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 Photo credits (from left): SONY Classical, Scott Ferguson, Tina Tahir 2012-2013 is CAMA's 94th Concert Season |
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Current Events {1} Check out CAMA′s 94th Concert Season: 2012-2013: Superstar Recitals & World-Class Orchestras. {2} Season Subscriptions on sale now! Exclusive Radio Sponsor for CAMA′s 2012-2013 Season |
Community Arts Music Association (CAMA) CONCERT ETIQUETTE Classical Music Audience Etiquette For classical music concerts, there are a few guidelines for audience etiquette that you can be aware of. (Etiquette means what is considered good manners.) You can learn a lot just by noticing what happens at the concert, and here are a few tips. Classical music audiences enjoy focusing attention on the music during performances, and performers prefer quiet in the audience while they are playing. There are a number of sounds that can be distracting, including unwrapping candies, whispering, leaving or taking your seats unexpectedly, flipping pages in the program, beeping wristwatches, ringing cell phones, etc. You might find it interesting to listen to the sounds around you during the concert. When is the audience quiet? When do people cough? What's happening on-stage when the audience is making noise? What happens when an unexpected noise occurs? You might also enjoy listening for unexpected noises coming from the orchestra. Classical concertgoers tend to dress formally, reflecting the more traditional atmosphere of the concert hall. You might try observing those around you and noticing how they dress. Or you can watch as concertgoers enter the theater and take note. How do the older people dress? What about the middle-aged people? Do you see any young children? - if so, how are they dressed? Knowing when to clap can sometimes be tricky. Sometimes you might think a piece of music is finished and be ready to clap, and then notice that no one else is applauding. Some pieces of classical music are made up of more than one section. Each section is called a “movement.” Symphonies and concertos generally have more than one movement. The audience tends to clap only at the end of the last movement. Sometimes if the music is especially stirring, applause will break out when a movement finishes, even if the whole piece is not finished. You can usually figure out how many movements a piece has by reading your concert program. If you're unsure when to clap, try watching those around you to see when the applause begins. And notice if there is any clapping at an unexpected time: When does it happen? There's no need to rush to leave the performance when it's over. This is a time for the audience to thank the conductor and the musicians for their hard work on the stage. There could also be an encore (an extra piece that's not mentioned in the printed program). Sometimes the conductor or soloist is called back once, twice or more to receive applause or to play additional encores. This is a good time to pay close attention to what's happening in the audience and on the stage. How long does the audience applaud before the conductor comes back out? How many times does she or he come out before playing an encore? You can watch and see if there are any encores and listen for the final applause to die down before exiting the theater. ... And when you're on your way out, it might be interesting to listen for other people's comments about the performance. Do they seem to have enjoyed the performance? What is their feedback? Are people talking mostly about one particular piece or player? Sometimes these comments can help you reflect on and connect with own reaction to the music. Enjoy your concertgoing! Learn about the classical orchestra and instruments CAMA is supported by music lovers
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Community Arts Music Association of Santa Barbara, Inc. This project is funded in part by the Organizational Development Grant Program using funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission. {last site update: May 11, 2012} |