In a rare scheduling mistake, I ended up missing one of my children’s concerts. This is the first time it has happened while working for RadioShack. While we were in New York, at one time I had three jobs. I was a pastor, music teacher and worked at RadioShack. Several times during my three year tenure as music teacher, I had a concert that I was directing the same night as the girls had a concert. One time the choral director, let me come for a dress rehearsal and I appreciate her willingness to accommodate me.
Because I had a degree in music and went to all those recitals and performances as well as teaching music, I have some pretty high expectations of what a concert-going crowd should do. I even remember the girls doing a song called Concert Etiquette Rap while they were in elementary school. They had a very cool choral director.
Pam suggested that I write this after going to the concert this evening. Because we live in an increasingly casual culture, school concerts aren’t what they used to be. So, directly from the home office in Martinsville, VA, here are ten rules for concert etiquette (Before you look, take the quiz) (after you look at them, they will seem like common sense.) Actually these are from the National Association of Music Education.
- Refrain from talking — This is the first and greatest rule.
- Refrain from unwrapping noisy candy wrappers during the performance — If the composer had wanted to include crinkle paper noises to the music, he would have included it in the parts.
- Turn off watch alarms, pagers, and cell phones — enough said!
- Do not wave at your child during the concert
- Do not take flash photography
- Do not walk down the center aisle with your video camera
- Do not leave as soon as your child’s portion of the program is over — (my comments — I find this to be highly inconsiderate)
- Applaude a appropriate times — there are times to clap and there are times to be silent. Wait until the director lowers his/her arms at the end of the piece. This signifies that the musical selection is over. (my personal pet peeve is clapping for a performer in the middle of the song. Acknowledge the performance at the end — this isn’t American Idol.) The exception is if you are attending a jazz ensemble concert. Then, by all means clap when the individual finishes their solo.
- Do not leave the auditorium during the music — Yes, there will be emergencies. In consideration of the performers, wait until there is a break in the music. At most school events the selections aren’t long at all.
- Go to the concert expecting the best.
If you follow these simple and common sense rules, you will make the performance more memorable for everyone.
