Frequently Asked Questions
About Your First Concert
What to expect, what to wear, whether to prepare...
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About the Orchestra
What it is, who's in it, what they do...
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Before the Next Concert
Listening, links, etc.
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About Your First Concert
I've never been to an orchestra concert before. What should I expect?
Expect to enjoy yourself! This is the time to let go of any preconceptions you may have about classical music or the concert experience. If you feel a little nervous, that's OK. Some things about the concert may seem strange because they're new to you, but if you just focus on the music, you'll have a great time.
Open yourself up to the music. Let it trigger your emotions—maybe even your memories. Feel the rhythms; follow the tunes. Watch the musicians and Maestro Bay; see how they interact with each other. Notice how the music ebbs and flows—surging and powerful at some times, delicate and ephemeral at others, and everything in-between.
What if I don't know anything about classical music? Do I need to study beforehand?
There's no need to study. The music will speak for itself. Just come and enjoy!
Over time, many frequent concertgoers do find their enjoyment is deeper if they prepare for a concert. This can be simple, like reading the program notes beforehand; or it can be more involved, like listening to recordings of the music to be performed in the days before they attend a concert.
You know yourself best, so if research interests you, go ahead and follow your curiosity. But if studying isn't your thing, there's no need to be concerned about it. Just listen with an open mind.
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Will I recognize any of the music?
You might! Classical music is all around us: in commercials, movie soundtracks, television themes, cartoons, retail shops, and even some elevators. Popular music often quotes classical melodies, as well. While you're listening to a work in the concert, you may recognize a tune that you've heard a hundred times before.
Whether or not you've heard the music before the concert, as you listen, you'll notice that each classical piece uses its own group of several tunes over and over, in different ways. You'll start to "recognize" these melodies as a work progresses. Listen for the ways a melody is repeated: Is it exactly the same as the first time, or with a different character? Is it played by the same instruments, or different ones? Does it start the same as before, but go off in a different direction? Or start differently and surprise you by developing into the tune you recognize from earlier in the piece?
What should I wear?
There is no dress code! Anything that makes you feel comfortable is fine. Most people will be wearing business clothes or slightly dressy casual clothes, but you'll see everything from khakis to cocktail dresses. Some people enjoy dressing up and making a special night of it. Still, evening gowns and tuxedos are pretty rare unless you've bought tickets for a fancy gala—and if you have, you'll know!
If you do decide to dress up, though, go easy on the cologne. It can distract others near you and even prompt them to sneeze (which may distract you)!
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Should I arrive early?
Absolutely! Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before concert time, so you can find your seat, turn off your cell phone, take a look at your surroundings, absorb the atmosphere, and have time to glance through the program book, too. You won't be alone. Most concertgoers make a point of coming early to read the program notes, or just watch the orchestra warm up.
Rushing to your seat at the last minute doesn't really give you enough time to get settled, so you may not fully enjoy the first piece on the program. And there's another good reason to come early: Most concerts start on time. If you're late, you may end up listening from the lobby! If that happens, the usher will allow you inside during a suitable pause in the program, so your arrival won't disturb other concertgoers.
How long is the concert?
It varies, but most orchestra concerts are about 90 minutes to two hours long, with an intermission at the halfway point.
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When should I clap?
This is the number one scary question! No one wants to clap in the "wrong" place. But it's simpler than you may think, and quite logical on the whole.
At the beginning of the concert, the concertmaster will come onstage. The audience claps as a welcome, and as a sign of appreciation to all the musicians.
After the orchestra tunes, Maestro Bay (or on occasion, a guest conductor) and possibly a soloist will come onstage. Everyone claps to welcome them, too. This is also a good moment to make sure your program is open, so you can see the names of the pieces that will be played and their order.
When everything settles down, the music begins. Just listen and enjoy! The audience doesn't really applaud again until the end of the piece.
In most classical concerts—unlike jazz or pop—the audience never applauds during the music. They wait until the end of each piece. But this can be a little tricky, because many pieces seem to end several times—in other words, they have several parts, or movements. These are listed in your program.
In general, musicians and your fellow listeners prefer not to hear applause during the pauses between these movements, so they can concentrate on the progress from one movement to the next. Symphonies and concertos have a momentum that builds from the beginning to the end, through all their movements, and applause can "break the mood," especially when a movement ends quietly. Sometimes, though, the audience just can't restrain itself, and you'll hear a enthusiastic applauders—or a lot of it—during the pause before the next movement. It's perfectly okay to join in if you enjoyed the music, too.
(By the way, disregard anyone who "shushes" you for applauding between movements. It's only been in the last 50 years or so that audiences stopped applauding between movements, so you have music history on your side!)
What if you lose track, and aren't sure whether the piece is truly over? One clue is to watch the conductor. Conductors will lower their batons at the conclusion on a work. Usually, s/he won't relax between movements, but keeps their hands raised; the attention of the musicians will remain on the conductor. When in doubt, it's always safe to wait and follow what the rest of the audience does!
At the end of the piece, you can let yourself go and let the musicians know how you felt about their playing. Many pieces end "big"—and you won't have any doubt of what to do then! Some end very quietly, and then you'll see conductors keep their hands raised for a moment to "hold the mood." Then the hands will drop, that's the time to clap. There's no need to restrain yourself any longer.
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What if I need to cough during the music?
Everyone gets the urge to cough now and then. Worrying about disturbing your fellow listeners is a laudable impulse, but don't let it ruin your enjoyment of the concert. There's a funny thing about coughing—the less worried you are about it, the less likely you are to feel the urge. So chances are you'll feel less need to cough if you're prepared.
- Be sure to visit the water fountain in the lobby before the concert and at intermission.
- If you have a cold, take some cough medicine in advance and bring wax paper-wrapped—or unwrapped—lozenges with you. Have a few out and ready when the music begins.
- Allow yourself to become involved in listening to the music and in watching the performers. The more you are absorbed in what's going on, the less likely you are to cough.
- If you absolutely can't restrain yourself, try to wait for the end of a movement. Or "bury" your cough in a loud passage of music. If this is impossible, and you feel a coughing fit coming on, it's perfectly acceptable to quietly exit the concert hall. Don't be embarrassed—your fellow listeners will probably appreciate your concern for their listening experience.
What should I do with my cell phone during the concert?
TURN IT OFF! The same goes for pagers and alarm watches. It's a good idea to double-check in the few minutes before the concert begins, and again as intermission draws to a close. Better still, leave them at home if you can.
Doctors and emergency workers who are "on call" can give their pagers to an usher, who will summon them quietly if they are paged.
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Can I take pictures?
Cameras, video recorders, and tape recorders are NOT permitted in concerts. If you happen to have one with you, be sure to stop at the Director of Ushers' table and check it in before entering the auditorium. If you have a camera and want a souvenir of a special evening at the symphony, it can be fun to ask someone to take your picture outside the concert hall before going in.
Why is there an intermission, and what should I do during it?
It's a short rest period for the musicians and conductor—once you see how much activity goes into a performance, you'll understand why they need a break!
Listening to music is also an intense activity (even if considerably less physical), and a break in the middle helps the audience concentrate better in the second half. Some concerts, though, have no intermission because it would interrupt the flow of a long work. Check the program before the concert so you know what to expect.
Most intermissions of the ASO are 20 minutes long, which gives you time to socialize with your companions, visit the facilities, or simply sit in your seat and read the program notes for the next half of the concert. Do whatever puts you in a good frame of mind to hear the second half of the concert.
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Can I bring my kids?
It depends on the concert and on the age of your kids. Many standard length classical concerts are inappropriate for small children because they require an attention span that is difficult for youngsters to maintain. Most concerts also are held at night and stretch beyond "bedtime."
The ASO does present concerts designed especially for children (Education Programs). These are a great way for families to enjoy classical music together. Young children are especially intrigued by the many different instruments of the orchestra and the way they are played. Try to sit up close to the orchestra so your kids will have a great view of everything that’s going on.
To further build your children's interest in classical music, play classical radio or CDs around the house. When they are old enough to sit quietly for an extended period, you may wish to bring them to the first half of a standard concert. An interested preteen or teenager could also have a marvelous time at an orchestra concert, particularly if it features several different pieces.
In all cases, it's a good idea to check with the orchestra directly about the appropriateness of the concert you plan to attend with your kids. Ask about discounts for students and children.
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About the Orchestra
What is a symphony orchestra, exactly?
A symphony orchestra is a collection of up to about 100 musicians who play instruments of four basic types:
- Strings—violins (smallest, and highest in pitch), violas, cellos, and double basses (largest and lowest in pitch). These players sit in a semicircle directly in front of the conductor, and make up more than half the orchestra.
- Woodwinds—flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and related instruments. These players sit a few rows back from the conductor, in the center of the orchestra.
- Brass—trumpets, horns, trombones, tubas, and similar instruments. These instruments are the loudest, so you'll see them in the rear of the orchestra.
- Percussion—drums, bells, and other fascinating paraphernalia that are struck, plucked, rubbed, etc. This includes the tympani, the harp, and, on occasion, the piano. Some works use lots of different percussion; others may have a single musician playing the tympani, or no percussion at all. The percussion section is also found at the rear of the orchestra.
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Why are the musicians onstage playing before the concert begins?
Just like athletes warming up before the big game, musicians need to warm up their muscles and focus their concentration. This can be fun to listen to and watch. Some of them are working on the passages they need to polish up before the performance, with no regard for what anyone else is practicing. Pick out the flute or the trumpet playing a solo over and over, and listen to how it changes. Does it get smoother? If the player stops in the middle and starts over, can you hear the reason why? (It’s especially fun to recognize these solos later in the performance. Give a silent cheer for the player who nails the solo.)
