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).
Word Count:
750 word maximum for each report, with grade lowered for word counts below 675
Instructions:
One concert should be a performance of Western classical music, and the other can be a performance of your choice.
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 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 type of neighborhood is the venue in? 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?
Try to take a few notes in the concert, but also give yourself time to just listen and enjoy as well. Once the concert is over and you are home, jot down as many notes as you can, so you don’t forget anything, and from those notes, start writing.
I will be grading based on the rubric available below and will be looking for a well-written report that includes objective (what you experience) descriptions, subjective (how you feel/respond) reflections, and critical (what you think) reactions.
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Pretend you attended this concert below
The “piazza” — or town square — is central to everyday life in the small towns and bustling cities of Italy. From antiquity to today, these cobblestoned public spaces have been at the heart of civic life, and many are home to breathtaking works of sculpture and architecture the likes of which you’d see in a world-class museum. In this live screening of his second PBS special at Hammer Theatre in San Jose, Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito performs in some of Italy’s most celebrated piazzas for a cultural experience that’s part concert, part history and all “dolce vita”. He will be accompanied by the San Jose State University’s Orchestra conducted by Fred Cohen, with surprise special guests!
Date/Time
Date(s) – October 13, 2018
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm