how to write a music review essay

A music review

Learn how to write an album review.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

Matching_MjMxMDc=

Want a job as a music journalist? Here's your chance. We're looking for a new lead reviewer for Hot! Magazine but we're not interviewing for the job. Instead, write a review of your favourite album ever. We want to know why you love it and why you think everyone should listen to it. Convince us and you've got the job!

I'm certainly not alone with my choice of favourite album. In fact, Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA has sold 30 million copies worldwide since its release in 1984. Nearly 30 years later, in 2013, Springsteen performed the complete album in concert to the delight of some of his many die-hard fans.

A fast-paced, foot-tapping rock album, Born in the USA 's lyrics nevertheless carry emotional weight. Behind the catchy rock melodies that drive these powerhouse classics are stories of the dark side of the American dream. Many tracks deal with the struggles of hard-working ordinary people and the bitterness and anger they feel as life doesn't bring them riches or glory. The song Glory Days , for example, is about people in a small town looking back at when they were young and had the world at their feet while Downbound Train  tells the story of a young man whose life is ruined when he loses his job. It's not hard to imagine that the artist is channelling real people he knew and the life he might have had if he hadn't become a star. The album will leave you in no doubt of the unique and extraordinary talent of the Boss.

Unlike many other best-selling album artists, Springsteen is still releasing chart-topping, stadium-filling new music and remains at the top of his game in his late 60s. It doesn't surprise me at all. This is a man who tells us our most fundamental stories about ourselves and, when you listen to Born in the USA , those stories are as relevant today as they ever were.

• The first paragraph should be a general introduction to what you're reviewing. Include the title, artist, and an interesting fact about its success or how it was made.
• The main body of the review needs detailed observations. Use specific vocabulary (e.g.  lyrics , fast-paced , catchy melodies ) to comment on particular songs and parts of the music.
• It is also important to give context. Link the music to the artist's life, or what inspired them, and the political or social context of the album.
• Try to make the review interesting and relevant to the reader. You can relate the artist's work to real-life experience (yours or that of people in general).
• Use compound adjectives (e.g. fast-paced , foot-tapping , best-selling ) to make your writing highly descriptive.
• Finish off with a summary of why this album/concert, etc. is important.

What's your favourite album of all time?

Language level

With different music exponents 2022 was marked by the pop music industry, nevertheless there was a new artist incorporated to the big leagues of the music and her name is Rosalía. The self-denominated “Motomami” is a Spanish singer and composer of 31 years old. She came to change the music paradigms by including melodies as “flamenco” to the pop music style, being awarded by Billboard with the Rising Star prize. In 2019, we came listening a catchy soundtrack called “Con Altura” where She got a Latin Grammy Prize in collaboration with the urban artist J. Balvin. But it was not until 2022 where she becomes internationally renowned and will lead the chart-topping in all over the world with her album “MOTOMAMI”. It’s essences an incredible and curious mix of different melodies which including flamenco, jazz, reggaeton, bachata, among others. This is an innovative and gripping album oval by both the criticism and the die-hard fans, where the imagination flew to make some fast-paced soundtracks like DESPECHÁ, SAOKO and, CHICKEN TERIYAKI. With her unmistakable voice, she has delighted several packed-halls on “MOMOMAMI WORLD TOUR (MWT)”, where the atmosphere has been electric and thrilling. While some of her songs have these characteristics, others have moving and touching rhythms, such as HENTAI and SAKURA.

Many theatregoers to MWT said that she was lived up to expectations, and it was a treat to watch. At the end of each concert, deafening applauses were heard in the halls. This year, Rosalía has known how to exploit his musical career with MOTOMAMI album and MWT. Giving these results, we expect the next year She obtains new music and greater success in the music industry.

• Log in or register to post comments

Caetano Veloso, 81, released his most important album in 1972 called "Transa" and it's an album made when he was in exile in London due to the dictatorial government Brazil was under at the time, he among other artists were exile due to their active criticism of the political scene at the time.

Transa is an album full of experiments with sounds and instruments and it reflects on Caetano's life away from his family and country.

Yanni is a Greek composer, keyboardist, pianist, and music producer. Yanni's music is composed of jazz, classical period music, soft rock, and world music And most of his songs are made up of musical instruments. Yanni became famous with his live concert at the Acropolis. The album Live at the Acropolis is the second best-selling concert video of all time with more than 7 million copies. This concert was broadcast in 65 countries and more than half a billion people watched it.

In addition, Yanni is known because he has performed in historical places such as the Taj Mahal in India, the Forbidden City in China, the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, and so on.

The song Acroyali/Standing In Motion was considered by the Royal Society of Medicine Journal (April 2001) because its composition is similar to Mozart's Sonata No. 448 and is thought to be effective in reducing epileptic attacks. Most of his songs don't have lyrics, so the whole message is delivered through beats, melodies, and sounds. Yanni's artworks are a reflection of his soul, his experiences in life, and his relationships with other people and cultures.

The 10th Studio Album of the singer and compositor artist Taylor Swift is called “Midnights”, it’s, in fact, the best-selling album of 2022 and the most successful in her entire career. During her approximately 15 years of career, this singer has caught many die-hard fans that have been supporting her music during this time, and this was because of the emotional lyrics and melodies she puts into her work.

Taylor Swift’s latest smash hit came from this new album, and it’s called “Anti-Hero” which stayed top-chart up to 4 weeks, and it talks about the feeling she went through during difficult times in her life and career when people made her think that she was the problem, and the magic he puts into her songs it’s the ability to tell us a story of her own life and make people relate to her songs, building up an emotional attachment to her work and becoming fans, we can see this happen on “The Eras Tour” which got sold-out immediately during the pre-sale all around the US, the rationale is the big well-build fanbase she created throughout the years. Also, we can notice the catchy pop melodies on this new album like she did years ago with her successful recording “1989” and experimenting with new songs again as she did on “Labyrinth” and “Midnight Rain”.

This album, as well as her entire career, has made an impact on how the feelings can build up a die-hard fanbase and how she creates her success by being listened to here and there and making a mark on the new generation of people becoming the most successful singer of the last decade.

Great, though I am not entirely her fan. I like her songs love story and Hello Newyok.

I’ve heard many songs of Billie Eilish since she debuted but I officially become a huge fan of her after listening to the Happier Than Ever album. This album obviously remark her change of style, taste of music and personality, from such melancholy and spooky vibe to bright and powerful style. With the meaningful lyrics and angelic voice, Billie’s music truly helps people speak out their feelings and overcome the tough time in their life. Billie even add some rock, jazz and electropop melodies to this album, which makes her music more diverse and strongly prove her a really talented singer and songwriter.

After going through a period of depression due to being famous at such a young age, Billie Eilish was back on her feet with her brand new album released in 2021 called Happier Than Ever. This album threw back a long journey about how much she has grown up with every track carry different emotions. I love almost all songs in this collection, I can feel the depth of every word she puts into her songs. Some have a slow and gentle rhythm show nostalgia and a little bit sadness for the past but still happiness for her growth. Among these tunes in the album, I truly appreciate the effort she made to create the song “Happier Than Ever”. This is such a masterpiece because how therapeutic it is. The story behind this song and the lyrics are so relatable that helps many people get over their toxic and abusive relationship. This song starts with a soft and slow melody at the beginning but the transition to make it more energetic then finally become a rock one is just incredible. You can feel the flow of emotion which turns from happiness to sadness and anger in rock and electric guitar theme. The whole album is my favorite but this piece of art “Happier Than Ever” just hits different and even harder everytime I listen. I love how she allows music to inspire her to do these extraordinary forms of art. She breaks the rules and let her creativity define her music in her own unique style.

Some people used to say that Billie’s music is dull and meaningless but I find the beauty in her music and respectfully look up to her. She didn’t try to avoid those negative feelings and wasn’t affraid to sing them out loud. Now Billie comes back with her powerful “Happier Than Ever” album. Upon release, the album received acclaim from music critics, who praised its stylistic, restrained production, and insightful lyrics. This artwork is really worth listening once in your life.

Wonderful writing!

I don't have such a thing as a favorite album but if I could choose I can go with something from Nujabes. His songs are always so catchy and calm.

This kind of music is like a hidden treasure, although it's not the most popular, its fans have a unique taste that appreciates the velvet touch in its context. Silent hill is a series of horror games that are not just used to scare its audience. It used bizarre, but sweet, music to arouse some seldom-felt energy vibes.

Silent hill is a series that has a special set of albums that are carefully designed by "Akira Yamaoka" to address some natural instinct of ecstasy in the human brain; unique sound waves that strike their listeners' hearts to arouse some feelings and states of consciousness nominated by psychology, like "Rapture". The story of the game is associated with heart-breaking drama which is perfectly complemented by this music. Akira Yamaoka understands how sweet salvation is from corruption and the end of an abomination and that is exactly the impression you feel when you listen to the silent hill soundtrack.

Music has a magical effect on the human mood. One masterpiece can change your life and give you new insight and hope; one piece of music can liberate your mindset. This might sound crazy, but music is a form of art, isn't art crazy?

It is no doubt that Queen is one of the most popular band of all time, Their legendary songs captivated hearts and inspired people from their time and even to this day. Bohemian Rhapsody was indeed a masterpiece, It was my late father's favorite song and he used to play their songs every single day. I remeber vividly how my dad's love for their music radiated so much energy and enthusiasm. When I missed my dad so badly I just tune in Queen's songs, its heartwarming and catchy tunes always brings back sweet memories.

Online courses

Group and one-to-one classes with expert teachers.

Learn English in your own time, at your own pace.

One-to-one sessions focused on a personal plan.

Get the score you need with private and group classes.  

+61 272 520 888

15% discount on first order.

6 tips on how to write a music review.

• What Is a Music Review?
• Tips on How to Write a Music Review
• 1. Listen to the song repeatedly
• 2. Take notes while listening
• 3. Do research about the music
• 4. Be objective and original
• 5. Follow a format
• 6. Proofread, edit, and finalize the music review
• Sample Music Review
• Music Review Paper Writing Help

Knowing how to write a music review is a task not only for students. Art professors, famous musician fans, and even musicians themselves should know how to review music. They should be able to express their interpretation of the songs and give readers an insight into whether a piece of music is well-composed or if it was just a collage of individual sounds. This article will help individuals who are looking to learn how to write a music review by giving tips on how to review music and providing examples that reviewers can use as a reference while writing their papers.

A music review is a review paper that focuses on assessing and analyzing a musical piece, album, or musical performance. This type of paper is often a short written work, mostly around 600 words. The paper should contain the author’s criticism of a musical work. They should include criticism of a song’s technical aspects such as the singer, the instruments, and the structure of the song. The author should also include a criticism of the artistic style of a musical work especially if it is a musical performance such as a music video. 

The quality and structure of writing this type of paper will depend on the author and their target audience. A student may use a simple music review template that only focuses on the artistic style of a musical piece. A professional critic will tend to use either a customized music review template or at least an intricate template that focuses on every aspect of a musical piece. There are many music review examples that an individual can use to help them write a review paper.

Need a music revire? I can help!

A writer may write this type of paper with the purpose of giving readers an overview of a musical track, album, or performance. It can also be an in-depth analysis that teachers can use to educate their class and improve their student’s critical thinking skills . A student who is writing this type of paper may have no idea about any musical genre or style. They may not even be interested in listening to any songs. A reviewer may also be unfamiliar with a particular musical style. For example, a pianist may need to write a paper criticizing classic country music . This may make it difficult for them to construct a well-written review. This is why it is practical to use a music review template. To further help individuals, here are some tips on how to write a music review:

The first and most important tip on how to write a music review is to listen to the song repeatedly. The reviewer won’t be able to write a good paper if they only listen to the song once. If possible, they should listen to the song inside a controlled environment. This can be a sound-proof room or even just the bathroom in a house. This will help a reviewer listen to the sounds and melody without any audio distractions and hear the clean sounds from their listening device. While listening, the reviewer can look through some music review examples which can help them think about how to construct their movie review template.

The next tip on how to write a music review is to take notes. Since the reviewer will be listening repeatedly to a song, they can take down notes between each listening session. The reviewer can still write down notes while listening to a song, however, this will cause them to defocus during some parts of the song. An alternative method would be for the reviewer to record themselves while listening. They can speak directly to the camera and express their thought process. They will also be able to capture their emotion while listening to a song. 

The third tip on how to write a music review is research. The reviewer should gather information about the singer, composer, writer, and even the album company. This will help them construct the introduction and background information for their paper. The reviewer should also look for existing music review examples about the song or at least a song from the same genre. Reading music review examples will help the reviewer gain more knowledge about the song and learn from the insights of other reviewers. Reviewers who are trying to make a template for their paper will also benefit from reading some examples.

A reviewer should be objective and original when writing their paper. A reviewer may be writing a paper on a genre or artist that they dislike. Their attitude towards the genre or artist should not affect their paper’s content and message. When reading music review examples, a reviewer might discover a community consensus about a song. The community consensus may indicate that almost everyone dislikes a song due to a particular line or the background of the artist. It is easy to concede to a general consensus, however, a reviewer should not be afraid to write their opinion even if it disagrees with everyone else. This will make the paper’s contents unique and a new perspective for readers to read about.

Reviewers should consider following a format when writing their papers. This will help make the reviewer’s paper flow smoothly and have a proper structure. A reviewer can use the standard essay format since it is the most common format writers use. Depending on the music review template that a reviewer used, a whole paper can be a short 400-word essay or a lengthy 1000-word paper. Look for an example of a music review essay to help in determining how to better format a music review.

The last tip on how to write a music review is to proofread. Proofreading is an essential part of any writing task. The first paper that the reviewer will write will most likely have grammatical and typographical errors. The reviewer may need to revise some of their sentences. It is also a good idea to fact-check the pieces of information that a reviewer includes in their paper. A reviewer may have misread an article or provided outdated information. A reviewer may also compare their paper to other music review examples to see if the structure is similar.

Deadline Approaching?

We work 24/7 and we are affordable (from $13.95/page). Our writers, managers and support agents all have been involved in academic ghostwriting for years. We can assist even with the most difficult writing assignment under time constraints.

This type of paper can be about a song, a whole album, a band, or a music video. Reading how-to articles and sample papers can help an individual know where to start. Below is an example essay that reviewers can use as a reference when writing their paper:

Review of Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill” (2017)

The song ``Castle on the Hill'' is a part of Ed Sheeran’s album called “÷” (Divide). Ed Sheeran is an English singer and songwriter. He began to gain massive popularity in 2017 after releasing the album “÷” (Divide). “Castle on the Hill” is a folk/pop/rock song that perfectly expresses the feeling of nostalgia. It became a popular song that people played everywhere back in 2017. When someone enters malls and offices they would most likely hear a sound system playing the song. Street musicians and YouTubers sang various covers of “Castle in the Hill”. The song captured the hearts of everyone who were once children playing in the grass.

The pure sound of an acoustic guitar’s string, free from any electrical or synthetic influence, perfectly transports the listener to their early childhood. The first line of the song: “When I was six years old, I broke my leg” is a very relatable statement since almost anyone has experienced grazing their knees or falling down while playing. The rhythm and sound of the acoustic guitar also resonate with the feeling of visiting the countryside. It makes the listeners remember the times where they go on a family vacation and see the ocean of green fields as they look out from the window of their car.

Though Ed Sheeran’s guitar playing skills were great, it was his emotion-filled singing that made the song stand out from any other. During the chorus lines which imply a return to the countryside, one can hear the passionate cry of a man excited to go back to his home. During the parts of the song where he sings about the current lives of his childhood friends, one can hear and feel the concern he has for them. When he sings about their childhood experience of drinking alcohol and playing on the fields, he expresses the sound of nostalgia - of a man trying to relive his blissful youth. The title, “Castle on the Hill,” may represent the infinite imagination of children. That while playing in the green fields of the countryside, children often imagine having castles and mansions. They imagine fighting monsters and dragons. They were young and the country’s green grass was their playground.

