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How to Write a Concert Review in Nine Easy Steps!

Updated July 5 2024. Concert reviews can provide valuable experience to the beginning writer. Here are some steps and pro tips for reviews that will serve fans and non-fans alike.

Done right, the concert review provides a valuable service. Part reportage, part boosterism, a concert review can give both fans and non-fans a glimpse of what it’s like to see a musician or band in action. A review can also validate and/or illuminate (or not) the concert experience for those who were there.

For budding music journalists (or arts reporters in general), covering a show is a fairly straightforward writing practice. Unlike an album review, say, a concert review requires no particular point-of-view, i.e. critical thinking. Nor is it necessary to talk to anyone, as one would have to for an interview/profile piece.

Using journalistic skills like research, observation, and note-taking, the writer can approach a show review as an exercise in straight reportage. (Of course, the writer chooses the facts and observations. So some perspective and context are involved.) Applying these skills to a form that attracts enthusiasm more than technique immediately elevates your review above 90 percent of the others on the internet.

Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer paying gigs for the prospective concert reviewer. Daily newspapers only cover the biggest arena- and stadium-filling shows. Weeklies, those that survive, devote less and less space to them. Blogs and online magazines have taken up the slack, somewhat, but most can offer only a concert ticket (with a plus-one if you’re lucky).

It’s a labour of love, concert reviewing. On the plus side: experience; a ticket to a show; and maybe a life-changing experience.

On the negative side: for paying rent, you’re better off making lattes.

1. Review a show by a musician or band that you know

A no-brainer, maybe. But it does help to have at least some knowledge/interest in the subject to start. And if you enjoy the artist’s work, you may be more inspired and energized when it comes time to sit down and write the damn thing. On the other hand, don’t let your prior knowledge lull you into thinking that the reader knows what you know. As an editor for my site thesnipenews.com , I can’t count the number of times a reviewer has mentioned a song as though the reader should know it. (A quick workaround – place the song in context, i.e. by mentioning the album it’s from or if it was the first release from said album; even a one-word adjective to describe it – except “ethereal” – helps.) Also, don’t get carried away by your deathless prose. Save the poetry for your journal. Unless you’re an actual poet .

2. Do some research

You can do this after the show. But I recommend researching beforehand. You may or may not use what you learn but at least you have a few facts in your back pocket. Also do this regardless of how well you think you know the band in question. (I’ve been guilty of not doing my research beforehand and I usually miss something and regret it.)

When researching, here are a few things to look for:

• The artist’s latest release. Is it an album, an EP, a song, a video, an art installation? Find out. The show/tour is probably in support of it; check. You’ll want to be familiar with the new product if only to be able to authoritatively drop song titles into the review.

• The tour. Did the performer just roll out of the tour bus or have they been playing The Sphere for six months ? Try to find out if the show that you are reviewing is at the beginning, middle or end. Usually, if it’s the beginning or end it will be relevant to the review. Even if it’s just a random date in the middle, it might account for a lack-lustre show. Dropping this kind of info into the review is just the kind of thing to give you credibility with the reader.

How to write a concert review: Shawn Conner outside U2 at The Sphere Las Vegas Nevada February 2024. David Pearlman photo.

• Names. Try to find out the names of everyone in the band, whether there’s an extra or replacement musician on the tour, and what if anything they play (maybe they’re like Happy Mondays’ Bez and just express themselves through, er, dance). An artist’s homepage is usually less up-to-date in this regard than Wiki or social media.

• The opener. It’s not necessary to see the opener, or to include in your review. However, I recommend catching at least the last few songs of their set. That’s when they’ll probably be at their best, for one thing. It’s also especially worth mentioning the opener if they’re a) local, b) extremely good or bad, and/or c) the Next Big Thing. You don’t want to be the reviewer who missed, say, the Strokes opening for Doves at Richard’s on Richards in 2001 because you were too lazy to get your ass down to the venue in time. Not that I know anyone like that.

3. Take notes

I can’t stress this enough. Nothing separates the amateur from the pro like taking notes, whether on your Notes app or a notepad. Do these ramblings have to be legible? No. Just the act of writing stuff down helps you remember .

For note-taking, I prefer the old-fashioned way, a lined notepad to a cellphone. Sure, it looks dorky, but it’s also empowering – like wearing a fedora with a “Press” card in the hatband. (Okay, maybe that’s not that empowering.) Whatever you decide, here are some things to note of:

• how many people were onstage? What did they play? Did they switch instruments? Was it one guy with a laptop?

