observe one classical music performance and submit a report of approximately 2-3 typed pages (600 word minimum, 900 word maximum). Due to time limit we were given the choice to watch a concert video.

Paragraph 1: Introduction •
Date & place of the performance
Title of performance
Name of performing group or ensemble
Type of music presented (instrumental, choral/vocal, or combination)

Paragraph 2: Setting & General Music Description
Briefly describe the concert setting (hall, performers' dress)
Were any program notes provided, giving you background information on the pieces performed and their composers?
Did anyone discuss the music before or during the performance?
Which genres, or types, of music were performed? (symphonic music, chamber music, vocal music, opera, etc. Please see descriptions listed on p. 7 of this document)
What historical eras were represented on the program? (pre-1600, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century.) You can usually tell this information by looking for the birth & death dates of the composers, often listed next to their names. Please see your textbook for further descriptions of the historical eras.
If program notes were provided, did you read them?
Were they helpful?

Paragraph 3: Musical Description 1.Briefly describe the first piece on the program in your own words. If the piece is a large work with multiple movements (or sections), just describe the first movement. Please include • The name of the piece • The name of the composer • Birth and death dates of the composer if included in the program (usually found right next to the composer’s name on the program) • Instrument, vocal range, or ensemble • General mood of the work • Distinctive characteristics of the performance

2.Briefly describe the last piece on the program using the same criteria as described above.
3.Choose one other piece, or movement, on the program and write a more musical description. This can take quite a bit of concentration (try practicing with the listening guides in your textbook to get some ideas). Of course, include the name of the work, composer, instrument/vocal range/ensemble, and general mood of the work. Then, in your own words, describe at least three elements of music that you observed. Here are elements to consider: • Tempo (ex. fast, slow, or a variety) • Dynamics (ex. loud, grew louder, became deafening) • Melody (ex. range, smooth scale-like motions, lots of leaps) • Rhythm (ex. easy to feel or too complex to understand ) • Harmony (ex. consonant, dissonant, made you want to scream) • Texture (ex. monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic, combination of all three) • Other (ex. anything you can think of)

Paragraph 4: Conclusion
• What was your overall reaction to the concert? • What was your favorite thing about the performance? • What was your least favorite thing about the performance? • Other comments

Note: If you need more text in order to attain the 600 word minimum, you may need to describe more pieces or movements. You may use your program notes to help you understand the music, but please do not rewrite program notes or researched information in your paper. The musical descriptions need to be based on your observations, not the observations of the program notes author or outside sources.

If you do use information from your book or other sources when writing your paper, please acknowledge them in the paper. Also, keep in mind that Wikipedia is not the most reliable source of information. It can be very helpful (I use it quite a bit myself), but there are other electronic resources that are far more reliable and scholarly. The Grove Dictionary of Music is one such example.