“Castle on the Hill” is a modern song that makes its listeners crave the joy and innocence of youth. Listening to the song will make a person think of their childhood and how carefree they were. The sound of the acoustic guitar also helps in imagining the feeling of being in the countryside. From its musical simplicity to the emotion-filled singing of Ed Sheeran, “Castle on the Hill” made its listeners remember the feeling of childhood and incited an urge to visit the countryside once again.

If these tips on how to write a music review are still not enough, perhaps one can consider looking for professional help. Students or other individuals who are not comfortable with writing about any type of paper can go to CustomEssayMeister. The website offers a variety of writing services to help with written assignments such as a biology assignment about human evolution or writing a paper about classical musicians such as Mozart and Beethoven. Our professional writers guarantee high-quality and plagiarism-free papers that you can submit as your own.

more in Writing Guides / Essay Writing

• How to Fact Check for Your Essay Oct 6, 2019
• Guide on How To Use The Four Types of Sentences Aug 17, 2019
• How To Write An Expository Essay in 6 Steps Jan 23, 2019
• Essays vs Research Papers Oct 8, 2019

Let’s get your assignment done!

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

8 Tips on How to Write a Music Review

3-minute read

• 16th May 2020

When you write a music review, you’re aiming to share your impression of the music with the reader. And when you’re reviewing an album, these tips will help you to write something that is readable and engaging.

Before you start writing a review, listen to the music from start to finish at least twice. As you listen, note down your initial thoughts and feelings.

Next, think about how you will introduce and summarize the music. As well as sitting down to listen critically to the music, it might help to listen through speakers or headphones as you go about your day.

2. Research Is Key

Once you’ve listened to the music, do your research. Read articles and interviews with the artist to gather facts about them and the music you’re reviewing. It can also help to read other people’s reviews so you become familiar with the language used in music writing.

3. Think About Context

Think about the music in the context of its genre and the artist’s history. How does it compare with the rest of its genre? Is it a classic example of bubblegum pop, or does it bend the boundary between heavy metal and hardcore punk? And how does it compare to the artist’s previous work?

4. Consider Different Angles

Think about all aspects of the album: how it works as a whole, the individual songs, the lyrics, the artwork , the instrumentation, and its production. Set out your overall impression and go into detail on anything you find interesting (e.g., a theme running through the lyrics or a repeating melody).

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

5. Avoid Bias

If you write for as wide an audience as possible, try to be objective. Whether it’s music by your favorite artist or a band and genre you hate, try not to let this cloud your judgement. If you don’t like an artist or a genre, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality of the music is bad.

6. Be Honest

It might be tempting to copy what everyone else is writing about the music, but your review should give your honest opinion. If you loved an album that the rest of the world seems to despise, let everyone know!

You can acknowledge other people’s opinions and general attitudes to the music, but it is your review and therefore your own opinion matters most.

7. Write Clearly

Your review should be clear and readable. For longer reviews, use subheadings and cover different aspects of the album in separate sections to make it easy to follow. You can also include images of the artist or the album artwork to break up the text and illustrate your writing.

8. Edit Your Review

Once you’ve written a first draft of your review, think about how to edit it. Look for ways to make it clear and memorable. It may help to read it aloud or ask others to give you feedback. Make revisions where necessary, and remember to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation .

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

How to add a video to google slides.

In today’s digital age, engaging and interactive presentations are a great way to capture your...

How to Convert a PDF to PowerPoint

Creating engaging and visually appealing presentations is something that most professionals, as well as students,...

4-minute read

How to Get a Medical Writing Job

Medical writing is a niche branch of writing that focuses on creating content related to...

5-minute read

How to Cite a PowerPoint in APA

If you want to use information from a PowerPoint presentation in your essay, you’ll need...

What Is a Press Release?

In the fast-paced world of modern marketing, effective communication is essential for businesses looking to...

How to Add Music to Google Slides

In the world of presentations, adding a touch of music can transform a dull slideshow...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

How to Write a Music Review

Musical performance review definition.

A musical performance review is a subjective and educated response to a musical performance. There are many musical performances and they always appear. We listen, we re-listen, we get pleasure, then something bothers us, we rush to find a new one, and we return to the old music albums. All this can influence us when we watch a musical performance, especially if it is our favorite singer or band. Many of us after watching a performance have a big desire to write a review on it. Today, we will tell you how to write a music review.

The Purpose of the Musical Performance Review

A lot of people are interested in reading reviews on musical performances. Some even read reviews more often than they read books or watch movies. Most reviews are not so good unfortunately. The main purpose of writing a musical performance review is to show your attitude to the show, to present your opinion. Most writers are paid for good reviews, so it is a good chance to gain some money.

Writing a review is always an attempt to express your attitude toward the performance. If someone writes feedback, then it will simply evaluate the performance in the context of like and dislike. The reviewer needs to deeply argue his/her point of view. The writer of the review interacts emotionally with the public, and therefore uses both everyday expressions and literary words. Now that you know the definition and purpose of the review, it is time to learn how to write a music review.

How to Prepare for Writing a Musical Performance Review

• Forget all photos and biographies of the artist. And if you do not know the artists yet, do not get acquainted before you write at least a draft. It is strange when in the review there is more talk about the fact that the vocalist’s appearance is not what it was in the 90s than actually about the performance.
• Do not read reviews for the performance that you are about to describe.
• Carry out preliminary work. Watch the performance which you will write a review on. Find out when and where it was already held. The performance itself is best visited several times to test your first impressions.
• Get a notebook and a pen. You can make some notes while watching the performance – it will be useful for your future writing. Making notes in the dark is not very convenient, but this is a necessary part of the work. Draw how the scene looks, write down the songs you liked, and note all your impressions that arose during the performance which can later be forgotten. Returning home, it is better to immediately “decrypt” all the hastily made notes.
• Do not rush to write a review. Within a few days, go back to the performance mentally, and compare the first impressions with the aftertaste. After that, you can start to write the text itself.

Questions to Ask Before Writing a Musical Performance Review

• What is the subject of analysis (artist or band; when and where the performance was held)?
• Is the review relevant? Express why you decided to write it.
• What are the main points of the performance?
• What are your feelings about the performance?
• What are shortcomings of the performance?
• Did the artist/band communicate with the audience during the performance? How?

Musical Performance Review Writing Steps

• Provide brief information about the performance, the artists, and their past performances in the first part of the article.
• Write an analysis of the ideological content. Think about what thought the artists wanted to convey to the audience, and what was the atmosphere at the performance. Analyze several important songs, note the original director’s decisions and the singers’ presentation. Give arguments regardless of whether you praise or scold. It is very important to keep objectivity, even if you did not like the performance as a whole. In any performance, you can find positive aspects.
• Evaluate the vocal performance. Don’t forget to indicate the names of the singers who performed. It is not necessary to list in detail all the singers.
• Talk about the color solutions, light scenarios, and how the form helped to disclose the content. It is worth giving a few words to the work of the choreographers, costumers, and make-up artists.
• Try not to compare the performance with the previous ones. It’s very easy to write that this performance is like the last one. Write about the music, write about the lyrics. Give a chance to new watchers to learn about the new performance, as something direct, and not through the prism of your brain. We’ve read a lot of reviews that almost entirely consist of comparisons. The exception to this rule is if the performance is frankly a weak presentation of old hits. Although this is also very subjective, as many conservative people refuse to accept something new and prefer old hits and performances. It’s just not right to compare the “quality” of the new performance, which you watched once or twice, with an old one you watched 200 times since the age of 14.
• Watch the performance carefully. Write about it without prejudice, as you would something new. How do you like reviews such as, “Good old AC/DC (or Motorhead, Offspring, etc.) presented a new performance! And that’s it, no one expected surprises”? Probably before making such a “review” the author did not bother to watch the performance even to the middle. It’s good, when it is not added to this, that the performance is certainly much weaker than the previous ones (see the previous rule). Write about music. If you did not listen and watch everything, do not sit down at the keyboard – do not disgrace yourself.

