The main purpose of your concert comparison assignment is to

The main purpose of your concert comparison assignment is to articulate the specific nature of a live classical performance as opposed to a different concert, be it another type of a classical music event or a pop concert. So, to begin:

1. ATTEND TWO CONCERTS: 
   • One must be a “classical”/Western art music concert (this includes musicals, ballet, and opera)
   • The other may be a concert genre of your choice

(Possible two-concert pairs might be: an opera and a symphony orchestra concert; a symphony orchestra concert and a pop concert; a musical and a contemporary classical music (“avant-garde”) concert; a ballet and a world music concert. There are many combinations that are possible!)

1. You must attend both concerts in the FALL 2015 semester. Concerts that you attended prior to this semester may not be used.

1. TAKE NOTES AT THE CONCERTS of everything you observe that has to do with the totality of your concert experience: the venue, the audience, the musicians and ABOVE ALL, the music.

1. TAKE A CONCERT PROGRAM from the classical concert you attend. You will need to include a photograph or scan of this program to submit online with your assignment. If an event runs out of concert programs, take a photograph of one if you can. A concert program is not needed for the second concert program.

1. CONDUCT A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS that describes what the concert experience (visually AND aurally) was like in each concert in as much detail as possible. Please use the terminological tools that you have been learning about in this class every week in your discussion of the music. In addition, you are welcome to talk about what you felt while listening to the music and observing the concerts’ environments.

Keep the following questions in mind when making an outline or brainstorming for your analysis: how were the two musical experiences different, and how did that difference affect YOU? What, for YOU, made the biggest difference in a live classical music performance – as opposed to a recorded one, or a non-classical one? Do you think classical music is still blooming, or would you rather predict its impending demise?

1. FORM
   1. Your analysis may take any discursive form you wish, you just need to make sure you have written 1200 to 1500 words.
   2. Ideas include creating: a webpage or blog (WordPress), an infographic, a Prezi, a short story or poem, a newspaper column, a comic book, a Facebook page, a series of Tweets, a short film (using YouTube, PowToon, etc.), BE CREATIVE! If you are unsure about your idea just run it by me.

1. THE DETAILS

All assignments must include:
The types of concerts attended.
The dates and locations of the concerts.
The names of the performers or ensembles.
The types of instruments used.
Descriptions of the venues and audiences.
Musical terminology learned in the course of the semester to describe the music of the concerts.
All responses should be written in complete sentences. In addition to content, your Assignment will be evaluated on grammar punctuation, and organization.
Length: 1200 to 1500 words
Include your name, course number and section (MUS189A), and date

DUE: Monday 11_23_15. If you do not turn in the assignment at the beginning of class on this date you will receive a zero (0) grade for the Concert Comparison Assignment.