A music review expresses the author’s reaction to a piece of music. The reader’s opinion of the song develops after reading the review. The review must be as objective as possible.

When you write a music review such as a media analysis essay, you want to convey to the reader your feelings about the music. When writing a music review, these points will help you produce both readable and engaging.

Listen

Listen to the music from beginning to end at least twice before beginning to write a review. Take notes on your initial ideas and feelings as you listen.

Consider how you’ll introduce and conclude the music. It is beneficial to listen to music through speakers or headphones while going about your day.

Examine the key of the song

Describe the song’s key, the arrangement’s quality, and the sound of various musical instruments. Consider the bass’s root note and imagine what it would be like if there were no drums.

You must describe everything in professional words, trace the composition of the music, and examine all of its parts when rewriting services for a specialized journal.

Mention the style of music

It is essential to take note of the song’s musical style and the recording’s quality. It’s best not to compare it to the performer’s prior work unless the song is much better or worse than the others. Take note of how the song made you feel, what impressed you the most, and what made you upset.

The USA Tales team talked to Jorge Sosa, a Music Professor at Molloy University, on how musical forms play in shaping the listener’s experience. Here is what he said:

“In music, the recurrence of melodic ideas, themes, harmonic progressions, timbre, and musical sections helps the listener follow the structure of a piece of music and understand musical discourse.

Forms that have too many elements, too many ideas, and too many sections are very difficult to follow, whereas pieces of music that don’t change at all or have little variation tend to feel static for the listener. 

In the Classical era, compositions were defined by musical form and structure. Symphonies, sonatas, and concertos are based on narrative forms.

These types of compositions seek to tell complex stories exclusively through musical means. They rely on predictable forms that are either reaffirmed or contradicted to manipulate the listener’s expectations and, in doing so, generate emotional responses from the listener. 

Popular music tends to have very simple forms, typically one or two sections that are repeated with little new variation.

Simple song structures make the music accessible to a wider audience as the combination of lyrics and repetition of musical sections and ideas help make the music memorable.”

Be honest

It may be easy to repeat what others have said about the music. Your review should reflect your feelings about it. let everyone know if you like an album that the rest of the world seems to despise

You can respect other people’s perspectives and overall attitudes toward the music, but this is your review. Thus your viewpoint is most important.

Include details

Give the reader more information about the song, its history, and how events inspired it in the author’s life. All facts about the song will pique the reader’s curiosity.

Just don’t get bogged down in the tiniest of details; it won’t add anything to the conversation and may even detract from the overall impression.

It’s essential to evaluate the work objectively. Your feelings for the author or performer should have no bearing on the review’s quality. You should be as honest with the reader as possible and write a review that does not consist solely of praise or criticism.

Expert’s Approach to Music Review Listening and Shaping Subsequent Analysis

Kristi Dawn, a dedicated music teacher and editor at Musicfinch, shares her approach to music review listening and analysis:

“For reviewing a piece of music, my first approach is always to find a quiet place. Without a [quiet place], you won’t be able to analyze the music or the words, [and this] might lead to the wrong judgment.

[This] leads to initial listening. The first line for me is always the casual one. It’s always to see if I like it or not. [This] makes me analyze the instrumentals, mood, rhythm, and dynamics [of the piece].

If I emotionally connect and vibe with it, I give a second listening to the song for the final verdict and what can be changed.”

Who should write a review?

It can be challenging to write an insightful and engaging music review. It is advantageous if the reviewer is a musician familiar with music theory, musical styles, and the music genre under consideration.

The reviewer must understand the intended audience for the music review.

What does the reader want to know?

Typical readers are interested in learning more about the product. They want to develop new ways to present music in concerts and on the football pitch. They’re looking for songs that will offer variety to their concert lineup.

Readers want to know about each piece of music, especially the difficulty level and appropriateness of the music for performance.

