Music 1A: Introduction to Music - Western Culture
dan mitchell | music department | creative arts division | de anza college |

Concert Report Checklist

It would be a very good idea to carefully review the following list a) before you start writing your paper, b) as your work on it, and c) after completion and before you submit it. The list summarizes some issues that I see with some frequency in concert reports and addresses some questions that come up from time to time. Each of the subjects listed here can have an affect on your grade on the concert report assignment.

1. Carefully and fully review the Sample Report, Report Format, and Report FAQ - before attending your concert, while writing your report, and again before turning it in.
2. Reports must be typed..
   • A typical report will probably be between 3 and 6 pages of double-spaced type.
   • You must submit a good quality, legible printout of your report with black print on white paper.
   • Your report must be double-spaced. (I will accept reports using Microsoft Word "1.5" spacing as well.)
   • Do not make last minute corrections in pencil or ink on the printed form. If more editing is still needed, edit and then print your paper.
     
3. You must include the original ticket stub and program page from the concert.
   
• Photocopies are not acceptable.
  
• Please do not include the entire program, especially if it is large. Just enclose the page that lists the pieces and performers.
  
• Write your name on the program page and ticket stub and securely attach these materials to the back of your report.
  
• Your report will generally not be accepted without these required support materials.
  
4. All report pages and other materials must be stapled together and/or enclosed in a folder.
5. Be sure to report on every movement of every piece played on the concert. Your grade will be lowered if you do not report on the entire concert.
6. You must write a separate paragraph of objective description for each movement of multi-movement pieces. Write a single subjective reaction to multi-movement pieces. For example, your description of a four movement symphony will include 4 paragraphs of objective description followed by a one paragraph subjective reaction.
7. Keep your objective descriptions and subjective reactions separate. Avoid overly-subjective opinions in the objective description section.
8. Don't quote the program notes instead of writing your own observations on the performance. I want your observations, not those of the program annotator. Papers with obvious uncredited quotes from the program notes, text, web, etc. will earn no credit for the report and be subject to the greensheet Policy on Copying and Cheating.
9. Proofread your paper! Carefully. More than once. Read it aloud to yourself. Does it make sense? Does it communicate what you are trying to say? Use the spell-checker in your word processor - but double-check the corrections it proposes. College-level writing is required on this assignment and excessive grammar, spelling, and formatting problems may lower your grade.
10. Avoid practices such as the following in college-level papers like this one:
• slang expressions
• contractions such as "I've," You'd," etc.
• referring to performers in overly personal terms. Examples: "Mary played the violin" or "the redhead sang next." Refer to Mary by her last name (e.g. - "Lopez played the trumpet") or her role ("The soloist played the trumpet.").
  
• use of the second person: "You can hear the trumpet." (No I can't. I'm not there!) Instead write "I can hear the trumpet." Better yet, describe the music played by the trumpet: "The trumpet played a fast and high-pitched melody."
  
• use of informal and/or cryptic writing such as "LOL" and "4u" and so forth.
• unnecessary and confusing changes of tense. Don't switch between past and present tense without a good reason.
  
11. Reports are graded primarily on content, but neatness and following the required format may also affect your grade.
12. If you would like to have your paper reviewed prior to handing it in, bring it to an office hour during the week before the due date for suggestions on how you may improve the paper and possibly raise your grade.
13. Any exceptions to the required format of the paper must be approved by the instructor in advance.
14. Late penalties apply to reports submitted after the deadline. See the course greensheet for more information, particularly concerning how to submit your paper on time if you cannot attend class on the due date.
15. Your paper consists solely of your own observations of what happened at your concert. Other students' observations and ideas should not be included in your report or you will earn no credit for the report and be subject to serious consequences as described in the Policy on Copying and Cheating.