• what were some of the songs played? If you’re not sure, write down some lyrics so you can Google them later. Or ask the nearest rabid fan who is mouthing the words. You don’t have to make note of all the songs, but first, last, and encore song titles should not go ignored in your review.

• were there any surprise guests? I.e., did Courtney Love show up and disrupt the set ?

• were any cover songs included? Admittedly, this is one of my favourite things about attending a show – the chance someone might play a totally unexpected cover. I especially like it if it’s obscure and I recognize it!

• what was the energy like on the part of the performer(s), on the part of the audience? Did it change?

• did anyone say anything memorable between songs? Of course not, they’re musicians. Still, including some between-song banter scores credibility points. Incorporating quotes is also another handy journalism technique that requires practice before it becomes second nature. Plus: quotes breaks up the straight-text copy and add a you-are-there feel.

• how many people in the audience? Was the show packed, sold-out, half-full? Were they begging people to come in off the streets? How is this different from the last time the same act played in town?

• Was there anything interesting/unusual about the stage set-up? I.e., video projections, go-go dancers, an office chair for the lead singer to sit in?

Pro tip: never mind about the sound. No one cares.

4. Arrive early (but not too early). Stay until the end

Your ride is leaving, buses stop running soon, you can’t afford a cab, the bouncers have your boyfriend down on the ground and are kicking his ribs in. It doesn’t matter: stay until the end. You don’t want to find out later that the band had a fistfight onstage or Lady Gaga came out to sing “Bad Romance” right after you left.

If you do have to leave, be transparent and make a note of your curfew in the review. However, be aware that your credibility score is at risk in the mind of the reader.

Likewise, arrive early. I mentioned catching the opening band(s). But an early arrival also lets you stake out a decent spot. It also gives you a chance to take stock of your fellow-concertgoers, the venue, the stage set-up, etc.

5. Work on the review ASAP

I like to get something down on paper, or the screen as it were, as soon as I get home. Doesn’t matter if you spend 10 minutes or an hour, although a good 20 minutes should suffice. The reasons for this are twofold:

• no blank page to face in the morning. You’ve already got a rough draft. Pro tip: how would you describe the show to a friend? Write it down.

• these first impressions are the real raw material that’s going to make your review.

Then, sleep on it. You’ll be amazed to find, when you sit down to writing the actual review, how much of the work has been done. Not to mention, you may wake up with some additional thoughts. Don’t bother consulting your notes until your second draft – to compare with what you’ve already written and to determine if you missed anything.

Twenty minutes spent writing directly after the show is worth at least an hour in the morning.

6. Write a second (and third) draft

For many writers, the first draft of anything is only a starting-point. They get it all down, then see what needs to be cut or added or moved (see “Structure,” below). Work on a through-line; does the end flow naturally from the beginning? What is the story of the review? (Come to think of it, this might be a whole other post.)

Pro tip #1: don’t spent a lot of time on the first draft . This isn’t for public consumption, it’s just sense impressions. Pro tip #2: Cut the first three or four paragraphs of the first draft and let the review begin at this new starting point. If there was any important info in those first three paras, you can include later in the review. Often, in a first draft the first three paras are full of either factual (“The band is on its third album”) or personal (“I arrived at the venue but had to stand in line for an hour”) info that can (and should) be excised.

7. Assume the reader knows nothing

Just because you know that the band is suddenly playing arenas because a bunch of TikTok furries started dancing to it in videos doesn’t mean your reader does. Write so that both fan and the uninformed can get something out of the review. Include enough detail for the former and enough general info for the latter.

8. Write in third-person

First-person reviews are okay for a blog. But writing in third-person guards against the review becoming too much about the reviewer. (This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. This Butthole Surfers in Vancouver concert review is written in first person and sort of works.) And a review written in the third-person reads more professionally – the writer comes across not as some gushing fan but as someone who’s done his/her homework.

Pro tip: If I’m writing a review and find it absolutely necessary to bring in my personal bias, I often refer to myself as “this reviewer.” I.e.: “The fans loved it, but for this reviewer, the addition of a 20-minute version of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ sung by children in angels’ costumes was over-the-top.” This provides some much-needed distance and also sounds kind of funny (in a good way).

9: How to structure your review: a simple, easy-to-use template

Staring at a blank computer screen for what seems like an eternity? Here is one way to structure an opener.

1st (and maybe 2nd para) – A grabby opener. Something dramatic or interesting/unusual that sets the scene or even mise en scene . This could be something about the artist, or the tour, or the show or even an overheard quote from an audience member . It could be a particularly telling bit of audience interaction (“Without warning, Chris Martin jumped into the audience”) or dramatic/humourous incident in the performance (“Midway through the set, Martin broke down and told us about his mom”).

2nd & possibly 3rd paras – Actual info/context. This is where your research comes into play. I.e.: “With their viral video, Mouthbastard is the hottest band out of Salt Lake City since the Trepanning Satanists,” followed by some evidence to back up the statement. Info might include the context of the show – part of a tour for a new album – or change in lineup: “This was Groper’s first show since the loss of their founding tympani player, Hiram Phinbottom.”

4th and 5th paragraphs – Songs played, atmosphere ( Slipknot aggro or Sarah McLachlan mellow or Dead Kennedys mosh), individual musicianship, highlights and low-lights (this is usually where your opinion begins to emerge, unless it’s so strong that you fee the urge to open the review with your two cents), onstage banter, crowd interaction. Remember those notes?

6th para – Wrap-up. Sometimes (often) the hardest para. It’s easy to slip into cliché here: “Hopefully, they’ll be back again soon” is a standard and deathly dull way to wrap things up. In a well-constructed review, the end will tie-in (perhaps answering a question posed) with the opening paragraph, and conclude the arc of the review.

Random notes on how to write a concert review:

Genres – Most of my experience is writing rock/pop concert reviews. Most of the same rules apply, however, across genres. Exceptions are hip-hop and EDM shows, which as younger genres come with a different set of expectations. I.e., it’s perfectly acceptable for artists in either genre to rely on pre-recorded music, something that is (or would have been) anathema at a rock show.

Photos – You can try taking your own, if you can get close enough or find a decent sightline of the stage between the heads of your fellow concertgoers. You can also make friends with a photog at the show – identifiable by their camera and photo pass – and ask if you can use a photo. Some will say yes, as long as you credit them. I wouldn’t recommend downloading random live shots from Google Images as these are the property of the photographer and/or artist. You can also request publicity images from the band’s publicist or reach out to the concert promoter to see if they have any images you can use. Publicist contact info is sometimes but not always found on an act’s website, if they have one.

Style guides – If you’re writing for a publication, make sure you know their style guidelines. Do they put song titles in quotation marks song titles and italicize album titles? Do they, like the New York Times , refer to even scoundrels like Marilyn Manson as “Mr. Manson”?

Check in with yourself – During the performance, periodically ask yourself what you are experiencing. Are you mesmerized, or are you thinking about that load of laundry you forgot to take out of the dryer?

Fact-check EVERYTHING. But this really goes for any piece of writing. Also, proofread, and look for clichés, i.e. anything you feel like you’ve read in countless other reviews. Assuming you read concert reviews. And if you don’t, you probably shouldn’t be writing one yourself.

Finally, run everything through Hemingway or a similar app. This will help you avoid passive sentences, unnecessary adverbs and lengthy sentences that just go on and on with no break thereby irritating the reader who finally gets fed up and stops reading and…

Next: how to write a press release

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How to Write a Concert Review: A Step-by-Step Guide

Concert reviews are crucial aspects of music journalism, offering insightful opinions on live performances to readers. They serve several purposes, including giving potential concertgoers a sense of what to expect, critiquing the performers' skills and production, and sharing personal experiences and impressions. In this article, we offer a step-by-step guide to help you write an excellent concert review.

Understanding the Purpose of a Concert Review

Before writing a review, you should understand why it's essential. First off, reviews provide insight for people considering attending a concert. By reading your review, they can learn about the performers, their style of music, and their overall performance. Moreover, reviews help critique the performers' skills, production, and atmosphere. Additionally, reviews let you share your personal experiences and impressions with your readers.

Providing Insight for Potential Concertgoers

As a concert reviewer, your writing should target people who haven't attended the performance in question. Consequently, your first task is to provide a sense of what the performance was like. You should describe the venue, what kind of music the performers played, and what the atmosphere was like. Also, describe what made the concert unique, exciting, or disappointing.

For instance, if the concert was held in a stadium, you could describe the size of the venue, the seating arrangement, and the stage setup. You could also mention how the performers interacted with the audience and whether the crowd was enthusiastic or subdued. If the concert featured multiple artists, you could describe how they complemented each other and whether there was a standout performer.

Furthermore, you could provide information about the performers' background, including their previous albums, awards, and collaborations. This information could help potential concertgoers understand the performers' style of music and what to expect from the concert.

Critiquing the Performance and Production

As mentioned earlier, the concert review should provide a critique of various aspects of the concert. You should, for example, offer your thoughts on the performers' musical skills, pitch, and general technical ability. You can also comment on the quality of production, including lighting, sound, and stage setup. As an expert, you can tell when the performers did well and where they could improve.

For instance, you could comment on the lead singer's vocal range, the drummer's timing, or the bassist's groove. You could also mention whether the sound was balanced, whether the lighting was appropriate, and whether the stage setup was creative. Moreover, you could mention whether the performers engaged with the audience, whether they interacted with each other, and whether they played any new or unreleased songs.

Sharing Personal Experiences and Impressions

Unlike traditional reviews, concert reviews give you the freedom to offer a personal perspective on the concert. Were you impressed by the lead singer's stage presence or the guitarist's solo? Share your thoughts and feelings with your readers. Were you disappointed by the low turnout, or were you amazed by the energy in the crowd? Let your audience know.

For example, you could describe how you felt when the performers played your favorite song, or how you reacted when the lead singer invited the audience to sing along. You could also mention whether you met any interesting people at the concert, whether you bought any merchandise, or whether you would attend the same concert again.

In conclusion, writing a concert review requires you to provide insight, critique, and personal experiences. By doing so, you can help potential concertgoers make informed decisions, offer constructive feedback to performers and production teams, and share your passion for music with your readers.

Preparing for the Concert

Now that you understand why concert reviews are crucial let's dive into the preparation process. The first step is to research the performers and venue. By knowing more about the concert, you're in a better position to write a compelling review.

Researching the Performers and Venue

Find out about the performers' background, previous performances, and style of music. Such information will help you put the performance in context. It is also essential to understand the venue settings. You can find out about the seating arrangements and ticket prices as well as how to access the venue.

Familiarizing Yourself with the Setlist and Musical Style

Familiarize yourself with the setlist and musical style of the performers. Understanding this information will help you follow the performance as it progresses, allowing you to provide informed commentary. Additionally, it allows you to better appreciate and enjoy the concert.

Bringing Necessary Materials for Note-taking

Remember to carry a notebook and pen to help you take notes during the concert. Jot down anything that catches your attention, including lyrics, musical arrangements, and anything else that stands out. All these notes will help you write a comprehensive review later.

Attending the Concert

Once you've done the necessary preparation, it is time to attend the concert. This section outlines what you should do to ensure you have an excellent concert experience.

Observing the Atmosphere and Crowd

First off, take time to observe the atmosphere and crowd. Notice how people are dressed, their age, and what they are doing. Also, look at the ambiance and the overall energy in the venue. Is the crowd enthusiastic? Are people dancing? Observe the general atmosphere and how it relates to the concert.

Paying Attention to the Performances

During the concert, you must pay attention to the performances. Look out for the performers' musical abilities, visuals, instrumental solos, and any other elements that stand out. Take note of anything that strikes you as noteworthy.

Noting Standout Moments and Key Details

As the concert progresses, you might notice standout moments and key details. Maybe the drummer had an extended solo, the crowd sang along to a song, or there was a special guest. Jot all these details done. They make great talking points in the review.

Writing the Concert Review

Structuring your review.

Now that the concert is done, it's time to structure the review. Start with an introduction that provides an overview of the concert and the performers. Follow this with the body of the review, where you comment on various aspects of the performance. Finally, conclude with a brief summary of the concert.

Describing the Concert Experience

As you begin your review, describe your experience at the concert. Share details that help readers understand how the event was from your perspective.

Analyzing the Performances and Production

Next, analyze the performances and production by describing what the performers did exceptionally well and where they could improve. Offer constructive criticism and give reasons for it. Also, comment on the quality of production, including stage setup, lighting, and sound quality.

Providing a Balanced and Fair Critique

Ensure your review is balanced and fair. Avoid excessively praising the performers or over-criticizing them. Instead, provide a moderate critique that highlights the concert's strengths and weaknesses.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Concert Review

Chatgpt prompt.

Compose a detailed and thorough analysis of a live musical performance, including your observations and opinions on the musicians, their instruments, the venue, the atmosphere, and any other relevant aspects that contributed to the overall experience.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

Writing a concert review is both informative and entertaining. It allows you to share your thoughts and feelings about a performance, while also critiquing it in a constructive manner. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can write an excellent review that provides insight and entertainment to potential concertgoers.

Essay Samples on Concert Review

A concert review essay is a type of writing that requires a detailed and descriptive analysis of a music concert. To write such kind of an essay, one needs to be well-versed in the musical genre being reviewed and have a good understanding of music theory. A concert review essay should include a description of the music played, the performers, and the venue.

When writing a concert report essay, it is important to pay attention to the overall atmosphere of the concert, including the stage design, lighting, and sound quality. It is also important to mention the audience’s reactions and interaction with the performers.

To give an example, a review of a recent rock concert might include a description of the opening act, the headlining band, and their setlist. The essay could also include a critique of the musicians’ performance, such as their ability to play their instruments, their stage presence, and their interaction with the audience.

Overall, a concert review essay should provide a detailed and informative account of the concert experience. By including specific details and observations, the essay can provide valuable insights and recommendations to readers who may be interested in attending future concerts. Here, on WritingBros, you can browse a list of various essay prompts and find your perfect concert review essay example in this section.

Music Concert: The David Oistrakh String Quartet

A concerto, or concerti in the plural, is a musical composition dating back to the 1750s by the use of instruments and three primary movements whereby a concert band or orchestra accompanies one solo instrument or a group of soloists. The ensembles or soloists relate...

Classical Music
Concert Review

University of Michigan Symphony Band Concert Evaluation

On November 22nd, 2019, I attended the University of Michigan Symphony Band in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The location was at the Hill Auditorium, and I am familiar with that auditorium due to my high school graduation taking place there. The symphony was direct by none...

Performance

Piano Concerto in A Major, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

From the Baroque era in the 17th century to the modern times of today, music has continued to change and is still evolving every day. In this essay, I will identify two concert excerpts for comparison and contrast. The concert I analyzed from the Baroque...

The Review of the Country Music Concert

I attended a Dierks Bentley concert on August 23rd, 2019. The concert was held at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois. I found the venue to be very fitting for the artist and his method of performance. It was outdoors and still rather...

Country Music

The Concert Review of the Poet of the Piano: Celebrating Clara

The concert was called the Poet of The Piano: Celebrating Clara Schumann at 200.This took place at Founder’s Hall in Saint Francis college on October 28th, 2019. The music that was listed on the program can best be described as classical music from the romantic...

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Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera Concert Review

On Friday, March 1st at 8PM, I watched Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at the Benedum Center. This concert hall is very large and can seat around three thousand people. There are two levels of seating, the main...

Concert Review of the String Quartet Performance

A string quartet performance can pack a concentrated punch of joyful music. It might involve a deeply meditative moment or the exhilaration of four stringed instruments in soaring flight. Jax Cello Quartet concerts at Jacksonville University by two dynamic string quartets delivered all of the...

Concert Report: Wide Open Bluegrass Festival

For my concert report, I attended the Wide Open Bluegrass festival in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 29th. I arrived around four o’clock, four hours after the festival had opened up. The main stage was located at the Red Hat Amphitheater, there were other small...

Best topics on Concert Review

1. Music Concert: The David Oistrakh String Quartet

2. University of Michigan Symphony Band Concert Evaluation

3. Piano Concerto in A Major, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

4. The Review of the Country Music Concert

5. The Concert Review of the Poet of the Piano: Celebrating Clara

6. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera Concert Review

7. Concert Review of the String Quartet Performance

8. Concert Report: Wide Open Bluegrass Festival

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Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Concert Review — Concert Performance Report

Concert Performance Report

Categories: Concert Review

About this sample

Words: 616 |

Published: Jan 29, 2024

Words: 616 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Description of the concert venue, overview of the concert program, analysis of the performances, observations about the audience and atmosphere, critique of the concert production, references:.

Golden Hall. Retrieved from https://www.goldenhall.gr/en/home/
Why concerts can help bridge racial divides. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/why-concerts-can-help-bridge-racial-divides-n983946
The science behind why music makes us happy. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320950

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Tips on How to Write an Awesome Music Review

Knowledge To Get Known
Music Review

To make it clear, a music review is an assessment of a song or an album. One of the important points is the brevity of the review, do not forget about this. At school, most often, they ask for an essay-review, One way to complete it is to use paperwriter to get help with starting ideas or editing your work. But don’t forget, teachers/editors have certain requirements for them, namely::

it should be creative work (understand as you want)
the considered (reviewed) work is often an occasion for reflection on the problems raised in the song or album
disclosure of the content of the work, with a simultaneous assessment of it.

If you want to find out how to include all these three points in one review, you need to get acquainted with some samples. You can order them on a writing service like GPA Labs . You will see how to write your music review creatively, analyze the problem raised, and evaluate a song or album properly.

Now, let’s proceed to tips for writing a music review.

Stick to the review plan
Brief information about the song or album (title, singer or band, other basic information). For example, Waiting For The Sun is the third album by the California band The Doors . After its first great recordings, The Doors and Strange Days , this release has not escaped the fate of the notorious “third album syndrome”. However, in spite of everything, it is this album that is the unconditional must-have of the listening audience of that time.
Your response to the song/album. In other words, your impression.
Song or album analysis

– lyrics analysis

– melody analysis

– musical composition (not necessary)

Evaluation of the song or album (important to include your own evaluation)
The relevance of the issues raised in the song or album. Even if it seems that the album is not very relevant – think more. Most songwriters try to raise some problem and/or answers in their songs. But if you still did not find the interesting relevance for today, write about that too. Perhaps you will enter into an argument with the reader. That can be even more interesting.

It is important to include all points! But the main thing is that the review should be interesting.

Do not retell the lyrics
There is no need to get carried away with retelling the lyrics. The editor can, absolutely, rightly by the way, consider the substitution of the analysis of the song or album by a simple retelling.
Pay attention to the title of a song or album
Usually, it contains a lot of secret meaning, which becomes clear after singing a song or album. But “usually” does not mean “always.”
Break down a song into parts
Is it possible to break a song into its component parts? Why? Why did the songwriter do this?
Highlight what differs the work from others

It is worth mentioning the style once again. Try to highlight what makes this song or album different.

Write as if your reader has never heard this song or album. Consider what questions a person might have asked who has never heard this song. And do not forget about the five points of the review plan, which you must complete.

Good luck and if you are looking for more analysis or potential publishing of your review writing, reach out to us at IndieBandGuru. We are always here to connect with other passionate music lovers like ourselves.

We love music and love to write about it even more. Come join the adventure at IndieBandGuru.com

JAMES WILSON’S Year End REVIEW OF 2023

James wilson.

James Wilson’s Music Review of 2022

How to Make Drums In Your DAW Sound Real

Ibg guest post.

How to Write a Music Review Essay

Hardly anyone on the earth dislikes music. We all have music collections for certain emotions or songs connected to special occasions. But when it comes to composing a music review essay, most seem to be at a loss for words and have no idea where to start.

Typically, the purpose of writing a review is to make an impression. The reader’s perception of the song or album is formed after reading the essay. Therefore, the assessment must be impartial and feasible and provide the most trustworthy facts imaginably. Read on to learn how to write a music review essay.

Your assessment or criticism of a musical work is what a song review essay contains. The paper has an introduction, a major body covering several parts of the music analysis, and a conclusion. It is much like any other piece of academic writing. However, to better understand how to write one, below are several tips to guide you.

Listen to the Music

It would help if you listened through the entire song at least two times before beginning to write a review. When doing so, try to create your opinion on the music. Furthermore, think about the song’s melody and rhythm. Remember, the rhythm and music complete the song’s impression. After giving the piece a few listens, you may assess it critically to comprehend its message.

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It is crucial to consider the song’s music style and the caliber of the production. Remember, it is best to avoid comparing it to the musician’s previous work unless the current song will be notably better or worse than earlier works. Take note of the feelings the song brought up for you and what impressed and upbraided you the most.

Finally, pay attention to the song’s lyrics. Poems make up a significant portion of the music. Therefore, you should pay attention to their meaning and content. Draw attention to the lyric’s beauty, completeness, and value.