Musical Performance Review Example Analysis

Before you start writing a review, it is necessary to read through musical performance review samples . By reading through our sample analysis, you will see that the author didn’t simply retell the events of the performance, but made a thorough analysis of it. If you look through our musical performance review sample, you can write your own review much easier.

Click the images to see their full size.

Requirement for Writing a Musical Performance Review

• The style of writing text is arbitrary.
• Evaluation of work involves not only an analysis of the main points, but also the argumentation of your point of view.
• Finished work either remains in electronic form or printed.
• The review contains an assessment of the positive aspects of the performance and an indication of errors.
• The review is usually written on new and relevant performances, or reflects a modern look at the classics.
• It is important to distinguish the performance against the background of the others, to understand its distinctiveness and individual style.

Musical Performance Review Writing Tips

• In order not to have problems in creating a review, you can use a simple plan that will direct you on the correct way and help you to express your opinion competently.
• A review is a civilized form of discussion of something, which is the analysis and evaluation of any work. The review is a genre of literary criticism for newspaper and magazine journalism. But recently the skills of creating reviews should be owned by virtually everyone, because every day hundreds of thousands of people express their opinion about certain things and events. You can review almost everything: home appliances, accessories, computer technology, music, photos, films, computer games and websites, artworks, recent events, incidents, and political statements. In short, anything that interests you can be subjected to a rigorous assessment, which should determine the value of the object.
• As a rule, the review is written in a journalistic style, is polemical in nature, and can also gravitate towards the genre of the essay, of literary criticism. It should be objective, therefore it does not allow the use of personal emotionality, rough comparisons, or the presentation of subjective thoughts. All expressed judgments should have clear arguments (examples from the performance). The writing of the review involves the use of terms in the sphere of music, to which the analyzed performance belongs.
• If you write a review for the first time, this may seem very difficult for you. You should clearly understand what audience will read your review. Determine which style of writing is more suitable for your review.
• The topic of the review is an important element. If you were given a ready topic, consider the title, and understand the meaning of what you will write about.
• Draw up an outline of the article and determine its structure. Remember that any text must have a beginning and a logical conclusion, and events, facts, or any other information should be stated sequentially.
• If it is difficult for you to formulate at once what the review is about, start writing it from the main part, and add the announcement or introduction at the end, when the finished text will be before your eyes. When writing a text, remember that sentences in paragraphs should be related to each other in meaning, and each new paragraph should logically follow from the previous one.
• If you refer to historical (political, economic, and other) events and facts in the article, use the dates, and do not be lazy – double-check the reliability of those facts about which you write. If you mention an internet resource in the text, specify its address or the exact name, so that the reader could find it on his/her own.
• Write a conclusion if required. Write an introduction (or announcement) if you have not written it yet. Re-read the finished review several times, checking it for grammar, punctuation, style, and other errors. Execute (if necessary) the text on the page in accordance with the requirements (set the width of the fields, align the text, highlight paragraphs with indents).

Typical Mistakes in Writing a Musical Performance Review

– A frequent error in writing a review is its detailed retelling. The review immediately becomes uninteresting to the reader, and is recognized as weak. Do not write a retelling instead of analyzing the text. – It is silly not to pay attention to the title of the text, because it tells about the deep meaning of the content and may include a number of metaphors. It is worthwhile to understand why the author put exactly this title to the work. – Also, a frequent mistake is the confusion between a review and feedback. Feedback is a general assessment of something with practical recommendations, while a review is a detailed analysis. – The reviewer should not overload the work with insignificant details. Create a short and informative review. The position of the reviewer should not be blurred.

Phrases to Use in Your Musical Performance Review

• it is important to note that …
• in my perception …
• most of all I was impressed …
• the vocalist is …
• I think the costume designer’s decision is successful …
• color and light were …
• costumes of singers and scenery were called to convey …
• … seemed superfluous …
• … was not enough for perception …
• … ruined my ideas …
• … made me think …
• … remained in memory …

If you have any difficulties in your work, do not despair. Use the materials on how to write a review (an example of its analysis is given in this article), and you will significantly improve your reviewing skills. Now you know how to write a music review and it will not be difficult for you anymore. The review should be devoted to the particular performance and should be written according to the guide we have presented. To write a high-quality review, it is necessary to understand what the authors of the performance wanted to demonstrate to the audience. For getting addition help, you can read through samples presented on our site. Our guide will help you to write an art review correctly. Good luck with your paper writing !

Give your grades a boost

Original papers by high quality experts

Free preview and unlimited revisions

Flexible prices

• Retirement Farewell Speech Example
• Farewell Speech Example
• Business Owner Farewell Speech Sample
• Receiving a Twenty Year Service Award
• Princeton Graduation Speech
• Never Giving up on a Dream
• Medical Student Graduation Speech

Semi-formal

• Tribute Presentation Sample
• Greenpeace Organization
• Treatments of Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Marketing Manager Speech Sample
• Demographic Policy and Abortion in China
• Causes of Teenage Drug Addiction
• Positive Effects of Classical Music
• Developing of Professional Skills of the Employees
• College Psychologist Speech
• How to Plan an International Trip Essay
• Demonstrating a Marketing Plan for New Product Line
• Destructive Effects of GMO on Children
• Child Adoption Speech
• Become a Volunteer
• Why Videos Go Viral
• Party Planning for Children’s Birthday Parties
• Modern Relationship Problems Presentation Sample
• The Advantages of Jogging
• Let’s Become Vegetarians
• Killing Routines

Fiction review

Non-fiction review, creative review, business letters, academic letters, personal letters, essay writing, business writing, creative writing, research papers, writing tips.

4 Tips on How to Write a Music Review Essay

There is hardly even one person on the planet who can’t stand music. We all have playlists for different moods or songs which associate with memorable events. However, when it comes to writing a music review essay, we seem to be stuck and don’t know what to begin with. Some students even tend to reach out for essay help , not to cope with an assignment on their own. We have prepared a simple guide for you to follow to write an excellent music review essay.

What is a Music Review Essay?

A review of a song is your opinion or feedback on a musical composition. You have to make this essay less subjective and contain as much reliable information as possible. Just like any other type of academic writing, it consists of the introduction, the main body devoted to various aspects of the music analysis, and a conclusion.

1. Get ready

Before you start writing your essay, you should, of course, listen to a piece of music and study some information about the artist and the song itself. First of all, listen to the composition for the first time and write down your thoughts. Try not to think about the lyrics and concentrate on the feelings. The second time, pay attention precisely to the lyrics of the song (if there are any) and again describe your emotions. It would help if you didn’t read other people’s reviews and the story behind the song until you’ve formed your very own opinion of it.

It is best to begin by analyzing the melody, its sound, the music, and the setting. First of all, the music and the melody create the impression of the song. Only by listening to a piece several times in a row can you form a correct opinion of it and understand its meaning.

Describe the tone of the song, the quality of the arrangement, the sound of some of the musical instruments. For example, the bass guitar creates the main tone or there would be no drums and the song would not succeed. In the case of writing a review for a specialized publication or on request, you need to describe everything in professional terms, trace the composition of the song, analyze all its parts.

It is necessary to note the musical style in which the song was written, the quality of the recording, and it is better not to compare it with the previous repertoire of the performer unless, of course, this song will be radically better or worse than previous ones. Note what emotions the song evoked in you, what impressed you most, and what upset you most.

The second component of the song is the lyrics. You should briefly describe the content and meaning of the song. Emphasize the beauty of the lyric, its meaningfulness, the beauty of the verse, and convey its meaning and content. If the author used some striking comparisons or metaphors, it would not be superfluous to tell about them. Try to imagine what the author wanted to convey to the audience and how he succeeded or failed.

