March 29, 2024

Etiquette

The SMHS Vocal Music Department is always proud to showcase our students at each concert.  When parents and friends attend, please keep in mind that while everyone may have a variety of reasons for attending, the most important reason is to watch and listen to the performers.  This is not a recorded or televised event; these singers are LIVE.  They can see and hear the audience and they want to do their best for you.  Good concert etiquette helps the performers perform more effectively and helps the audience have a good experience.  Please show your respect for our students by following some simple rules of concert etiquette:

  • DO arrive on time.  Audience members should arrive prior to a performance in plenty of time to receive a program, find a seat, and get settled before the concert begins. If you arrive after the concert has started, please wait until applause begins before entering the auditorium.
  • DO stay seated throughout the entire performance.  All groups have worked very hard for this performance.  The last group deserves the same audience as the first group.
  • DO keep young children quiet during the performance.  If young children become distressed, please move them to the lobby.
  • DO applaud enthusiastically at the end of a piece but never in the middle of a piece.  Also, remember that a piece is not over until the conductor’s hands come down.  Often the most special moments in music are the moments of silence.
  • DO take plenty of photographs before the concert and between selections but never during a piece.  This is very distracting to the singers and your fellow audience members.
  • DO allow yourself to be wrapped up in the performance but please refrain from humming or talking during a piece.
  • DO your part by not interrupting our sensitive moments of quiet.  Please turn off all electronic devices, including cell phones, beepers beeper, and watch alarms. We encourage you to share your experience of this performance via social media, but please refrain from doing so or texting during performances; the glow from your device is distracting and the signals interfere with our wireless microphone system.
  • DO continue to take pride in arts education Together, we can preserve the wonders of choral music and continue to provide quality experiences such as this concert to our students.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping to make each concert a more memorable performance!