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How to Write a Concert Review

MUS 121 typically uses concert reviews as a primary medium of writing. Concert reviews are structured as follows.

Introduction

Introduce concert title

• Concert titles are put in quotation marks in MLA
• Voi che is a work within an opera, and Le Nozzi is the opera

Give your overall impression of the concert

• Did you like the concert? Were there any aspects you did not like? Briefly mention this.

Outline structure of concert

• Talk about the songs played in the concert using their titles and composer names. Briefly describe how they sounded to you (i.e. jovial or somber).

Mention important names

• Mention any featured conductors or performers (especially with concertos).

Concert hard facts

Describe the ensemble’s instrumentation (and if it changes).

Talk about the song tone.

• Was the piece fast or slow? Did it emote a specific type of emotion? Were there many parts to the song?

Mention any extra anomalies that occurred (i.e. special announcements, strings breaking, or lighting issues).

Experience review

This is where you elaborate on how the concert made you feel, what types of emotions you thought the concert or a piece conveyed, talk about any images that it may have reminded you of, and any other ideas or opinions you experience in this setting.

Tie up any final thoughts, your opinion on your overall experience, and future ideas you may want to address at another concert.

Contributed by: Cameo Flores

Writing a Concert Review: Tips from a Conservatory Student

• Post author By Daniel Hagenbuch
• Post date February 15, 2022
• No Comments on Writing a Concert Review: Tips from a Conservatory Student

How do I write about the music I hear at a concert? 

Most undergraduate students will face this question at some point during their time at Wheaton, as Introduction to Music professors ask their students to submit written concert reviews. 

Introduction to Music (MUCS101) serves as a general education requirement for students outside of the conservatory of music. Dr. John Rakes, who has been on the Music faculty since 2014, describes this course as “a chronological-historical approach toward an understanding of music” with a specific focus on “great musical works of the Western tradition.” Dr. Rakes also highlights the value of developing a “coherent, Christ centered, theology of the Arts.” 

As part of this course, professors ask their classes to attend at least one concert during the quad. During these concerts, students must make detailed observations, as these descriptions form the basis of their concert review papers.

While attending a concert is an exciting event, many students may feel outside of their comfort zone when tasked with this type of writing assignment. Students will likely have questions such as…

What musical terms should I use to express the sounds I hear?

How do i best describe how the musicians appear on stage.

Some students may not even know where to start. They might have questions that include…

Where should I go to conduct my research?

How do I find concerts to attend?

Let’s address the last question first: How do I find concerts to attend?

One way to discover an upcoming concert is simply to walk around campus! As Publicity Manager of the Wheaton College Symphony Orchestra, I know that conservatory ensembles promote their performances by hanging posters all around campus. You can find plenty of concert options posted in the stairwells of Armerding or Lower Beamer.

Not all students are aware that the Conservatory of Music holds performances or “open recitals” every Thursday at 1:15pm that are open to all students. Open recitals last about 50 minutes and include performances by current music majors. If you are in class during this time however, no worries! There are plenty of other on campus concert opportunities.

Visit www.wheaton.edu/calendar-of-events to find a concert that interests you. Also, check out www.wheaton.edu/streaming to watch free live streams of music performances.

After attending a concert, students should gather background info and conduct additional research before writing their reviews. The program notes section of a recital or concert booklet is a good place to start, as this section often includes composer biographies with dates and brief summaries of the compositions performed. 

In addition, students should seek primary and secondary sources in order to write meaningful concert reviews. Physical copies of music resources including scores are located in the south half of Buswell’s lower level; here, you will find writings detailing the work of composers whose music you heard performed. 

If a concert features composers of the late 20th and 21st centuries, you may have better results conducting online research. Buswell’s music librarian Keith Eiten recommends using the “Music Index” search tool under Research Databases – or in the case of a living composer, visiting their personal website to gather information about their music. In some instances, the bottom of a composer’s Wikipedia page will have links to reputable sources such as newspaper articles or video interviews.

Now that you have conducted your research, it’s time to write your review. Some professors may request a concert review with two parts: a musical description and a personal analysis. According to Dr. Rakes, about half of the concert review should “describe what you experience, see, and hear.” The musical description portion should draw from your research of historical context and contain a discussion of musical elements present in the compositions.

Note that these directions do not ask for a personal opinion of the music! In casual conversation, college students are known to comment on music using phrases such as “it was good, I liked that song” or even “the vibes were chill,” but this informal language lacks the clarity and objectivity needed for writing an academic concert review. 

Instead, musicians tend to analyze pieces based on four main components found in music:

• Melody & harmony → These are elements related to pitch; we identify pitch by the highness or lowness of a sound. The melody in a piece of music is the most prominent sequence of notes, which often repeats throughout the piece. Harmony, meanwhile, takes the form of chords that support the melody.

