The rules of good concert etiquette are relatively easy to follow, and demonstrate respect for our music faculty and students.

When attending an instrumental concert at MCS, please display the following signs of concert etiquette:

• A guest at a music concert should enter and exit the room only between selections. Whenever possible, a guest should wait until a song has ended and the audience is applauding before moving. The only exception to this cardinal rule of concert etiquette is to remove a restless or crying child or if the guest feels ill. 

• Visitors should not talk during a performance. If something must be said to a neighbor, always whisper directly into their ear so that those around you cannot hear your comments.  In the same vein, turn any mobile phones off or set them to vibrate only.  From the performer's point of view, few things are as distracting as the chime of a phone in the middle of a song.

• While it is always customary to applaud at the end of a song, remember that some classical pieces of music are broken down into "movements." An example of this would be the Nutcracker Suite.  Suites and other such songs have brief breaks in between parts where the music will stop for a few seconds. Watch the conductor (and those around you) and do not applaud until the conductor has dropped his hands and has turned around to acknowledge the audience.

Thank you for creating a respectful atmosphere for our student musicians!