School is out, so that makes this posting a bit irrelevant, at least until the next school year begins.

Both Squalicum and Bellingham High Schools have outstanding music programs. I have not been to any Sehome performances, so I cannot speak to that, but I assume the same level of excellence carries into that program as well. As one who studied music throughout my secondary and collegiate careers, and who continues to play and sing to this day, I can say with some level of expertise, that the instrumental and vocal programs at these schools, perform and produce at levels that rival many small colleges. They are excellent programs, consistently receiving high marks, and their performances have frequently moved me to tears and made the hair on my arms stand up.

What is not excellent about our local performances is the behavior of those in the audience, and I have noted a steady decline in appropriate audience conduct over the past eight years. While attending a recent vocal concert at Squalicum High School, I was forced to restrain myself from “educating” the buffoon to my left who was “hooting” and “barking” to his buddy (maybe his son?) on stage, as though he were drunken bar patron “hooting” a stripper on the pole. Fortunately, he violated one of the rules I’ll enumerate below, and left after his buddy’s performance was over. Afterward, I endured the seemingly non-stop commenting of the woman behind me to her friend who seemed to be hard of hearing, therefore the running commentary was quite loud. Several patrons around me turned and gave her “the look;” you know the one I’m talking about.

Such behaviors are wholly inappropriate, and insulting to the preparation given toward, and excellence of, the performance being offered by the students. It is helpful to remember that the performance is not televised. It is live, and this means those on stage can both see and hear what is happening off-stage. Those performing are there to give their best, and those of us in the audience are there to hear them give their best. That means, I want, and need, to be able to listen to the performers, not the people around me.

Therefore, I thought it might be helpful to post some guidelines on decorum for those attending such events so that the experience can be enjoyed by all.

1. Refrain from talking during musical numbers. This includes whispering, and speaking in “low-voices.” Save your comments for between numbers.

2. Refrain from manipulating noisy candy wrappers during musical numbers. Composers are very specific what “sounds” they want included in the performance.

3. Turn off pagers, cell phones and watch alarms.

4. Don’t wave to your child during musical numbers.

5. Do not take flash photography. (Most professional concert halls will not allow any photography at all.)

6. Do not walk down front with your video camera.

7. Do not leave as soon as your child’s performance is over (unless you’re hooting like a drunk).

8. Applaud only at appropriate times. This one can be confusing. Some musical numbers have several “movements” within the same number. Beginning in about 1940 or so, it began to be considered inappropriate to applaud between movements. (However, such applause is the norm in Europe.) Wait until the entire piece is completed and then applaud. If you’re not certain when the piece is completed, watch the conductor’s arms. If they are still raised, the piece is not completed. At the close of the piece, the conductor will lower his or her arms, and usually turn toward the audience.

Also, it is considered inappropriate to applaud for solos unless the performance is jazz. Then it is appropriate (even expected) to applaud wildly for each soloist. Otherwise, at the conclusion of the musical number, the conductor will call out the soloists to be recognized.

9. Do not enter or leave the auditorium in the middle of a musical number. This is considered (appropriately so) exceedingly rude. If you arrive late, wait until the current number is completed and the audience is applauding before entering the auditorium. If you must leave for any reason, again, wait until the current number is completed before doing so.

10. Don’t sing along.

Hopefully this helps all of us enjoy the fabulous talent and hard work of the students. We are indeed a blessed community to have these programs in our region.

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