Ex: When listening to the first movement of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major , I could hear the violin soloist playing the melody in a higher register with the orchestra supporting the soloist, playing lower harmonies.  

• Rhythm → Rhythm relates to the arrangement of musical sounds over a period of time. Composers usually organize rhythms into groups of beats that reflect a meter: a way of establishing pulse in music (you can tap your foot along to a steady pulse).

Ex: I sensed a regular pulse throughout much of the symphony’s fourth movement due to the steady offbeats in the horns.

• Texture → Texture describes the number of independent lines in a piece of music, which often correlates to the size of an ensemble. For instance, a symphony orchestra will have a thicker texture than a piano solo with a more thin sounding texture.

Ex: During the performance of Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major , I noticed that the music had a mostly thin texture with only a few musical lines, a common trait of the classical period.

• Timbre → Pronounced “tam-ber,” timbre focuses on the sound quality of instruments in a piece of music. Some examples of timbre include balanced, bright, and dark sounds. Generally, higher pitched instruments (flute, glockenspiel) will have brighter timbres.

Ex: In Debussy’s La Mer , I observed that the most prominent melodies were given to the upper voices (violins, flutes, oboes, trumpets) of the orchestra, creating a brighter timbre.

With these concepts in mind combined with your research findings, you can provide a more detailed account of your concert experience. When listening to a piece, see if you can identify which instruments have the melody, whether the meter is steady or unclear, and what timbre or tone color certain instruments produce. Does a composer write repeated rhythms for the violas? Does the bassoon ever get the melody? Take note of features like these in the music and incorporate these thoughts into your concert review.

Finally, a concert review should recap observations seen from the audience’s perspective with regard to the musicians on stage. For example, some observations may include the uniformity of attire across members of an ensemble, a conductor’s varied gestures, the synchronized movements of a string section, or the facial expressions of a brass player. Do the musicians read from sheet music or do they have their music memorized? You can address how the musicians are positioned on the stage; perhaps seats are configured in a semicircle around the conductor or vocalists stand on several sets of risers. If a concert has an intermission, try sitting in a new location to get a different view of the stage.

Some concert reviews for Introduction to Music may also require a section demonstrating how the concert has made a personal impact: the analysis half of the review. Be sure to raise any questions you have about the performance in this section along with connections to other past experiences. Maybe the conductor shared a surprising story about the music or you have questions about the text from a vocal piece. At times, the style of one composer’s music may reflect that of another composer; for instance, Stravinsky’s 1924 piano sonata may remind you of a Bach invention. Think about how the pieces of music compare to your listening habits – what do the composers have in common with your favorite artists?

Music is a communal activity

Although not everyone has musical training or plays a musical instrument, the ability to engage with music is not restricted to a certain group of people. By reading, writing, and listening to music, we become participants in the activity of music. In fact, author and musicologist Christopher Small uses the term “musicking” and claims that music is a verb, not a noun . When we write about music, we are invited on stage, as writing empowers us to become part of the performance.

I encourage you to support Wheaton’s student musicians by attending recitals and concerts. We love sharing our music with you and we’re always delighted to have you join us!

Works Cited:

Small, Christopher. Musicking : the Meanings of Performing and Listening. Hanover: University Press of New England, 1998.

• Tags analysis , community , concert review , conservatory , events , harmony , introduction to music , john rakes , keith eiten , melody , music , research , texture , timbre

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How to Write a Concert Review Essay

Concert reviews are a great way to share your thoughts about an event. It’s also easy to write one when you know how. In this post, we’ll walk through the steps for writing a concert review essay and provide examples to help you get started on yours.

What is a Concert Review Essay?

A concert review is a piece of writing that shares your thoughts on your experience at a concert. These writing assignments are used to describe, analyze and evaluate an event that you have attended.  

This can be a live music performance or any other entertainment event. Ideally, you can’t write one about listening to an album or watching a movie.

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A concert review essay will usually include;

• An introduction details what happened, who performed, where they performed, and an explanation of how many people attended the event.
• A focus on how well the performers sounded and whether or not they impressed you with their performance style and sound. You might also mention how crowded it was at the venue or how much fun everyone seemed to be having during this part of your post. That way, readers know if this was worth their time and yours.

The Structure of a Concert Review Essay

A concert review essay comprises an introduction, body, and conclusion like any other essay. These parts have different components which characterize the paper and make it different from any other piece of writing.

The introduction introduces the concert, helps to hook readers, and provides a general feel of the show. Generally, it is an overall description of the event detailing its name and your general thoughts about it.  

