GUIDE FOR YOUNG CONCERT AUDIENCE

This Guide for Young Concert Audience has been created by the 7th grade students of the Minna Canth Junior High School in fall 2004 during a culture education project.

1. How to dress, where to sit, what to eat or not?

• One must dress nice and proper - but not too posh - to a concert.
• A concert is not necessarily a costume party, but it is good to represent yourself nicely.
• You can buy something small to munch but it is not well-mannered to rustle the papers during the performance.
• Leave the candy and sodas for the interval.
• Your not allowed to eat during the concert but you buy something from the café (or the nearest grocery) during the interval.
• Don't drink too much before the concert or during the interval so you won't have to run to the toilet in the middle of the performance.

2. Is it ok to talk with a friend during the concert?

• As long as you make sure that you are being quiet it's ok.
• When the orchestra plays it is desirable to be quiet.
• It is very funny if one can hear loud talking while there is a quiet passage in the music.
• Absolutely not. You can bandy later on.

3. When to applaud or not?

• You'll be less embarrassed if you'll stay quiet and start applauding only when the other members of the audience applaud.
• If it is a symphony or a concerto with many movements you're supposed to applaud only after the last movement.
• The rule of thumb is to applaud only when others applaud as well.

4. When should I arrive to the concert?

• It is recommendable to arrive in good time, approximately 15 minutes before the concert starts.

5. Can i send an SMS to my girl / boy friend during the concert?

• No way. You're supposed to have come to the concert to listen to the music.
• Your cellphone should be off so it won't bother others.
• Turn your cellphone off in the beginning of the concert.

6. Can I wear my jeans?

• As long as there not too crumpled.
• A nice pair of jeans and a decent shirt is a good combo.
• Not the most outrageous ones.

7. What happens on the stage?

• When the orchestra performs listen carefully and watch the musicians, it is fun!
• The whole orchestra and their instruments are on the stage.
• One should respect the musicians while they are performing.
• The orchestra plays. The conductor lays about with his baton.