Reprinted from the Rutgers Music Education Newsletter, Spring 1999 issue
Should We Talk About Concert Etiquette?
by
Cecil Adderley
We have all enjoyed a semester of wonderful performances by Mason Gross School of the Arts music students and faculty. As Rutgers faculty members, many of us have taken for granted that all of our performers are prepared for the artistic experience and are well versed in concert etiquette, however our audiences are not always equally prepared for these events.
Most of us were provided with instruction regarding appropriate behavior at such events by those who were influential in our lives and cared enough about us to make sure that our behavior and/or attire did not draw undue attention. Each of us at one time or another has instructed performers on proper attire for select musical events. Yet, some of our students (audience members) might not know what attire is acceptable for a casual university program or an evening at a much more formal venue. As music faculty members, we often need to become those influential persons in the lives of our students to remind them that other audience members, and performers are entitled to our consideration.
Courtesy is contagious and we could all benefit from spreading it throughout our concert audiences. We should remind our students that at Rutgers, we are providing a first class learning experience through musical performance that is second to none. The concert experience does not begin with the down beat, but with acquiring the ticket from the box office staff, handing it over to our polite ticket takers, being greeted by our ushers, and ultimately listening to our well prepared performers. If we remind our students of this, maybe they will view the experience differently.
Let us remind our students to be on time. To paraphrase one of our colleagues, if you're on time, you're late. Let us encourage our students to arrive a few minutes early, then they will be on time. Performers have prepared works worthy of hearing at the beginning of their performance, do not allow tardiness to diminish the quantity of quality music you experience during that event.
Concerts are musical experiences that should be heard in silence unless otherwise noted in the concert program. We will have to remind our students, and future consumers, that this form of entertainment is different from some of the athletic events or popular music concerts where it is acceptable for them to be enthusiastic participants. Performers generally appreciate the attention of audience members who are courteous, remain silent during the performance and applaud at the appropriate moments.
As we continue to support the artistic efforts of our students, colleagues, and friends, we must inform many of our students of the importance of etiquette in the concert halls of our school. As music teachers we have a choice, inform our students of what is appropriate or continue to complain about the present behavior of some members of our audience. Some of us may believe that students should learn about appropriate behavior in another setting other than our classes, but as educators if we refuse to address the problem today, it only continues to be a problem tomorrow. Remember, they are not just our students, they are the future consumers of the music we teach, create and want to survive.
Cecil Adderley is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Rutgers.