How to Attend a Solo Piano Concert

A solo piano concert can be a sublime experience, and you generally won't have to travel far to find one. Your own town probably offers many solo piano performances during the year. Here are some tips on how to enjoy a solo piano concert.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Find listings in your local papers or go online to find upcoming piano performances. Depending on who is playing, you may need to purchase tickets for the performance.

2. Find out what pieces are slated for the performance and learn about the music beforehand. Find copies of the compositions on CD or the Internet and listen to them. This preparation gives you a basis for comparison, allowing you to notice the individual touches the soloist puts on the music and making the experience richer for you.

3. Get directions to the concert and ask about parking arrangements. Arrive early, so that you can be in your seat before the concert begins. Depending on the importance of the concert, the front rows may be reserved for friends and family members of the performer.

4. Show respect for the performer by not leaving your seat during the piano concert unless you have a genuine emergency. Many solo piano concerts have an intermission for audience members to stretch their legs and freshen up.

Tips & Warnings

• Enthusiastic applause at a classical solo piano concert almost always elicits at least one encore.
• Dress appropriately. Solo piano concerts tend to be formal or semiformal events.
• Set your cell phone or pager to vibrate before the solo piano concert begins.