GUIDELINES FOR A CONCERT REVIEW

Although you may choose to attend and document a concert at any time during the semester, I recommend waiting at least two more weeks (until the end of September) to have more elements to complete your report in a valuable and productive manner. Below, I will remind you of your options for submitting your report and include some examples you can use for inspiration. You can also find the guidelines afterward.

1. An essay as an observation report on a live concert: This assignment aims to think about the issues and events that you find intriguing concerning the topics discussed in class. It would be helpful to consider this 2-3 page assignment (double spaced; Times New Roman; 12 font;) as a magazine journalist. Students can look at this essay from music writer Amanda Petrusich (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/05/27/hit-me-hard-and-soft-billie-eilish-music-review). Students are not expected to write in that fashion but are encouraged to use it as a source of ideas.
2. Students might choose to create a photo essay (see example in: https://flemmingbojensen.com/2023/09/10/zar-paulo-northside-festival-2023-photo-essay/). Students are encouraged to report the story through the lenses of their phones, cameras, iPads, or any other available device. If you opt for this option, please discuss it with me in advance.
3. Students might choose to create a soundscape/sound walk or podcast to report on the selected concert.

• Although the options proposed above are the most expected, students are free to propose their own creative way to interpret and critically think about a live concert while using the analytical tools they have been acquiring in class. Ex: writing poetry, fiction (a short story), or non-fiction ( chronicles, journals, or personal essays). Video is also acceptable for this assignment, but the idea should be discussed with me beforehand.

The most important things to consider as you go to the concert with this assignment in mind are the following:

1. What is the venue like, what is the audience like, and what are the interactions between the musicians and the audience?
2. Why do you think it is important for this artist/band to perform in New York now?
3. Why is this band/artist influential? (if it is) And how would you explain that to someone who knows nothing about them?
4. What is the interaction between the musicians, and how do you think this interaction affects the music?
5. How does the sound system work? Is it good, and does it help the musicians sound better? Is it mediocre, and does it hinder the production of the music? Why?
6. Look at your syllabus. In which module of this course do you think we could discuss this group or artist?
7. DO NOT limit yourself to responding these questions. These are only a base for inspiration!

Here are some tips for writing the report (you don’t have to follow them exactly, but they are recommendations that will help you write a better report).

1. Bring a notebook to the concert with you. Write down what you see, what people say, what you hear them talking about, and the songs that are playing or any ideas that come to you as you listen in the environment.
2. If you are writing an essay, you may want to ask some questions to other attendees. For example, ask them what they like most about the artist, how long they have followed them, or how many times they have seen the artist. This can help you get more accurate data about the type of audience you are with.
3. If you are going to do a report that includes photography, before you take the photos, think about the sequence you want to achieve: is it going to be a chronicle of the event, a description of the concert decor, or a visual story about the interaction of the musicians with the audience. What is the story going to be about? Pay attention at the costumes, the gestures, the hands and feet of the musicians. Focus on details.
4. If you want to do a podcast think about how you want to tell the story through sound before you record.
5. Always take pictures. Even if you do not use them for the story, they can help you remember things as you write. Take photos, but don’t let them distract you. You could also make a short video, which can also help you remember things better when analyzing. Before writing, think about the best and worst (or not-so-good) moments of the concert. Make a list of the songs. Make a list of what you liked and didn’t like about the concert. Ask yourself about people’s reactions. Ask yourself about the attitude of the musicians. Don’t leave out your feelings. Reflect on them and try incorporating them into your concert writing and analysis. This would make the writing more personal and engaging.
   Before writing and even before attending the concert, you may want to read interviews with the artist/band. Learn about them and learn more about their discography. Know your territory.

-It is not important to draw conclusions. You may ask yourself questions that you leave unanswered. This is valuable.