The body of the concert review essay will be about your personal experience at the show. The main point of this part is to explain how you felt during each song and what kind of mood it put you in. You can also focus on how well-experienced the band was or their creative process before they performed.

The conclusion informs readers why you will attend the next one or not and whether the concert lived up to its expectations. This part is also used to wrap up the essay and make conclusion remarks

Tips for Writing a Concert Review Essay

Concert review essays are a great way to express your opinion about a concert you attended. It can also be used to share your experience with others who have not been to the show.

If you are writing a concert review essay, the following tips will help you write an excellent concert review essay.

Choose the event

Before you start writing, consider your overall impression of the show. This can include the venue, the audience and how they reacted, the bands themselves, and their performances. Start by introducing your topic with a hook or quote, then expand on your thoughts about each area in turn

When choosing the event you want to write about, there are several factors to consider. First and foremost, it should be something that you remember well. You should also ensure your concert review is a topic that resonates with you on some level.

This can be because of the performer or another association with the concert. Finally, since this essay is supposed to be about your experience at a live performance, you must pick an event or show that was actually attended by yourself or someone close to you in an effort of authenticity and honesty.

Use descriptive words

Descriptive words are action words that help paint a picture of what you’re writing about. They’re essential in concert reviews because they make your writing more vivid and interesting. Using descriptive words can help the reader see what you’re describing through their imagination.

In addition, these words are the best way to create an image for your reader. The more detail you provide, the better. Remember that when you write a concert review essay, the purpose is to give readers a sense of what it was like to be there. So don’t be afraid to use adjectives and adverbs in your writing.

Ideally, write from the point of describing the event to someone who has never been there. With this imagination, you must tell everything and bring a vivid picture to your reader’s eyes and ears.  

For example, the following sentences are ideal.

• “The first thing I noticed was that they had two drum sets. One was a standard drum kit, and another was off to one side that looked more like a trap set.”
• “They all had long hair, except for their drummer, who has short hair with a mullet style haircut!”
• “The music they played sounded great; it had a reggae beat mixed with heavy metal guitar riffs.”

Use emotional words to show the emotional impact

The use of emotional words is one of the must-dos in concert review essays. This means you should be able to connect emotionally with your readers by using words that show emotion.  

If a song is sad, write about it being “so sad” or “the saddest.” If a piece is happy, write about how it made you feel. If you are angry at an artist for something they did, use strong language to describe this emotion.

The reason for using strong words and phrases is that they give your reader a better idea of what it was like to attend the concert. It also helps them relate to you more quickly if they have similar feelings when they listen to music.

The best way to bring out the emotions and connect with your readers is by being honest about how you feel after listening to certain songs or artists. If you do this, you will be able to connect with your audience in a way that makes them feel like they are experiencing what you are experiencing. They will also understand why they should care about what happened or didn’t happen at the concert.

Use imagery

Imagery is one of the most powerful writing techniques for writers to connect with their audience. It entails using words that appeal to the senses, can be seen in your mind’s eye, and can be a great way to get your readers involved and interested in what you have to say.

The more visual your writing is, the more memorable it will be. Further, you should use similes and metaphors to make connections between things that are not alike on the surface. This will help your reader understand what you’re talking about in ways that words alone can’t accomplish.

Also, include sensory details because by describing what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, or felt during an event or experience, you allow your reader to experience what you did, whether good or bad.

While concert reviews are a fantastic way to showcase your writing skills, they can also be a bit challenging to write. This is because you must keep your audience and the artist performing in mind.  

Despite the challenge, it’s possible to grab your readers’ attention from the very first sentence of your review and hold it until the end by employing a few simple techniques. And now that you have finished reading this blog post, you know how to make your next concert review stand out from those already published.

Concert Review - Free Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

An essay on a concert review can provide a critical evaluation of a musical performance. It can discuss the music genre, the artists’ performances, the venue, and the audience’s reactions. The essay can delve into the emotional impact of the music and the cultural significance of the concert in the context of the music industry. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Concert Review you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Concert Review: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in a Major, K.622

'Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622' Is intoxicating. the time for this concert is happen at September 10th 2015. and the location is Harpa concert hall and conference centre. The piece was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the 1791 for clarinetist Anton Paul Stadler. Mozart is a world renowned musician and prolific composer, and this is one of Mozart's last completed works as well as his last pure instrumental work. The piece was given to Anton […]

Concert Review: the Concert of Romeo Santos

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Classical Music Concert at LACMA: a Symphony of Youth

The Youthful Ensemble: American Youth Symphony Principals Quartet On the evening of October 2nd, 2018, I attended my second live concert music experience. This was the night of Game 3 of the Major League Baseball World Series. My Boston Red Sox were battling against my hometown team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. I chose my second music experience over baseball, which to me, seemed like a well-worth experience. However, my wife, a huge Boston Red Sox fan, stayed home. Nonetheless, I […]