4. Background

Tell more details about the song, the story of its creation. Don’t forget to trace the connection to events that were happening in the world or in the life of the musician at the time. All the facts obtained about it will help to make a deeper analysis and understand the hidden meaning. Just do not go into the smallest details because it will not make sense, and it can spoil the impression. However, it often happens that without knowing the history of creation and the events that prompted the creation of the musical composition, listeners underestimate the art or even consider the song to be outright nonsense. For example, if you don’t know the history of the Taro song by Alt-J, you would probably not get a thing. But if you dig deeper, you will understand that this is a beautiful love song about two protographs — Robert Capa and Gerda Taro — who died during the war and reunited in their afterlives.

It would help if you analyzed the work as objectively as possible. Your attitude toward the author or performer should not affect the quality of the review in any way. You must be as honest as possible with the reader and write a review, which should include neither solid praise nor only negative reviews.

You should describe both the strengths and weaknesses of the song. You can express your personal opinion, however, not to be biased. Your readers might not be familiar with the song and the art of a performer. You have to keep this in mind and not miss any essential details in your essay.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

BOBMC Rider Mania

Unleashing the brotherhood and where it all began, ☰ navigation, on writing a music analysis essay: a comprehensive guide.

With music being an essential part of our everyday lives, understanding the process of analyzing a song can significantly enhance our appreciation for both the art and the artist. A music analysis essay is an academic task that allows you to dive into the details of a song and explain its significance. You may have to explore the melody, lyrics, or even the way a song is received in the music industry. But where should you start? This comprehensive guide on  How to Write a Music Analysis Essay  is here to help. By the time you finish reading, you'll have a clear roadmap to create a high-quality analysis that reflects your understanding of the song.

Get Familiar with the Song

As the first step towards writing a music analysis essay, you need to immerse yourself in the song. Listen to the song multiple times, each time focusing on a different element - melody, lyrics, rhythm, etc. If you have any facts about the song, like its context or background, consider how these details might influence your analysis. Remember, getting a feel for the music is crucial before you delve into its details.

Value of the Song

Every piece of music carries a message, and part of your task is to identify this. What significance does the song hold in the music industry or popular culture? How does it contribute to modern music trends? What is its value from a music theory perspective? By answering these questions, you not only demonstrate your understanding of the song but also establish the context for your readers.

Skopemag News

The music industry is continually evolving, and keeping abreast of these changes can give you an edge when writing your music analysis essays. Skopemag News is a resource that offers insights into the latest trends and developments in the industry. By referencing such resources, you add depth and relevance to your analysis.

Comprehensive Guide to Finding the Best Casino

Though it might seem unrelated, the music industry and casinos often intertwine. Casinos frequently feature live music, and some artists even write songs about the highs and lows of gambling. So, having a grasp of the casino culture may give you unique insights for your music analysis essay. But where can you get started? Well, a comprehensive guide to finding the best casino might be a good place to start. It can give you an insider's look into the world of casinos - an experience you can tap into when analyzing songs.

Skopemag News remains a valuable resource for anyone writing a music analysis essay. Keeping up-to-date with the trends, news, and opinions in the industry can help you draw valuable connections in your analysis and ensure your essay is both relevant and engaging.

Comprehensive Review of Costs

Producing music comes with its own set of costs - recording, promotion, distribution, and more. Understanding these costs can add another dimension to your analysis. You might explore the song's production values, or how its marketing strategy influenced its success. Incorporating such an analysis into your essay can make your analysis richer and more comprehensive.

Dos and Don'ts

When writing a music analysis essay, it's essential to keep a few key things in mind. Do ensure you have a clear thesis that guides your analysis. Don't overlook the significance of music theory in your essay. Do use facts about the song to support your analysis. Don't write without thoroughly listening to the song first. Following these dos and don'ts can make your essay more effective and engaging.

There may be some questions that come up while writing a music analysis essay. This section aims to answer the most common ones, like 'What should I focus on when listening to the song?' or 'How can I integrate music theory into my essay?'. Providing answers to such questions can help clarify the process and make it less daunting for first-time writers.

Final Thoughts

Writing a music analysis essay can be an exciting and enlightening task. It allows you to dive deep into a piece of music, explore its elements, and express your insights. With the guidelines provided here, you're well on your way to creating a well-researched, well-structured essay that offers a thorough analysis of your chosen song. So, put on your headphones, start listening, and let your analytical journey begin!

Useful Resources:  https://silicophilic.com/educational-software-for-students-and-teachers-to-boost-productivity/

How to Write a Music Review Like a Pro

Maybe you’re a budding journalist who wants to cover some upcoming indie concerts. Or an influencer who wants to share your favorite old-school reggae album with your followers. Or maybe you’re just a diehard music fan with a lot to say about the latest Spotify releases.

Point is, you want to learn how to write a music review. But where do you start?

Writing a music review isn’t rocket science. However, there are some tried and true guidelines that can help your piece “take off”…

First Things First

Before we open up our laptops or dig out our pens, let’s talk basics…

What is a Music Review?

Simply put, it’s a short article that discusses any piece of music . And I mean ANY. It can be a(n):

• Music video
• Live performance
• Pre-recorded performance
• Classical composition

It’s all fair game!

No matter what format you’re working with, the ultimate goal is to make your music review fun and informative to read.

A good concert review, for example, should make your readers feel like they’re actually there with you in the audience

How Do You Become a Reviewer?

Becoming a music reviewer can be as simple as starting a blog or an Instagram/Facebook/Twitter account. Or maybe even a podcast, TikTok account or YouTube channel, if you want to read your words out loud. Not only can you start sharing your opinions right away. You also get to be your own boss!

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/J3WWycYhLnI” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>

This video has some useful tips about starting your own music blog on Wordpress.

Running your own platform certainly comes with more artistic freedom. However, if you want to reach a wider audience (and get paid!) more quickly, then it’s best to send queries to websites , magazines and/or newspapers that publish music reviews . Even if they’re only looking for a one-off, a well-written piece may eventually lead to a more permanent position. Or at least a good recommendation for future gigs!

Most editors will also want to see a sample of your writing. So, it’s a good idea to have a PDF with a few mock reviews to showcase your skills. Or, for an even more professional touch, you can create an online portfolio on a platform like Squarespace or Wix. Especially if you’re applying through a job site, having a URL handy means editors can make a quicker decision about whether or not to take you on.

How Do You Find Music to Review?

If you write for a website/magazine/newspaper, you’ll probably be pre-assigned music. However, if you’re an independent writer, you might be stuck about what to cover.

One idea is to look at new releases on streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music. This way, you can be (one of) the first to share your thoughts about a particular song or album. Especially if you scout out lesser-known artists flying under the radar of other music critics.

Of course, you don’t have to choose new music exclusively. Lots of readers enjoy fresh takes on music that was released years or even decades ago. 10-year , 20-year or other anniversaries of albums/songs/concert DVDs can be a particularly great time to look back and reconsider how these older tracks hold up from a modern perspective.

Or, you can reach out to up-and-coming bands and independent record companies or music publishers to ask for samples. Even if you only have a modest number of readers/followers, you’d be surprised at how many people are willing to give you sneak peaks of their work.

Tips and Tricks

So, you’ve picked your music and fixed a guideline with your editor (or your inner editor). Now what?

Here comes the fun part –– actually sitting down to write your review.

Every writer has their own routines and preferences. What works for some might not work for others. But however you slice it, some habits will ultimately make the process a lot easier…

Many writers (myself included) find they’re most productive when they have a comfortable workspace. A clean desk with a view. A comfy chair. A hot beverage on hand. Whatever helps you relax and stay focused

Don’t skimp out on research

As the reviewer, you are supposed to be the expert on that particular piece of music. That’s why it’s important to establish your credibility with solid background information about the artist and their work.

Love it or hate it, the researching stage is just as important as the writing/editing stage

First of all, you’ll want to pick good sources about the artist to read/watch/listen to. This can include:

• Interviews on talk shows, podcasts, vlogs, etc.
• Articles in magazines/newspapers
• Bios on their official website
• Verified social media posts on their Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Basically anything that will give you context about the artist’s music style , personal history and inspirations behind their work.

It may be tempting to start with Wikipedia. I get it. It exists for a reason. But if you do, don’t forget to fact-check EVERYTHING you find there with more reliable sources!

