concert report

Concert Report
Music Appreciation MUSC 010A
Introduction:
As a course about music, one of the most important things we will be doing is experiencing music “in the wild’ – going to concerts and performances and considering what we see, hear, and feel there. You will be attending two different performances and reporting objectively (who, what, when, where, why, how…), subjectively (personal reactions and feelings), and critically (applying concepts and ideas we have covered in class to your experiences).
However (and here we have a huge HOWEVER)
You won’t be attending a live concert. You will need to select a concert video and write your report as you would have for a live concert.
IMPORTANT: The concert video you select must be more than 30 minutes long. Include a link in your bibliography using proper citation format.
Word Count:
750+ words
Goals:
Experience music, especially music that you might not otherwise experience
Reflect on what you experienced and contextualize it using information gained from your lectures and readings.
Outcomes:
Practice effective writing techniques, using the course grading rubric found in your syllabus and SJSU GE writing expectations as your guide. (If you have trouble with writing mechanics, don’t hesitate to use the SJSU writing center for help and advice.)
Utilize critical thinking to shape your thought process and writing.
Gain experience listening to a range of music and understanding what you hear.
Instructions:
First, find a concert video online. It must be more than 30 minutes in length. This can be on YouTube, Netflix, Hulu… most streaming services have a number of concert videos available. Look for one of an artist you may not have experienced before.
I have listed a few below but you do not have to choose from this list alone. Feel free to explore and find other options that pique your interest!
Some options include:
Stop Making Sense
Nirvana Live at the Paramount
Concert for George
Gorillaz Demon Days Live
Once you have decided on your concerts, prepare to take some notes while you are there. Remember that you will want to write objectively, subjectively, and critically.
As you take notes, consider Christopher Small’s question “What is going on here?” Also useful are the journalist’s “who, what, when, where, why, how”. Questions to ask yourself include: Who is performing? Who is in the audience? What is the music and genre? What are the pieces and composers? Where is the venue? What does the stage look like? What are performers and audience members wearing? How are audience members reacting? Why do they react the way they do?
Consider your subjective observations. How does this music make me feel? How does it seem to make other audience members feel? Does this remind me of any other musical experiences? Do you enjoy the music?
Finally, and most importantly, consider how the music you are hearing relates to themes, concepts, and ideas we have covered in class. What sorts of musical elements are you hearing? What instruments are included? What region of the world is this music from?
I will be grading based on the rubric attached and will be looking for a report that includes objective (what you experience) descriptions, subjective (how you feel/respond) reflections, and critical (what you think) reactions.

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