Not all of the orchestra players practice onstage, of course. Just like the audience, everyone is doing his or her own thing. Some are talking; others are paging through their music. And some don’t come onstage at all until a minute or two before the performance. But at concert time, everyone is in place and ready to begin.
Why do the musicians wear formal black clothes?
This is a long tradition that started a few centuries ago. Sometimes musicians dress a little more casually. But they still try to look uniform, so that the audience can concentrate on the music. Soloists are the exception: they often dress differently, because they are the focus of attention.
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How come there are more stringed instruments than anything else?
The sound of each individual stringed instrument is softer than a brass or woodwind instrument. But in large numbers, they make a magnificent, rich sonority.
Why do their bows move together?
The players of each individual section—first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses—play in unison most of the time. So all the cellos move together, for instance. As you listen, noticing the different bowings for each section gives you a visual clue to sort out the various melodies you are hearing.
What does the concertmaster do?
The concertmaster sits in the first chair of the first violins. He acts as leader of that section, but also plays a leadership role with the orchestra as a whole. He is also the last orchestra member to enter the stage before a concert, and cues the oboe to "tune" the orchestra.
Why do all the musicians tune to the oboe?
The penetrating tone of the oboe is easy for all players to hear. And its ability to sustain pitch is very secure. The oboe plays the note "A," and all the players make sure their “A” is exactly on the same pitch as the oboe’s "A". This ensures that they all are in agreement about the tuning before the concert begins.
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Why do the string players share stands?
Fewer stands mean that the musicians, who are moving around quite a bit, have more room to play freely. Also, because the strings play more continuously than the other parts, their page turns can fall in inconvenient places where there should be no break in the music. Look closely and you’ll see that the player on the outside keeps playing while the player on the inside briefly stops to turn the page.
Why does Maestro Bay leave after every piece of music?
This provides the conductor a little breather—a chance to collect his or her thoughts before starting the next piece. If the applause is very enthusiastic, the conductor will come onstage again, bow, and perhaps recognize some musicians who played important solos in the piece.
Why don't the musicians smile while they play?
Look closely and you'll see that some of them do! But in general, they are concentrating deeply, just like outfielders waiting for the fly ball or pitchers winding up to a curve ball. They're "in the Zone." After the music is over, you may see them smiling broadly. If it was a concerto, and they liked the soloist's performance, they won't just smile—the string players will tap their stands with their bows as a sign of appreciation.
Before the Next Concert
How can I learn more about classical music?
There are several ways to learn more about the music you hear at the Austin Symphony. Program notes are provided online for each concert at least one month prior to the concert. These same program notes are provided in the concert program at the concert that evening. Bob Buckalew hosts "Concert Conversations" at 7:10 in the concert hall on classical concert nights. These can be entertaining and enlightening, offering information about the composers and works for the evening. He will often have guest soloists, conductors or composers of a featured work for that concert.
But you might not need to "know" more to have a great time at your next concert. Most people who attend concerts frequently find that it’s like any other passionate pursuit: The more you do it, the more you enjoy it. Most of the classical works you hear repay frequent listening: The more often you hear a piece, the more wonderful layers you hear in it.
Check out our website for future concerts that are specifically designed to help you hear the many layers in the music.
Here are some links to web sites where you can look up composers and their works, buy recordings, and learn more about classical music:
Classical Arts Showcase — This free cable television program is a "music video" channel, showing thousands of arts clips from the world of classical music, theater, opera, classic film and more. The presentation is leisurely and eclectic, and features rare film footage, lost television kinescopes, as well as contemporary performances, with no commercials. It is designed to bring the classical experience to the largest audience possible. Think of it as "Classical MTV." Broadcast locally on Time Warner Cable's AISD channel 22. Check their website for broadcast times.
Andante.com — offers classical music news, reviews, and commentary. For a monthly fee, subscribers can download performances and access reference sources.
ArkivMusic.com — This online store has a vast catalogue of classical recordings, as well as Amazon.com.
FindAConcert.com — This service of the American Symphony Orchestra League is great for finding performances of specific works, or finding orchestra concerts while traveling.
Naxos Records — The Learning Zone of the Nexus Records website has an introduction to classical music, biographies of composers, a glossary of musical terms, and an excellent guide to live-concert listening. You can also stream loads of classical pieces, making this a great place to visit if you want to listen to a work a couple of times before you hear it in concert.
FromTheTop.com — For kids who are learning to play instruments, this site offers a great resource and access to Public Radio’s From The Top programs.
NewMusicBox — And if you like the very newest "classical" music, don't miss this monthly web 'zine about living composers and their works.
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