Concert Etiquette for attending "Classical Music" Concerts
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
May and June can be the busiest months of the year for parents and students and also music teachers who are preparing their students for recitals and auditions. I will be presenting a Spring Chamber Music Program in collaboration with flutist and music educator Yulia Berry on May 9, 2026 at The First Baptist Church in Sharon. The program will feature our students in a variety of pieces for flute and clarinet including arrangements of many well-known works. Additionally, the Sharon Performing Artists Association will present our annual Youth Concerts on Sunday May 31, 2026 at Our Lady Of Sorrows Parish in Sharon, MA.
With this in mind, I offer these audience guidelines for concert etiquette in a classical music concert setting:
Plan to arrive at the venue before the concert begins. If you do arrive after the concert has begun, wait to enter the performance hall during applause between pieces.
Remember to silence all electronic devices: phones, alarms, pagers, etc.
Refrain from talking, whispering, unwrapping candy and rattling programs - the sounds of which carry throughout the performance hall and be a distraction to performers.
If the piece has several "movements" or sections, hold your applause until the very end of the piece. Look at the printed concert program for guidance or look at the performer or conductor - you'll know when the piece is complete. And then, give a warm applause to the performers.
Refrain from taking photos while the performer is playing. This is distracting - not only to the performer, but also to the audience. Wait until the piece is over or until the end of the recital.
Stay for the entire concert. Intending to arrive after the concert has begun, or leaving after your child has played is disrespectful to the other performers.
Sit back and enjoy!
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