CONTROL TO THE MUSICIANS.
GIVING AND RECEIVING
THINK OF A CONCERT AS AN ENERGY EXCHANGE. THE MUSICIANS SEND OUT MUSICAL ENERGY, WHICH THE AUDIENCE RECEIVES. AT THE END OF A PIECE, IT IS TIME FOR THE AUDIENCE TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK BY CLAPPING, AND TIME FOR THE MUSICIANS TO RECIVE IT, BY BOWING.