We interviewed Sam Tarantino, founder of Harmonic Reach, about understanding song structures for writing effective song reviews. Here is what he had to say:

“In my journey from founding Grooveshark to leading a Fractional CMO practice at Harmonic Reach, focusing on the music and tech sectors, I’ve learned how musical forms profoundly shape a listener’s experience.

The structure of a song, defined by its form, acts as a narrative framework that guides the emotional journey and engagement of the listener.

This structure—whether it be verse-chorus-verse, AABA, or one of the many others—serves to create expectations, build tension, and provide resolution.

For instance, at Grooveshark, we observed that tracks with a strong hook or a memorable chorus tended to have higher streaming numbers. This isn’t just about the catchiness of a melody; it’s about how the structure of the song makes listeners feel.

A well-placed bridge, for example, can introduce a moment of contrast that heightens the overall impact of the song when it returns to the familiar comfort of the chorus.

Moreover, data from our analytics at Harmonic Reach supports the idea that the predictability provided by song structure plays a crucial role in listener retention and engagement.

Songs that deviate too much from established structures tend to perform less well in terms of stream counts and playlist additions, perhaps because they challenge the listener’s expectations too drastically.

It’s a delicate balance; innovation within the confines of familiar forms can lead to a song that feels both fresh and emotionally resonant.

My experiences have shown me that, while innovation in music is crucial, the emotional impact and appeal of a song often rely on its structural foundation.

This balance between expectation and surprise within the song’s form is central to creating a memorable and engaging listener experience.”

What is the best way to write a music review?

The reviewer must examine the publisher’s expectations for the review. To grasp and absorb the multiple levels of sound and have a deeper comprehension of the music, the reviewer should listen to each selection several times.

Taking careful notes on what stands out in the music can be beneficial. Writing a music review is a creative process that’s guided by the reviewer’s tastes and opinions. The reviewer must be able to suggest to the reader relevant and usable musical compositions.

It is critical to emphasize the good features of the music under consideration. In many cases, what is written in the review is a subconscious warning to the reader.

Expert’s Opinion on Is Music Theory Knowledge Crucial for Impactful Reviews?

Tero Potila, a professional music composer-producer and founder at TeroPotila.com, points out the relevance of a music reviewer having a background in music theory and an understanding of different musical genres:

“A solid understanding of music theory and familiarity with diverse musical genres are invaluable assets for a music reviewer.

Music theory is not just about the technicalities of music; it’s about understanding the language of music.

It allows a reviewer to delve deeper into the nuances of composition, recognizing the intricacies in harmony, melody, rhythm, and dynamics.

This depth of understanding enriches a review, enabling the reviewer to communicate how a piece of music sounds and why it evokes certain emotions or thoughts.

Knowledge of different musical genres also broadens a reviewer’s perspective. Each genre has its unique characteristics, history, and cultural significance.

A reviewer with a grasp of these aspects can provide a more insightful and contextual analysis.

They can appreciate the subtleties that distinguish a great jazz piece from an average one or understand the complexities of a symphonic composition.

In my experience, this expertise contributes significantly to the quality and depth of a music review.

It allows the reviewer to provide a more educated and nuanced critique, going beyond the surface level of ‘like’ or ‘dislike.’ Such reviews can educate and inform readers, offering them a richer appreciation of the music.

However, it’s also important to balance this technical knowledge with accessibility. Reviews should not be so laden with jargon that they alienate readers who may not have the same level of understanding.

The best reviews can bridge the gap between professional insight and the layperson’s enjoyment of music, enhancing the reader’s listening experience and understanding.”

Where to find music to review

Begin by making a list of prominent music publishers that publish the kind of music you’ll be reviewing—request sample scores and CDs by contacting them by phone or e-mail.

The majority of printed music is now available to listeners online. Just enter the title of the piece and the composer to find it at the publisher or on YouTube. Some music publishers will send scores as PDF files.

Many small music publishing companies produce high-quality educational resources and would appreciate the opportunity to have their music evaluated.

Guest Author: Saket Kumar

Last Updated on July 18, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology