Newcomers to classical music are sometimes nervous about “following the rules.” But concert halls are really not as stuffy and judgy as they seem. Concert etiquette is all about preserving the magic of the moment for everyone in the auditorium. It’s really not much different than using good manners in other crowded spaces. Here are a few pointers and why they matter.
It comes down to this: We’re all there to enjoy the music.
Don’t talk while the musicians are playing or while anyone on stage is talking to the audience. You’d be surprised at how easily your voice carries in a concert hall. Please don’t take this personally, but everyone in the audience came to hear the music, not your conversation. Including you!
When you do have the opportunity to talk, (like before or after the concert, during intermission, or between pieces if the conductor leaves the stage) keep your conversations short and use your quietest library voice. Concert halls are made to enhance sound, so even a few conversations at normal volume can sound rather loud.
Clapping is encouraged! The orchestra wants to know if you liked the performance. Cheering with your voice is even ok when you truly loved something you heard. But, you should wait until the orchestra stops playing. (Again, your clapping would cover the music.) Oftentimes, large orchestral works are divided into sections kind of like books are divided into chapters. These sections are called “movements.” There is some argument about whether audiences should clap between movements of a piece. Some say clap if you enjoyed the movement so much that you don’t want to wait to let the musicians know; others say to hold all the applause until the work is completely finished. If you’re not sure when to clap, it’s probably most polite to wait until the piece is complete and the conductor puts his or her hands down.
This all makes sense, doesn't it? You wouldn’t talk over a friend who’s trying to have a conversation with you. You wouldn’t yell or shout while a server is trying to take your family’s order at a restaurant. And you wouldn’t randomly start cheering for a classmate in the middle of a math test. Think of the musicians on stage as friends who are presenting a gift to you. That gift only will last for that concert. Listen and enjoy so that you can take the memory of that gift with you when you leave the hall.