Conduct a Background Research

The research comes next after you’ve finished listening. To gather information about the music, you could also try to study articles and reviews written by the artist. You could also listen to and watch their interviews. In a background study, research the song’s history and composition. Don’t forget to establish the connection to current happenings in the globe or the songwriter’s life at the moment as well.

The information gathered will aid in a more thorough examination and understanding of the underlying message. Listeners frequently underestimate the brilliance of a musical piece. It is because they are unaware of the history of its production and the circumstances that led to its conception.

To examine the song lyrics in greater detail, print them out. Find literary devices in the lyrics and analyze how they influence the song’s message and atmosphere. For instance, take note of the symmetry and repetition of harmonious sounds. Following a stressed vowel might give the impression that a line of poetry is harsher to the ear.

Formulate an Outline

As mentioned earlier, a music review essay is similar to other forms of academic writing. Therefore, it follows a particular structure too. The standard essay format demands the paper have an introduction with a thesis statement, a body, and a conclusion. Your review may be three, five, or even more paragraphs depending on the required length.

Remember, creating an outline forms a map you can easily follow when writing the review to ensure you include all the details.

The introduction paragraph may include details about the music as well as numerous phrases about the musician. You can also give some background info, such as describing how the song was composed. Don’t forget to provide a brief thesis statement outlining the subject of your review essay.

Your paper’s main body is entirely devoted to analyzing what you have heard. Each paragraph should contain a central concept, and every sentence that follows should help reinforce it. Here, you can recognize the musical components, composing techniques, and style.

Finally, the conclusion should reaffirm your viewpoint from the thesis statement. You might also briefly discuss the emotions and sentiments that the song elicits and how they affected your assessment.

Write the Draft

When composing your draft, remember to follow the standard grammatical, punctuation, and spelling norms for essays. Furthermore, remember to consider any particular instructions from your instructor.

In the introduction, establish your thesis and quickly describe your critical points of contention. The essay’s body should be devoted to elaborating on its supporting arguments. In the conclusion of your paper, restate your thesis and list the topics you covered.

It is crucial that you evaluate the music as objectively as you can; the caliber of your evaluation should in no way be impacted by your feelings toward the composer or performance. It would be best if you created a review that is as sincere as possible with the audience and avoid focusing solely on positive or negative remarks.

Proofread the Draft and Modify it Where Possible

After writing the draft, it is vital to proofread it while identifying possible mistakes and missing information. Additionally, you can read it aloud or ask others to provide feedback. Most essay writers forget or ignore this part, even those writing music review essays. However, it is one of the most crucial steps.

Remember, proofreading enables you to identify and correct grammatical errors such as spelling and punctuation errors. Furthermore, through a review of your work, you can quickly identify where your assessment is not solid enough. Afterward, you can modify the parts where you feel the essay falls short of your expectations or doesn’t meet specific requirements.

After editing the essay, proofread again to ascertain everything checks out. You can then submit the paper for marking or publishing afterward.

Most music-oriented students and writers find it challenging to write music review essays. They find it hard to describe their emotions and experiences after listening to music. Therefore, learning how to write a music review essay is pretty crucial. However, reading this article helps you with such writing when you face similar difficulties.

How to Write a Concert Review

MUS 121 typically uses concert reviews as a primary medium of writing. Concert reviews are structured as follows.

Introduction

Introduce concert title

Concert titles are put in quotation marks in MLA
Voi che is a work within an opera, and Le Nozzi is the opera

Give your overall impression of the concert

Did you like the concert? Were there any aspects you did not like? Briefly mention this.

Outline structure of concert

Talk about the songs played in the concert using their titles and composer names. Briefly describe how they sounded to you (i.e. jovial or somber).

Mention important names

Mention any featured conductors or performers (especially with concertos).

Concert hard facts

Describe the ensemble’s instrumentation (and if it changes).

Talk about the song tone.

Was the piece fast or slow? Did it emote a specific type of emotion? Were there many parts to the song?

Mention any extra anomalies that occurred (i.e. special announcements, strings breaking, or lighting issues).

Experience review

This is where you elaborate on how the concert made you feel, what types of emotions you thought the concert or a piece conveyed, talk about any images that it may have reminded you of, and any other ideas or opinions you experience in this setting.

Tie up any final thoughts, your opinion on your overall experience, and future ideas you may want to address at another concert.

Contributed by: Cameo Flores

Home / Essay Samples / Music / Concert Review

Concert Review Essay Examples

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