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Concert Review: Johann Sebastian Bach’s B Minor Mass

Johann Sebastian Bach’s B Minor Mass was performed on August 2nd, 2012 in the Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Prom 26. It was performed by the English Concert and Choir under the direction of Harry Bicket. The concert is broken into several sections, including the Kyrie, the Credo, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei, which each have many pieces within them. The music in the concert originates from the Baroque era and many of the musicians specialize in the […]

Jazz Concert Review: Chucho Valdes’ Afro-Cuban Fusion at Lugano Estival 2015

I decided to watch and analyze the performance by Chucho Valdes live at the Lugano Estival Jazz in Piazza Riforma in Switzerland on July 9, 2015. Jazz Concert Overview The performance starts with a musician solely playing a catchy rhythm on the batás while everyone else waits to join in. He seems very focused and passionate about his instrument, and that has everyone intrigued. It is an awe-inspiring solo that showcases his skill and dedication as a musician. The rhythm […]

About a Musical Concert at the Organ Recital Hall at Colorado State University

I attended a musical concert at the Organ Recital Hall at Colorado State University on Tuesday, September 18th at 8am. I found myself astonished by the different styles of music performed. I appreciate the time and dedication the musicians took out of their time to help my class observe and analyze their recitations. The first piece of music, Canzona per Sonare No. 2 by Giovanni Gabrielli, performed by the CSU Graduate Brass Quintet started the morning with a bright and […]

Classical Music Concert Review and Wolfgang Mozart’s

The first movement of Wolfgang Mozart’s piece Eine Kleine Nachtmusik affords numerous aspects of what is being used during the classical duration of the music. The recording that was made with the aid of the Prague Chamber Orchestra is an excellent way to hear all of the classical points in the first movement. The first movement is the first tune on the album that was once posted in 1985. While it has a brilliant recording of the movement, it is […]

Concert Review: Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras of Strathmore

The name of the group that performed is Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras of Strathmore. The MCYO Chamber Ensemble performs without a conductor, entirely led by the students themselves. The MYCO Harp Ensemble's director Monika Vasey stood in front of the girls and acted as a conductor but it does not specify that she is a conductor, so I am not sure if she in fact was conducting the harp players. The concert was April 10, 2018 at 6:00pm. The concert […]

My Impression of the Concert i Attended in the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

The concert I attended was in the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Friday, November 16, 2018 in San Francisco. I went to go see a Swedish duo better known as the EDM Galantis. Whether the Galantis performs at a major music festival, a massive dance club, or a top-notch music venue, they never fail to get the dance party started.They are very upfront with their sound then the vocal portion of their sets. They tend to focus more on the rhythm […]

Concert Review: a String Concert at the Cooper Center Auditorium Located in the South Texas College Campus

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Musical Review of “Les Misérables En Concert à Paris”

Les Misérables in concert retrace the key moments of the novel 'Les Misérables' by Victor Hugo. This story is a social and philosophical fresco in four volumes that tells the story and the life course of several characters that intersect. The author tells the story of a convict, Jean Valjean (Xavier Mauconduit), who will try all his life to escape his past convict, after a prison sentence of 5 years which he was sentenced for the theft of a bread. […]

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• A Research Guide
• Writing Guide
• Assignment Writing

How to Write an Interesting Concert Review?

Reviewers’ Background Knowledge

What do your readers want to know, writing style.

 “Sonorous pedals, a tender melody, freshness of musical sound, a deep bassoon solo, mellow horn chorale.”

How Can You Write a Good Concert Review?

Pre-writing phase, read the instructions, note down your observations, make a list of compositions, review musicians, observe the audiences, review writing, review introduction,  review description.

Useful information: Find some great evaluation essay examples .

 Conclusion

Bottom line.

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A quick and easy guide to writing concert reviews

How to write a concert review in six eight nine easy steps!

Concert reviews can provide valuable experience to the beginning writer. Here are some steps and pro tips for reviews that will serve fans and non-fans alike. 

Done right, the concert review provides a valuable service. Part reportage, part boosterism, a concert review can give both fans and non-fans a glimpse of what it’s like to see a musician or band in action. A review can also validate and/or illuminate (or not) the concert experience for those who were there.

For budding music journalists (or arts reporters in general), covering a show is fairly straightforward writing practice. Unlike an album review, say, a concert review requires no particular point-of-view, i.e. critical thinking. Nor is it necessary to talk to anyone, as one would have to for an interview/profile piece.

