MUS 110CL
Concert Critique
Guidelines and Rubric
After either attending a live concert or watching a full length concert online, write a critique of the
performance following the format below.
Here are a few examples of full length concerts you can find online (by conducting a web search using
the criteria below) that could be used for this assignment:
Coldplay Live In Boston 2012 (Full Concert DVD)
Sting: If on a winters night-Live from Durham Cathedral 2009 (watch all 14 songs on concert)
Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman, Jan Hammer, Charlie
Duke Ellington The Great Paris Concert
Richard Galliano/Winton Marsalis – Billie Holiday meets Edith PIAF
Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Jazz Center Orchestra @ The BBC Proms 2004
Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson, Amazing stuff!
Loretta Lynn — You’re Looking At Country – Legends In Concert
You may choose a different concert video to watch, but be sure you include the URL of the concert you
chose in your critique, or scan the program of the live concert you attended and attach it. The musical
style of the concert should include at least one of the genres studied in this course.
The Concert Critique should be 2.5 pages long, double spaced. It should contain five paragraphs that
describe the following aspects of the concert you attended:
1. Who are the performers? Give the title of the concert and write something about the performers.
Is it an orchestra? A choir? An ensemble? Solo artists? Why did you choose to attend this
particular performance? Tell as much as you know about the musicians that performed are they
professionals? Students? Teachers? How long have they been performing? Etc.
2. Describe the music that was performed on the concert. Use the musical characteristics that we
have been learning in class. What genre is the music (opera aria? Jazz song? Standard tune?
Solo instrument piece? Symphony?)
3. What style period was the music written in? What was the tempo, dynamics, texture, etc.?
Sometimes the music in a concert will be only one genre. Sometimes there will be several genres
performed. Attach the program to your critique, and then refer to the titles in the program. For
example: Autumn Leaves was performed by a small instrumental ensemble (guitar, bass, and
percussion). It is a standard contemporary tune. The tempo was a moderately slow ballad. It had
a very mellow sound
4. Tell how well you think the performers interpreted the music that was on the concert. Were the
singers in tune? Did the piano player play musically and rhythmically? Do you think the
performers communicated the music as it was meant to be communicated by the composer?
5. Tell which pieces or part of the concert was most moving or enjoyable for you. If you didnt enjoy
the concert very much, tell why you didnt enjoy it. What could have been better? Be as specific
as you can when expressing your opinion of the performance dont just write generalities like It
was nice or it made me feel like dancing. Tell why the music made you feel like dancing. Write
about why you particularly enjoyed that part of the concert.
6. Conclude your critique by summing up the performance and telling us if you would go to hear
these performers again or would invite your friends or family to hear this
performance/performers.
Submit the Concert Critique to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of Module 5.