Some reviewers may consider it “cheating” to read/listen to what others have already said about a piece of music. However, after doing my own research and forming my own opinions, I always find it helpful to branch out and consider other points of view.

For example, other writers may have pointed out important biographical details or production aspects you might have missed in your research. Or, you might have strong opinions about another writer’s judgment on a piece of music. In this case, you can strengthen your own argument by either supporting or opposing this judgment.

However, try not to start beef by directly calling out another writer when you disagree with them. Instead, focus on strengthening your own argument, so readers can see for themselves how it’s the better review. Being civil will earn you more respect in the community and open up more writing opportunities in the future.

Also, if you do decide to read other reviews, don’t plagiarize . Always give proper credit when you borrow words or ideas. You don’t want a potential lawsuit on your hands!

Do listen carefully

Most music writers agree that you should listen to a piece at least 3 times before you start to write. After all, first impressions are important. But later impressions are really where you start to become familiar with and appreciate all the nuances of a piece.

Grab your headphones and keep a notebook (or note-taking app) handy to write down your ideas!

Make sure you’re somewhere free of distractions, so you can really focus on the music. Maybe it’s at a busy coffee shop, where you can let the chatter fade into the background, kick back with your noise-canceling headphones and let the sounds sink in. Maybe it’s when you’re home alone, letting your speakers fill the silence of your bedroom. Or maybe it’s somewhere in between these noise levels. Whatever works for you.

I also find it helpful to take breaks in between listening sessions. This way, you can clear your head and come back in a few hours (or even a few days!) with a fresh perspective.

Do craft a strong outline

When it comes to short stories or novels, I prefer to write freely and see where my creativity takes me.

However, music reviews — like all forms of journalism — need a tight, concise structure. Most people don’t want to read a 5000-word piece that goes off on tangents and takes forever to get to the point! That’s why it’s better to plot an outline before you actually begin to write.

Most music reviews contain this basic structure:

• Introduction : aside from general information about the work (title, artist, date, etc.), this first paragraph should include a hook . This key sentence (or two) is how you pull your readers into the review and make them want to keep reading. Oftentimes, it’s an interesting fact, quote or observation.
• Main body : 2-4 paragraphs that go into detail about the work.
• Conclusion : the final paragraph. This is where you’ll summarize your thoughts about the work. You should also discuss whether or not you’d recommend it –– and if so, to what kinds of people!

The standard length for music reviews is 250-300 words . If you’re an independent writer, you could write more if you want to. But again, it’s better to keep your piece as short and sweet as possible.

Do try to cover all aspects

250-300 words may not sound like enough to write about an entire album or concert. And really, there is no such thing as a “definitive” review that covers absolutely everything. However, as long as you keep your writing short and to-the-point, you can still squeeze a surprising amount of information into a few short paragraphs.

Some topics may speak to you more than others. Some may not even be relevant at all. But generally speaking, here are some ideas you probably want to think about:

• Inspiration behind the music (ex: the artist’s personal history, major influences, etc.)
• Specific songs/lyrics/stage banter
• Themes (ex: love, loss, sociopolitical commentary)
• Composition (ex: chord progressions , melodies , rhythms )
• Instrumentation (ex: types/brands of instruments, sound quality of the instruments)
• Production (ex: key producers/engineers, arrangement, mixing , special effects, lighting)
• Visuals (ex: album cover, choreography, stage design, graphics, band merch)
• Atmosphere (ex: concert venue, audience, camera work)
• The bigger picture (ex: public reception, sales, awards, chart positions, how a track fits in with the rest of the album/EP/score, how an album/EP/score fits in with the artist’s discography)

I’d recommend starting with 2 or 3 of these aspects that really stood out to you during the listening stage. Then, if you have room, you can always discuss other ideas.

Don’t overuse comparisons

Does the film score you’re reviewing remind you of one from a popular historical drama? Or does one of the songs on the album sound like it could’ve been performed by a well-known 80s thrash metal band? If it does, it’s okay to say so. Comparisons help put things in context for readers who are familiar with specific genres and artists.

Still, it’s better to cap the comparisons at 1 or 2 per review. You don’t want to limit yourself from expressing your own metaphors and descriptions!

Another downside to comparisons is that artists often change their sound throughout their careers. For example, a band that sounds “like the Beatles” could mean anything from the standard rock ‘n roll style of “Twist and Shout” to the experimental, psychedelic style of “A Day In the Life” to the orchestral soft rock of “The Long And Winding Road”

Instead of bogging down your review with comparisons to Bob Dylan or Nirvana or Like A Virgin-era Madonna, it’s better to write about how the piece fits into its genre and the artist’s history as a whole . For example, does a folk band’s song have a classic example of their signature bare-bones, acoustic guitar riffs ? Or does it experiment with new audio effects or unusual instruments you don’t normally hear in their repertoire?

If you write about what exactly makes a work sound the way it does, it will be a lot more engaging than an endless parade of references.

Sometimes when you write about music you didn’t enjoy, it’s tempting to be overly critical. After all, you want to be honest!

However, instead of “likes” and “dislikes” (which are highly subjective), it’s more helpful to think of strengths and weaknesses . For example, a song with cliché lyrics might still have an elaborate bassline. And a song with catchy lyrics and a memorable riff can still be tainted by a visually boring music video.

That being said, reviews are also about finding a delicate balance between objective facts and personal opinions . If you really loved a piece of music, you can let that passion shine through in your words. And if you didn’t… well, a bit of sass never hurt anyone. Just try not to get too carried away by making your entire review an overdose of sarcasm.

In short, considering both sides of the spectrum will make your argument a lot more persuasive than giving all praise or all criticism.

Do know your audience

Who is your target audience? It might be tempting to say “everyone”. But like clothes, reviews are never really one size fits all.

That’s why it’s important to think about exactly the type of people who read (or who you hope will read!) what you write. Once you know, you’ll not only have an idea about what to discuss in your review. You’ll also know how to use the best tone of voice to engage your readers.

For example, if you write for other music professionals, you’ll want to use proper musicological terms and be as objective as possible. Otherwise, you might sound too amateurish. On the other hand, if you write for Gen Z music fans, it’s better to skip the jargon and use a more personal, informal tone. Otherwise, you might sound too stuck-up.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t inject your own unique voice into your writing. Just make sure you tweak it to whatever professional or informal tone suits the situation.

Don’t be boring

When it comes to creating memorable reviews, the best ones:

• Avoid clichés (like the plague)
• Limit generic adjectives like “cool”, “interesting” or “unique”
• Use direct and punchy language

How do you make your writing more punchy? One way is to rework tired clichés into quirky new similes . For example, instead of saying a vocalist sounds “like an angel”, you could say they sound “like a baby robin taking flight for the first time”. Or “a foodie’s inner thoughts when they dig into a gourmet burger”. The possibilities are endless!

Compound adjectives (adjectives with two or more words put together) can be a helpful substitute for generic adjectives. For example, instead of saying a song has a “cool” drum beat, you could say the beat is “chest-thumping” or “beach party-worthy”.

For an extra touch, you can also relive your high school English days and playing around with literary devices, like:

• Alliteration: repeating consonant sounds. Ex: “toe-tapping”, “shoe-shuffling”.
• Oxymoron: putting two opposites together. Ex: “well-managed chaos”, “deafening whispers”.
• Personification: giving human qualities to non-humans. Ex: “groaning guitar riffs”, “a lovestruck camera”.

Don’t forget to edit

Okay, so you’ve finished your first draft. Now comes the real challenge – the editing stage.

Of course, the most basic part of editing is checking your spelling and grammar. Even for informal reviews, a glaring typo or run-on sentence will make your piece look amateurish.

However, the editing stage isn’t just about moving commas and removing letters. It’s also an opportunity to…

• Fix what you missed. Ex: Do you still have too many “cool”s and “interesting”s? Is your discussion of the crowd negative? Did you forget to talk about how the backup vocals contrast the lead vocals?
• Brainstorm better ideas . Ex: Could your title be catchier? Could your argument about the piano solo be stronger? Could your last sentence be more powerful?