Using journalistic skills like research, observation, and note-taking, the writer can approach a show review  as an exercise in straight reportage.  (Of course, the writer chooses the facts and observations. So some perspective and context are involved.)  Applying these skills to a form that attracts enthusiasm more than technique immediately elevates your review above 90 percent of the others on the internet. 

Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer paying gigs for the prospective concert reviewer. Daily newspapers only cover the biggest arena- and stadium-filling shows. Weeklies, those that survive, devote less and less space to them. Blogs and online magazines have taken up the slack, somewhat, but most can offer only a concert ticket (with a plus-one if you’re lucky).

It’s a labour of love, concert reviewing. On the plus side: experience; a ticket to a show; and maybe a life-changing experience.

Step-by-step concert review writing guide

Choose a show by a musician or band that you know.

A no-brainer, maybe. But it does help to have at least some knowledge/interest in the subject. And if you enjoy the artist’s work, you may be more inspired and energized when it comes time to sit down and write the damn thing. On the other hand, don’t let your prior knowledge lull you into thinking that the reader knows what you know. As an editor, I can’t count the number of times a reviewer has mentioned a song as though the reader should know something about it. Also, don’t get carried away by your enthusiasm. Save the poetry for your journal. Unless you’re an actual poet .

Do some research

You can do this after the show. But I recommend researching beforehand. You may or may not use what you learn but at least you have a few facts in your back pocket.

When researching, here are a few things to look for:

• The latest release. Is it an album, an EP, a song, a video, an art installation? Find out. The show/tour is probably in support of it. You’ll want to be familiar with the new product if only to be able to authoritatively drop song titles into the review. Pro tip: reach out to the band’s publicist (if they have one) for a digital copy. The publicist’s email can usually be found in the “about” section of the artist’s Facebook page.

• The tour. Did the artist just roll out of bed? Try to find out if the show that you are reviewing is at the beginning, middle or end. Usually, if it’s the beginning or end it will be relevant to the review. Even if it’s just a random date in the middle, it might account for a lack-lustre show. Dropping this kind of info into the review is just the kind of thing to give you credibility with the reader.

• Names. Try to find out the names of everyone in the band, if there’s a replacement musician for the tour etc. This is another detail that lends your review credibility. An artist’s homepage is usually less up-to-date in this regard than a Facebook page.

• The opener. It’s not necessary to see the opener, or to include in your review. However, I recommend catching at least a few minutes of their set. It’s worth writing about the opener if they’re a) local, b) extremely good or bad, and/or c) blowing up in some way (i.e. a YouTube video going viral). You don’t want to be the reviewer who missed the Next Big Thing because you were too lazy to get your ass down to the venue in time.

I cannot emphasize this enough. Nothing separates the amateur from the pro like a notepad. Do these ramblings have to be legible? No. Just the act of writing stuff down helps you remember .

For note-taking, I prefer the old-fashioned way, a lined notepad to a cellphone. Sure, it looks dorky, but it’s also empowering—like wearing a fedora with a “Press” card in the hatband. (Okay, maybe that’s not that empowering.) Whatever you decide, here are some things to note of:

• how many people were onstage? What did they play? Did they switch instruments? Was it one guy with a laptop?

• what were some of the songs played? If you’re not sure, write down some lyrics so you can Google them later. Or ask the nearest rabid fan who is mouthing the words.

• were there any guests? I.e., did Courtney Love show up and disrupt the set ?

• were any cover songs included?

• what was the energy like on the part of the performer(s), on the part of the audience? Did it change?

• did anyone say anything memorable between songs? Of course not, they’re musicians. Still, including some between-song banter again scores credibility points (there’s no algorithm for this as yet, unfortunately). Incorporating quotes is also another handy journalism technique that requires practice before it becomes second nature. Plus, quotes breaks up the copy.

• how many people in the audience? Was the show packed, sold-out, half-full? Were they begging people to come in off the streets? How is this different from the last time the same act played in town?

• Was there anything interesting/unusual about the stage set-up?

Pro tip: never mind about the sound. No one cares.

Arrive early (but not too early). Stay until the end

Your ride is leaving, buses stop running soon, you can’t afford a cab, the bouncers have your boyfriend down on the ground and are kicking his ribs in. It doesn’t matter: stay until the end. You don’t want to find out later that the band had a fistfight onstage.

If you do have to leave, make a note of it in the review. However, be aware that your credibility score is at risk in the mind of the reader.

Likewise, arrive early. I mentioned catching the opening band(s). But an early arrival also lets you stake out a decent spot. It also gives you a chance to take stock of your fellow-concertgoers, the venue, the stage set-up, etc.

