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Writing a music review isn’t rocket science, but it does require a bit of planning, organization, and attention to detail. By following the steps in this guide, you can write an informative, unbiased review that helps readers make informed decisions about the music they listen to.
Mar 25, 2021 · A music review will tell you what a critic thought of a piece of music so you can make an informed decision about whether you will enjoy that music. However, writing a music review isn’t as simple as saying whether you liked it. Instead, you need to offer specific and clear reasons for your reaction. In this article, we’ll take a look at ...
- Listen
- Research Is Key
- Think About Context
- Consider Different Angles
- Avoid Bias
- Be Honest
- Write Clearly
- Edit Your Review
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 y...
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.
Think about the music in the context of its genreand 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?
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).
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.
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 matter...
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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?
How to Write Music Reviews with Jon ParelesNew York Times chief popular music critic Jon Pareles shares his review writing advice for students.
- 4 min
- 18.9K
- The New York Times Learning Network
Apr 20, 2023 · YouTube hosts all types of different content, with the music review niche being a popular one. But with all the options out there, you probably just want to follow the best channels ASAP. Read on to get an idea of whose music reviews you should check out.
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If you want to write music reviews that matter, you should always be honest and state your true and informed opinion based on several hearings of said music. Follow these tips and make your writing shine.
