As with any piece of writing, the first thing to think about is the reader. In the case of a Bachtrack Young Reviewer Programme review, the chances are that the readers will be other young people. There might be quite a large range of knowledge of classical music: some will be expert musicians, others will be novices and won’t understand any of the musical jargon.
What do you want to tell them?
You can write about any aspect of the concert: the musicians, the pieces played, the sound, the atmosphere, how it all made you feel. The most important thing is that your writing should be lively, vivid and interesting. Choose the things that excite you most: they’re sure to be the easiest ones for you to get across to your readers.
There are some things that you’ll definitely want to mention: what were the main works being played, who were they composed by, and who were the main performers (especially the conductor and orchestra if there is one, and any soloists). You’ll particularly want to mention any new works that are being heard for the first time.
Before the concert
Have a look at the concert programme in advance. Do you know these pieces well already, or is there anything that might benefit from a little homework? For instance, if a piece tells a story, or has words, it might be worth reading these beforehand: this is particularly true for opera or choral music, where classical singing styles can make it difficult to hear the words. That way, when you’re in the concert hall, you can concentrate on the music and get the most out of it.
If there’s a new piece on the programme, get there in time to read the programme note, and try and find out a bit about the composer’s other music, so you’re not entirely surprised by what you hear.