Work on the review ASAP

As soon as you can, take ten minutes to write about the show—general impressions, what stood out, general description as though you were describing it to a friend, anything that comes to mind. Try not to consult your notes. Then, sleep on it. You’ll be amazed to find, when you sit down to writing the actual review, how much of the work has been done. Not to mention, you may wake up with some additional thoughts. The notes you make directly after the event is usually the stuff that stays (and slays).

Write a second (and third) draft

As above, this is more of a general writing rule. For many writers, the first draft is only a starting-point. Get it all down, then see what can be cut. See what can be moved around. See what’s necessary and what can go. Work on a through-line; does the end flow naturally from the beginning?

Pro tip: write the first draft in a rush. Then cut the first three or four paragraphs and let the review begin at this new starting point. If there was any important info in those first three paras, you can include later in the review. Often, in a first draft the first three paras are full of either factual (“The band is on its third album”) or personal (“I arrived at the venue but had to stand in line for an hour”) info that can (and should) be excised.

Assume the reader knows nothing

Just because you know that the singer’s new song went viral on Snapchat doesn’t mean your reader does. Write so that both fan and the uninformed can get something out of the review. Include enough detail for the former and enough general info for the latter.

Write in third-person

First-person reviews are okay for a blog. But writing in third-person guards against the review becoming too much about the reviewer. (This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. This Butthole Surfers in Vancouver concert review is written in first person and sort of works.) And a review written in the third-person reads more professionally—the writer comes across not just as some gushing fan but as someone who’s done his/her homework.

Pro tip: If I’m writing a review and find it absolutely necessary to bring in my personal bias, I will instead refer to myself as “this reviewer.” I.e.: “The fans loved it, but for this reviewer, the addition of a 20-minute version of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ sung by children in angels’ costumes was over-the-top.”

When stuck, follow this simple, easy-to-use template

Stuck? Here is how I would break down a review.

1st (and maybe 2nd para)—A grabby opener. Something dramatic or interesting/unusual. This could be something about the artist, or the tour, or the show. Or it could be a moment during the evening. It could be a particularly telling bit of audience interaction (“Without warning, Chris Martin jumped into the audience”) or dramatic/humourous incident in the performance (“Midway through the set, Martin broke down and told us about his mom”).

2nd, 3rd and/or 4th paras—Actual info/context. This is where your research comes into play. I.e.: “With their viral video, Mouthbastard is the hottest band out of Salt Lake City since the Trepanning Satanists”), context of the show (part of a tour for a new album), even lineup (“This was Groper’s first show since the loss of their founding tympani player, Hiram Phinbottom”).

4th and 5th paragraphs—Songs played, atmosphere of show, individual musicianship, highlights, low-lights (this is where, if you have one, you can express your opinion), onstage banter, crowd interaction. Remember those notes?

6th para—Wrap-up. Sometimes the hardest para. It’s easy to slip into cliché here: “Hopefully, they’ll be back again soon” is a standard and deathly dull way to wrap things up. In a well-constructed review, the end will tie-in (perhaps answering a question) with the opening paragraph, and conclude the arc of the review.

Random notes:

Genres—Most of my experience is writing rock/pop concert reviews. Most of the same rules apply, however. Exceptions are hip-hop and EDM shows, which as younger genres come with a different set of expectations. I.e., it’s perfectly acceptable for artists in either genre to rely on pre-recorded music, something that is (or would have been) anathema at a rock show.

Photos—You can try taking your own, if you can get close enough (or if you have a good enough camera). You can also make friends with a photog at the show—identifiable by his or her large camera—and ask if you can use a photo. Most will say yes, as long as you credit them. I wouldn’t recommend downloading random live shots from Google images as these are the property of the photographer and/or artist. You can also request publicity images from the band’s publicist or reach out to the concert promoter to see if they have any images you can use.

Style guides—If you’re writing for a publication, make sure you know their style guidelines, especially when it comes to things like song titles (in quotations?) and album titles (italicized)?

Check in with yourself—During the performance, periodically ask yourself what you are experiencing. Are you mesmerized, or are you thinking about that load of laundry you forgot to take out of the dryer?

Fact-check EVERYTHING. But this really goes for any piece of writing. Also, proofread, and look for clichés.

Run everything through the Hemingway app . This will help you avoid passive sentences, unnecessary adverbs and lengthy sentences (something or which many of us, including me, have a tendency towards).

Next: how to write a press release

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Amazing Concert Review: How to Start?

Reviews are probably the most casual types of written assignments because they combine both: reporting on an issue and providing your own opinion. Its main goal is to evaluate and provide information on the regular events: shopping at the mall and judging the quality of items, watching a movie or reading a new book . Every time we do something we judge people, atmosphere or plot even without noticing it.

Luckily, reviews are so different in shapes and topics that they don’t have a common structure. There are many genres that students may choose: evaluating musicals, movies, books, TV shows, places and much more! However, the main goal remains the same: to give an evaluation of the chosen topic.