Another key part of the editing stage is formatting your music review so it’s clean and easy to read. Especially if it’s being published online, using headings , subheadings and bullet points will make it more user-friendly on laptops, tablets and mobile devices.

Of course, there’s no such thing as a perfect review. So don’t get too discouraged if you’re struggling to find how to come up with a better last sentence or break up one long paragraph. Sometimes, it’s just better to fix what you can and accept your piece as it is. Then, you can approach your next review with fresher eyes –– and fresher ideas on how to improve your writing!

Don’t let writer’s block get you down

Writing is hard. I get it. Sometimes you’re just not in the mood and need a quick break.

Ironically, research shows that many writers are actually more productive when they take multiple breaks . For example, in the Pomodoro technique , you work non-stop for 25 minutes, then take a 5-10 minute break before diving back in. You never know. Taking this time to clear your head may help you finally write that perfect last sentence you’ve been struggling with!

Some other effective ways to fight writer’s block include:

• Warming up with a 10-minute writing prompt . Ex: Write a mock customer review of a random household object, like an office chair or a tub of hand cream.
• Trying a different workspace for a change of scenery. Ex: Move to a different room in your house or work outside in your backyard.
• Scheduling your optimal work schedule . Ex: If you’re an early bird, try writing from 6 am to 2 pm. If you’re a night owl, try writing from 4 pm to midnight.

Final Thoughts

Like all skills, writing music reviews takes A LOT of practice. However, if you keep these tips and tricks in mind, it’ll make the whole process a lot a lot less stressful. Not to mention a lot more enjoyable for you and your readers.

Tips on How to Write an Awesome Music Review

• Knowledge To Get Known
• Music Review

To make it clear, a music review is an assessment of a song or an album. One of the important points is the brevity of the review, do not forget about this. At school, most often, they ask for an essay-review, One way to complete it is to use  paperwriter  to get help with starting ideas or editing your work. But don’t forget,  teachers/editors have certain requirements for them, namely::

• it should be creative work (understand as you want)
• the considered (reviewed) work is often an occasion for reflection on the problems raised in the song or album
• disclosure of the content of the work, with a simultaneous assessment of it.

If you want to find out how to include all these three points in one review, you need to get acquainted with some samples. You can order them on a writing service like GPA Labs . You will see how to write your music review creatively, analyze the problem raised, and evaluate a song or album properly. 

Now, let’s proceed to tips for writing a music review. 

• Stick to the review plan
• Brief information about the song or album (title, singer or band, other basic information). For example, Waiting For The Sun is the third album by the California band The Doors . After its first great recordings, The Doors and Strange Days , this release has not escaped the fate of the notorious “third album syndrome”. However, in spite of everything, it is this album that is the unconditional must-have of the listening audience of that time.
• Your response to the song/album. In other words, your impression.
• Song or album analysis

– lyrics analysis

– melody analysis

– musical composition (not necessary)

• Evaluation of the song or album (important to include your own evaluation)
• The relevance of the issues raised in the song or album. Even if it seems that the album is not very relevant – think more. Most songwriters try to raise some problem and/or answers in their songs. But if you still did not find the interesting relevance for today, write about that too. Perhaps you will enter into an argument with the reader. That can be even more interesting.

It is important to include all points! But the main thing is that the review should be interesting.

• Do not retell the lyrics
• There is no need to get carried away with retelling the lyrics. The editor can, absolutely, rightly by the way, consider the substitution of the analysis of the song or album by a simple retelling.
• Pay attention to the title of a song or album
• Usually, it contains a lot of secret meaning, which becomes clear after singing a song or album. But “usually” does not mean “always.”
• Break down a song into parts
• Is it possible to break a song into its component parts? Why? Why did the songwriter do this?
• Highlight what differs the work from others

It is worth mentioning the style once again. Try to highlight what makes this song or album different.

Write as if your reader has never heard this song or album. Consider what questions a person might have asked who has never heard this song. And do not forget about the five points of the review plan, which you must complete. 

Good luck and if you are looking for more analysis or potential publishing of your review writing, reach out to us at IndieBandGuru. We are always here to connect with other passionate music lovers like ourselves.

We love music and love to write about it even more. Come join the adventure at IndieBandGuru.com

James Wilson’s Music Review of 2022

James Wilson

How to Make Drums In Your DAW Sound Real

IBG Guest Post

Black Note Graffiti Has Come to Take Over Your ‘Knights’

Taylor Denton

Leave a reply cancel reply.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

SIDE-LINE MAGAZINE

Industrial electro post-punk music magazine

The Ultimate Guide on How to Write Perfect Music Review

The goal of a perfect music review for readers is to become cooler at music and culture. In this case, “cooler” stands for more competent. So that they know more, dig deeper and ultimately want to get inspired by music.

So, you like a music album so much that you decide to write a review on it. In this article, you will find a step-by-step guide on how to write an excellent music review. If you need some professional advice you can always ask for help essay writing service . 

We suggest you take advantage of this ultimate guide on how to write a great review about music.

1. Listen to the album several times. Try to understand what the songs say. Do not write a review based on the first impression. While listening, study the album cover to get a general idea of the group. You can also read other reviews on music review websites to find out the general attitude to the group’s genre and their previous works. Getting to know other reviews is a preparatory stage of writing. Do not repeat or use thoughts written by other people, express your own. Although, some music critics advise not to read other people’s reviews at all and write your thoughts.

2. Discuss the prerequisites for creating an album , including information about the role the album plays in the group’s activities and the impact it can have. You need to accurately convey the feeling of the sound of music.

3. It is better to start with the analysis of melodiousness, its sound, music, and arrangement. First of all, music and melody create an impression of the album. Just listening to the songs several times in a row, you can add the right opinion about them and understand the meaning.

Describe the tonality of the songs, the quality of the arrangement, the sound of some musical instruments. For example, a bass guitar makes a song a hit, and without a bass guitar, a musical composition would be of lower quality.

In case of writing a review for a specialized publication, you need to describe everything in professional terms, trace the song’s composition, and analyze all of its parts.

4. Pay due attention to the lyrics. The second component of the songs is poems, so briefly describe their content and meaning. Emphasize the beauty of the lyrics, its semantic content, the beauty of the syllable, convey its meaning and content.

Tell more details about the songs, the story of its creation. Probably, their writing was inspired by some events in the life of the author, all the facts obtained about this will be fascinating to the reader. Just do not go into the smallest details, because it does not add meaning, and the impression can spoil.

5. Analyze the album as objectively as possible. Your attitude towards the author or performer should not affect the quality of the review. Be as honest with the reader as possible and write a review, which should not include any continuous reviews or negative ones. Describe both the strengths and weaknesses of the album, its beautiful moments and what you didn’t like, appreciate the talent of the musicians and the performer. In general, give out all the positive impressions and discontent. Just remember that you analyze the song and write a review of it.

 6. Describe how you feel about the album in the last sentence.   Your final sentence will imprint in the reader’s memory and will help to decide whether to buy the album or not.

These are basic tips about best music review that we can share with you. If you still have questions and challenges, hire someone to write my paper is always a good idea. On the Internet, you will find a large number of specialists who can help you.

Since you’re here …

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.

If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The donations are safely powered by Paypal.

• donate monthly
• donate once only

More Stories

Essay Writing Routines for Students That Work

The Impact of Chester Bennington on Music

The Impact Of The War In Ukraine On The Global Gambling Market

You may have missed.

Warm Gadget releases single / video for the track ‘The Masses’ – Out now

ArtOfFact label issues public apology amidst Mr. Kitty scandal

Kirlian Camera revisits Italo Disco roots on 2023 version of vinyl EP ‘Communicate’ – Out now

Nine Inch Nails will not release new material anytime soon

La Machine will release new electropop EP, you can pre-order the vinyl now

Privacy overview.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

FreelanceWriting

Established Since 1997

Freelance Writing Jobs

Writing contests, make money writing, hottest topics, five tips for a successful music review.

