Musical Review of Lang Lang Disney Book Concert

Concert link: https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=2AisC-FeDoE

(Lang Lang Disney Book Concert)

Write a paper on the concert experience. Make an argument about how the experience of the concert informed/shaped your experience of the music. You might discuss how the concert changed a certain idea you had about some type of music, or you might describe what you found off-putting or enthralling about attending a concert, or you might describe how the audience reacted to the music and why that might be.

Grading: In grading these I will be looking at the following criteria: thesis and support, use of musical concepts and terms, and flow and composition. For the paper you will receive a point score out of 25: up to 10 points for thesis and support, up to 10 points for musical concepts/ terms, and up to 5 points for flow and composition.

Thesis and support: Make an argument about the performance you attend. Use your description to support that argument; don't just list relevant musical concepts or give a "blow-by-blow" description. State your thesis clearly and ensure the entire paper is structured as an argument. Whatever your thesis is, support it with reference to musical specifics.

Musical Terminology: This assignment should be a chance to use musical terminology and concepts. For example, being able to say "the dancing triple meter and syncopated, staccato violins made the song sound upbeat" is more valuable than "the song was upbeat." Your use of musical terminology should be in the service of your ideas. Describe the music as closely as you can, but the remember that the point of musical analysis is to help you say something about the music and what it does, not just to say what it is made of.

If the music has lyrics, you can mention these but focus heavily on the musical elements, including how they interact with the text.

Flow and Composition: Your paper should be clear, organized, and coherent. Not everyone is a poet, but the weight of your argument rests on how clearly you communicate.

In a short paper, brevity is key! Be sure that every word counts - no unnecessary filler, little if any repetition, no vague or rambling introduction or conclusion. Don't use words or terms you don't clearly understand and don't write long, unclear sentences. Avoid platitudinous statements (e.g., "Music is a universal language" or

"Music is what it means to be human") that do nothing for your argument. Ensure the punctuation and grammar are accurate.

Your paper should have an introduction that includes a thesis statement, followed by a series of body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The structure should serve the thesis. Each paragraph between introduction and conclusion should contribute evidence that supports the paper's thesis; make it explicit how these paragraphs are contributing to your larger argument.