It may seem quite a simple task to provide your own ideas and judgments on the topic. Although there are still many rules that you should follow, all of the claims must be supported with evidence. It is not simply an interpretation of the topic but also arguments-based research on the chosen issue.  You need to make the reader believe your point of view.

Concert review is not the most common assignment students may get. You should describe not only musicians but also evaluate location, time, atmosphere and even response of the audience. In addition, you need to compare the chosen concert with other concerts to give readers a broader picture of the topic.

If you have troubles writing a concert review or it is actually your first review of such kind, go on reading, and essay writing company will give you all the tips you should know for a great result!

Understanding Background Knowledge of Your Audience

To write a catchy and interesting review, you should not only provide a chronology of events but also analyze the musical genre, have a solid understanding of the theory and various musical styles.

Another important element before getting started is to know your audience. For example, if you are writing for teenagers, you need to concentrate on describing the performers: their outlook, behavior, dialogues and so on. However, if you write the review for your teachers, it is better to write about the composition, plot, engaged interests, and expression to show how well you have mastered the genre.

What Does Your Audience Want to Know?

In most cases, readers are interested in getting the general picture of the concert and its impact on the writer. However, if you are writing for people, who have a deep understanding and interest of musical genres, pedagogy, and instruments, don’t forget to include those details to your review.

If you are writing for an audience that is interested in technical aspects, write about the scene, location, light, sound, and other important details. However, there are things which all of the readers not depending on their interests are willing to know: whether the instruments were appropriate for the piece, how the audience reacted and so on.

Your Writing Style

Information you provide is not the only thing that matters. You should be equally attentive to the way you express your ideas in order to engage the reader. When writing a concert review, you should be both formal and informal .

Try to avoid personal pronouns, like ‘I,’ ‘you’ and ‘your’: they always show that you are subjective on the topic and the readers may doubt whether your opinion should be trusted.

In addition, if you want to make your review professional and catchy, you need to avoid clichés and general terms, like ‘interesting.’ Try to find synonyms instead, for example, ‘appealing’ or ‘outstanding.’

How to Write a Remarkable Concert Review?

If you want to get a high grade and to engage the reader, understanding music and listening to various concerts is a must. Your ability to put impression into words is one of the key features you need to master if you expect a great result.

Writing a concert review consists of two stages: on the first one you need to attend the event or listen to the audio, and on the second you need to write everything down.  Below we have collected all of the stages and elements you need to include to your concert review.

Stages of Pre-writing

Carefully read guidelines.

Concert review is quite a vivid assignment, so greatly depends on circumstances and requirements. For example, if you are writing for a teacher, you need to follow a particular formatting style and to make sure to include all of the required elements. However, if you are writing a paper article, it is important to know the audience.

Get the Tickets Beforehand

To make sure that you get the best seats, from where the scene and performers will be clearly seen, it is better to buy the tickets well in advance.

Make Notes During the Concert

This is one of the most challenging but yet important stages because the quality of your review greatly depends on how well you will write down all of the important details. Remember, you need to pay attention not only to the concert itself but also to the time and location, clothes of musicians, lighting, general atmosphere and much more. You can also make notes on the dialogues on stage and among visitors.

Write Down Performed Compositions

It is important to provide readers with information on what compositions made up the concert. If you miss any of the pieces, it is better to contact concert managers and to get a list of the compositions that were played. Later in your text, you can tell which of them you liked more and why.

Tell About the Musicians

You need to write down your impressions from performers. Where they good or bad? However, back your opinion with reasons why you consider performers good, average or bad. Make notes whether performers shared powerful energy with the audience. Don’t forget to notice gestures, mimics and other important details on stage.

Additionally, concentrate on the leading singers: were they confident? How well did they interact with the audience? Did they use all space on stage?

Examine the Audience

It is a well-known fact that part of the performance depends on how well the audience responds. Of course, you need to focus on musicians, but there is also a need to notice the mood of the audience.

Not depending on the goal of your concert review, your readers will be interested in the concert atmosphere, so make notes on the audience, its quantity, age and response to the concert.

Writing Stage

The second stage starts right after you leave the concert and must contain the following elements:

Introduction

In the first part of your review, you need to provide all of the important details considering the concert — for example, its title and date, venue, names of musicians and ensembles. You can also give details on the location to provide readers with a broader picture. This is especially important for readers, who are not familiar with the area. You also need to mention whether the concert took place in the evening or at night.

Description

Main paragraphs of your review must contain a description of various compositions that were played during the concert. Here is when your notes come in hand. Devote a separate paragraph to every composition or aspect you want to highlight.

