for Writing about Music - Music Appreciation - INTL Section 08 Fall 2023
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CLASS LINK-Principles Chemistry I wLab Section 20 Fall 2023
Tips for Writing about Music ~
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Tips for Writing about Music
You are required to watch and review a pre-approved online performance in the form of either 1) a full-length online performance or 2) a set of three NPR Tiny Desk videos.
Below are some tips for writing about music as you complete the Concert Review form (adapted from Dr. Catherine Kilroe-Smith's text, Musical Journeys).
1. Take notes during the video(s) and/or watch the video(s) another time or two to become more familiar with the music. It is easy to forget the details of the music once the
concert is finished, so take notes and complete the concert review as soon after you've watched the video(s) as possible. Jotting down your thoughts and key words will help
you write an honest and more accurate review of the performance.
2. Performer names and piece titles for all of the online concert options are available either in the videos themselves (look for captions across the top or bottom of the screen as
the concert occurs), or in the details below each video in YouTube. These notes will provide some general information about the performers and the music being played.
3. The focus of the concert review is to characterize the musical styles heard in the video. In the Concert Review form, there are spaces to include names of
performers/composers/pieces/songs and a space to describe the music you hear. When describing the distinctive traits of the music, consider the following elements:
a. INSTRUMENTS: What instruments/voices are featured? Do some instruments/voices stand out while others are more in the background? How do the
performers/instruments interact with each other? How would you classify these instruments in the Hornbostel-Sachs system? How would you describe the
instruments/voices' timbres?
b. RHYTHM & METER: Can you find the pulse? Can you tell what kind of meter the pieces use? How would you describe the tempo of the pieces? Do you notice
polyrhythm?
c. MELODY: Can you describe the shape of the melody? Are there prominent motives or themes in the melody? Can you hear more than one melody at once? Is there a
specific instrument/voice that performs the melody?
d. HARMONY: Does the music sound major ("happy") or minor ("sad")? Do combinations of notes sound consonant (pleasant, stable) or dissonant (harsh, crunchy)?
Are there specific instruments/voices that perform the harmony?
e. TEXTURE: Do the pieces contain a single melody with absolutely nothing else going on (monophony)? Do the pieces contain a melody plus harmony (homophony)?
Do the pieces contain multiple melodies played at the same time (polyphony)?
f. FORM: Do you hear patterns of repetition and contrast in the music? Do the pieces fit into one of the forms discussed in class (strophic, standard song, binary, ternary.
or sonata) or does the piece seem to be in a different structure?
4. Try to avoid writing your own "storyline" to the music or writing about what the music reminds you of or makes you think about UNLESS the composer/performer
specifically states that the music follows some kind of story/is an example of program music. Write about the music itself and the qualities that make it unique, exciting, or
pleasurable. You can also write about aspects of the music or performance you did not enjoy. For example, perhaps a piece was poorly played, or you did not enjoy the
interpretation of the performance. If you do end up mentioning any of your own extra-musical associations, make sure you describe the specific musical element that made
you think of a non-musical item, event, or place.
