WHAT TO EXPECT AT A CONCERT Young People's Concerts |
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| . |  Before the Concert Going to a concert is not like going to a movie. There are real people on the stage, and just as you can see and hear them, they can see and hear you. When you enter the concert hall, there may be some musicians already on stage. They are tuning their instruments and warming up, much as athletes warm up before a big meet. The difference is that the musicians need to be able to hear what they are doing, so it is important for the audience not to get too loud. While you are waiting for the concert to begin, you can read over the program and program notes to learn more about what you are about to hear. It is also a good idea to review what you know about the instruments of the orchestra and where they will be located on the stage. You will know that the concert is about to begin when the concertmaster walks out onto the stage. The concertmaster is the last member of the orchestra to arrive on stage. She or he plays violin, and sits in the chair just to the left of the conductor. The concertmaster helps to tune the orchestra by asking the oboe player to play an "A." Usually the brass and woodwinds tune first; they make sure the "A" they play on their instruments matches the oboe's "A". Next the strings tune. When everyone is ready, they are quiet. Then the conductor will come out on stage, and you may clap. Often the concertmaster will stand and signal the entire orchestra to stand. This is a way to honor the conductor, and also to acknowledge the audience's applause. During the Concert When you watch a live concert, it is not the same as watching a concert on TV. Remember: the performers can hear you! If you make noise or wiggle a lot, it distracts the performers and makes it hard for the musicians to hear each other, and it interferes with the music for the people around you. You will know when to clap at the end of a piece because the conductor always lowers her or his arms and turns around. Sometimes the conductor will lower her or his arms, and the music will stop, but the conductor will not turn around. This is not the right time to clap, because it means there are more sections, or movements, of the same piece to be played. When the piece is completely over, the conductor always turns around and bows. When you clap, or "applaud," you are telling the musicians that you are glad they played for you. Even if you didn't like the music that much, it's nice to thank the musicians for playing. After the Concert You will have a lot to talk about after the concert. Which pieces did you like best? Were you able to see all the instruments? Was the concert what you expected? We would love to hear how you enjoyed the concert. Sometimes it's fun to draw or paint your impressions of the concert. Please send us pictures or letters and tell us what you think. |