The format of your description greatly depends on the musical genre, but you should still mention composition’s title, name of the composer and information on the audience’s reaction on the discussed piece.

Evaluation section is the heart of your review because it contains your personal opinion based on the information you have provided in the previous body paragraphs. Here you should tell readers about the general experience of the concert. Tell the audience whether it was worth seeing or not. What made it different from other similar events? Here you can also include information about musicians, interesting facts, history and so on.

In this part, you must provide both positive and negative thoughts on the performance. Was there anything that the concert lacked? What things could improve the show?

In the evaluation section, you should also tell about the audience’s response. What songs or musicians got more applauds? Don’t forget to evaluate the organization of the event. It is also important to tell about the quality of music and sound, as well as of musical instruments. You can also compare the live and the studio versions: were they very different? Which one was better?

The closing paragraph of your review must be a summary of your experience and impression of the concert. In this section, you can mention whether the concert met your expectations. Remember that conclusion is for summarizing and not for providing any new information and details.

Closing Thoughts

Writing a concert review is quite different from other writing assignments, and it may take lots of time and preparation. Your main goal is to experience different emotions and then to render them to your target audience. If you want to create a great review, it is important to have a deep understanding of music and to understand format peculiarities. Hopefully, the tips above will be of great help!

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Essay Samples on Concert Review

A concert review essay is a type of writing that requires a detailed and descriptive analysis of a music concert. To write such kind of an essay, one needs to be well-versed in the musical genre being reviewed and have a good understanding of music theory. A concert review essay should include a description of the music played, the performers, and the venue.

When writing a concert report essay, it is important to pay attention to the overall atmosphere of the concert, including the stage design, lighting, and sound quality. It is also important to mention the audience’s reactions and interaction with the performers.

To give an example, a review of a recent rock concert might include a description of the opening act, the headlining band, and their setlist. The essay could also include a critique of the musicians’ performance, such as their ability to play their instruments, their stage presence, and their interaction with the audience.

Overall, a concert review essay should provide a detailed and informative account of the concert experience. By including specific details and observations, the essay can provide valuable insights and recommendations to readers who may be interested in attending future concerts. Here, on WritingBros, you can browse a list of various essay prompts and find your perfect concert review essay example in this section.

Music Concert: The David Oistrakh String Quartet

A concerto, or concerti in the plural, is a musical composition dating back to the 1750s by the use of instruments and three primary movements whereby a concert band or orchestra accompanies one solo instrument or a group of soloists. The ensembles or soloists relate...

• Classical Music
• Concert Review

University of Michigan Symphony Band Concert Evaluation

On November 22nd, 2019, I attended the University of Michigan Symphony Band in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The location was at the Hill Auditorium, and I am familiar with that auditorium due to my high school graduation taking place there. The symphony was direct by none...

• Performance

Piano Concerto in A Major, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

From the Baroque era in the 17th century to the modern times of today, music has continued to change and is still evolving every day. In this essay, I will identify two concert excerpts for comparison and contrast. The concert I analyzed from the Baroque...

The Review of the Country Music Concert

I attended a Dierks Bentley concert on August 23rd, 2019. The concert was held at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois. I found the venue to be very fitting for the artist and his method of performance. It was outdoors and still rather...

• Country Music

The Concert Review of the Poet of the Piano: Celebrating Clara

The concert was called the Poet of The Piano: Celebrating Clara Schumann at 200.This took place at Founder’s Hall in Saint Francis college on October 28th, 2019. The music that was listed on the program can best be described as classical music from the romantic...

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Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera Concert Review

On Friday, March 1st at 8PM, I watched Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at the Benedum Center. This concert hall is very large and can seat around three thousand people. There are two levels of seating, the main...

Concert Review of the String Quartet Performance

A string quartet performance can pack a concentrated punch of joyful music. It might involve a deeply meditative moment or the exhilaration of four stringed instruments in soaring flight. Jax Cello Quartet concerts at Jacksonville University by two dynamic string quartets delivered all of the...

Concert Report: Wide Open Bluegrass Festival

For my concert report, I attended the Wide Open Bluegrass festival in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 29th. I arrived around four o’clock, four hours after the festival had opened up. The main stage was located at the Red Hat Amphitheater, there were other small...

Best topics on Concert Review

1. Music Concert: The David Oistrakh String Quartet

2. University of Michigan Symphony Band Concert Evaluation

3. Piano Concerto in A Major, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

4. The Review of the Country Music Concert

5. The Concert Review of the Poet of the Piano: Celebrating Clara

6. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera Concert Review

7. Concert Review of the String Quartet Performance

8. Concert Report: Wide Open Bluegrass Festival

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Concert Review: A String Recital

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• Topic: College Students , Concert Review

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