1. Who Should Write a Review?

Writing an informative and captivating music review can be a challenging task. It is helpful if the reviewer is a musician and understands music theory, musical styles, and the type of music to be reviewed. It is essential for the reviewer to be aware of the target audience for which the music review is intended. My reviews are targeted to music teachers who have in in-depth understanding and appreciation of music.

2. What Does the Reader Want to Know?

The reader of my column is educated, has an in-depth understanding of music, including music theory, conducting,, and music pedagogy, and a level of musical understanding in all genres of music. Typical readers want to know about the product. They are looking for new ideas for presenting music in concerts and on the football field. They want music that will add diversity to their concert programming. Readers want to know certain things about each piece of music; specifically the level of difficulty, and any unusual demands placed on the different instruments and the appropriateness of the music for performance.

Here is an example taken from one of my recent music reviews:

Here we have ten minutes of Spanish flavored music that has many dynamic types of shading, and is sprinkled with sustained lines, weaving counter lines, and thick, resonant chords. The contrasts in mood are very well handled. It is a rousing number that exudes rhythmic intensity, and Spanish bravado. This exciting musical composition brings out a sense of adventure, and student will enjoy the brisk tempo and fiery Spanish rhythms.

Another review contains a subtle warning to the reader:

This is a challenging piece in that the flutes must be proficient at rapid tonguing and the high tessitura of the trumpets and horns can be demanding. The snare drum solos are effective and provide smooth linkages between sections. However, the dynamics must be carefully observed to make these transitions effective. A proficient xylophone player is necessary in this piece.

The title of the piece, the composer/arranger, an name of the music publisher should be at the top of the review.

3. What About the Style of Writing?

It is best to avoid using terms such as: “you” “your” and “I” in the review. It is assumed that whatever is written is the expressed opinion of the reviewer and if not, than that statement should be quotations. It is also helpful if the reviewer avoids the use of clichés, and generic, non-specific terms such as “interesting,” and accumulates a list of colorful adjectives that can be used to describe the music. The words “appealing” “fascinating” and “exciting” are more suitable that is the word, “interesting.”The following are a few helpful descriptive terms for use in music reviews:

freshness of sound, absence of musical clichés, colorful work, use of sonorous pedal-points, the crisp and intense combination of….., splashes of percussive color, a deep woody bassoon solo…, leads to a warm, mellow four-part horn chorale, a tender, expressive melody by the oboe.

Here is another example from one of my recent music reviews:

This piece is a tender expression and an excellent composition for teaching dynamics, balance of tone, and phrasing. The contrast in scoring makes this piece a first-rate choice for programming.

4. How to Approach Writing a Music Review

It is essential that the reviewer consider the type of review that is expected by the publisher. For example does the publisher want an in-depth analysis of one or two compositions or does he/she expect an overview of seven or eight selections?

The reviewer should listen to each selection many times to in order to grasp and absorb the many layers of sound and to acquire a deeper understanding of the music. Taking detailed notes about what stands out in the music can be very helpful. Writing a music review is a creative process that is based on the individual opinion and personal tastes of the reviewer. The reviewer must be able to recommend appropriate and usable musical compositions to the reader.

The music reviewer is not a specialist in all styles and genres of music. For example, a band director may not feel comfortable or confident reviewing music for chamber groups or orchestra. In this case it may be wise to ask an expert in a particular field (strings) to write the review for a particular column. Perhaps the reviewer can offer one review and the guest reviewer can review six or seven other pieces. This assists the reviewer and provides positive visibility and exposure for the guest reviewer, and guarantees that the reader will gain maximum benefit from the reviews.

It is of vital importance to stress the positive aspects of the music that is being reviewed. It is a wise policy to select for review only pieces that the reviewer can recommend to the readers. Often what is said in the review can be a very subtle warning to the reader such as:

A total of seven percussion players are required and the sound emanating from the percussion section must be carefully balanced so they do not overpower the winds

If a teacher has only two percussionists in his ensemble, I doubt that he/she would consider playing this piece.

If a review states that the tessitura (range) of the trumpets is high throughout the piece, this will alert the music teacher to select this piece only if he has a very strong trumpet section.

Stating that the bassoon has a lengthy solo, without stating which instrument it is cued for is of little help to the reader. It should be stated that the bassoon solo is cued for the tenor sax or the baritone horn. Most bands have one or no bassoons and another instrument must cover that instrument in its absence.

Here is another example taken from a recent review:

Sharp, precise tonguing is needed to make this march sparkle, and close attention must be paid to the dynamic contrasts between mf and ff, and ff to pp. The woodwinds must be capable of playing diatonic and chromatic scales at a bright all- breve tempo.

Music is a very personal experience and the writer’s subjective judgment can be very helpful for the reader. But each opinion rendered needs a framework of support. The writer must bring meaning through explanations regarding his/her opinions. Written comments should be backed up with musical facts and a sense of musical understanding.

5. Where Do I Find Music to Review?

Begin by compiling a list of the major music publishers who publish the type of music that you will be reviewing. Contact with them by phone or by e-mail and ask for sample scores and CDs. Today most of the printed music is available to listeners online–just type the name of the composition and its composer/arranger and locate it at the publisher, at a musical outlet or on YouTube. Some of the music publishers will send scores via Pdf files for review. It is to be emphasized that there are many small music publishing companies that are producing some very high-quality material for schools and will leap at the chance to have their music reviewed.

It is helpful to ask experienced and successful music teachers to recommend pieces that they and their students love to play.

Final Points

• Use a catchy or descriptive title to captivate the attention of the reader and unify the review.
• Here are a few “catchy” titles that were suggested from my musician friends:
• Keeping Score, What’s the Score?, Vince’s Views, Variations by Vince, Vince’s Verdict, Mr. Note It All, Excerpt Expert, Instrumental Corner, Music Mavin, Note Value, Overtones, Full Score, and Senza Sordino.
• Avoid using slang or colloquial expressions such as:.
• Man, that was a groovy piece of music! “Awesome to say the least!” “One can really chill out listening to this piece”
• Ask a local editor to peruse and edit the review before submitting it.
• Read many reviews to obtain a sense of style and content.
• Learn about writing and how to improve the presentation.
• Send a thank you note (or email) to the person or persons who provided the music for the reviews, along with a copy of the review.

Another posting from a recent review:

This dramatic piece creates an intense, rhythmic, driving, angular sound that is quite contemporary;. The rich and resonant brass and the crisp and exact percussion dominate the scene throughout, as the main theme is somewhat developed. This composition would make a good concert opener.

The best way to learn to write music reviews is to study what is currently being written for various music magazines, in print and online. Analyze, circle the adjectives, note the positive comments, sense the style of the writer, and Just Write It!

Related Articles

Freelance Writing for the Christian Market

Do you write only for secular publications but are looking for new markets to tap into? The more markets you have to write the better your income can be....

The Writing Style of Agatha Christie

The works of Dame Agatha Christie are still a part of popular culture. In a writing career lasting more than 55 years, she wrote 72 novels (66 mystery novels...

Is it Soup Yet? How to Perfect Your Story Recipe for Chicken Soup for the Soul

Since I published my 900 word short story Dad's Tomatoes in Chicken Soup for the Soul, I've been on live television, interviewed by news networks, had book...

Why Ghost Writing Is Ethical

Hiring ghostwriters who know how to transform a collection of ideas into cohesive messages should no longer be deemed unethical.

Submit New Contest

You can pick more than one

How can people enter your contest? Choose the best option.

Thanks for your submission!

FreelanceWriting.com hosts some of the most talented freelance writers on the web, so you’ve come to the right place to find contestants. We are proud to post your contest here, free of charge. Please come back and submit a new contest anytime!

Submit New Job

Choose the best option.

We only accept jobs that pay. When posting a job ad, you MUST include a salary, payment terms, or rate, otherwise we will reject your ad.

If you want make a change or wish to remove your job ad in the future, please email [email protected]

We strive to be the best source of freelance writing jobs on the web, and we maintain our quality thanks to employers like you. Please continue to submit jobs early and often!