At a classical concert, the audience claps when the conductor walks on, and again when a whole piece is over. The custom today is not to clap between the movements, which are the separate parts of a longer piece. If you are not sure, wait until the people around you start. No one minds if a child claps early.
The simple rule
Clap when:
- The first violinist, called the concertmaster, walks on stage
- The conductor walks on stage
- A soloist walks on stage
- A whole piece has ended
- The players stand to bow
Wait when:
- The music stops for a few seconds in the middle of a piece
- The conductor’s arms are still raised
What is a movement?
Many classical pieces come in several parts, called movements. A symphony most often has four. A concerto most often has three. There is a short silence between them. The players may turn a page, tune, or cough. The piece is not over. Read what is a movement in classical music.
How to tell when a piece is over
Read the program. It lists each piece and its movements. If you see four lines under the title of a symphony, wait until the fourth has ended.
Watch the conductor. Between movements, the conductor’s arms stay up or drop only halfway, and the conductor keeps facing the players. At the end of the piece, the arms come all the way down, the shoulders relax, and the conductor turns around.
Watch the players. At the end, string players lower their instruments to their laps.
Follow the crowd. When in doubt, be the second person to clap and not the first.
Why do people wait?
Many listeners hear the movements of a piece as one long story. Silence between them keeps the mood.
It was not always so. In the time of Mozart and Beethoven, audiences clapped between movements and even during them. Mozart wrote to his father from Paris in 1778, pleased that the audience had burst into applause in the middle of his new symphony. The custom of waiting grew up about 100 years later.
Some orchestras and conductors now say that they do not mind applause between movements. If a hall full of people claps after a thrilling first movement, join in.
Other kinds of shows
| Event | When to clap |
|---|---|
| Orchestra concert | At the end of each whole piece |
| Piano or violin recital | At the end of each whole piece. A group of short pieces may be played as a set. |
| Opera | After a big solo song, and at the end of each act |
| Ballet | After a solo or a dazzling move, and at the end of each act |
| Jazz concert | After each solo, and at the end of each tune |
| School or family concert | Whenever the people around you do. These are relaxed. |
Bravo
A happy audience may call out “Bravo!” at the end. The word is Italian for “well done.” Some people use “Brava” for a woman and “Bravi” for a group.
When the audience loves a concert, people stand up while they clap. That is a standing ovation.
If the clapping goes on long enough, a soloist may come back and play one more short piece. That is called an encore.
If your child claps at the wrong time
Smile, and let it go. It shows that they liked the music. Many players say they do not mind.
Afterward, tell them the rule in one line: “We wait until the conductor turns around.”
Other ways to be a good audience
- Sit still and stay quiet while the music plays.
- Save questions for the breaks.
- Unwrap sweets before the music starts.
- Turn off phones and the sounds on watches.
- Stay in your seat until a piece has ended.
Read concert etiquette for kids.
Practice at home
Play concert. Put on a symphony with three or four movements. Sit in a row. Clap only when the whole piece is over.
Arms up, arms down. One person conducts a recording. The others watch the arms and clap only when the arms come down and the conductor turns around.
Count the movements. Look up a piece. Hold up one finger for each movement as it ends, and clap after the last finger.
Bravo practice. Clap, stand, and call “Bravo!” for a stuffed-animal orchestra.
Print and play
Print the concert scavenger hunt for things to spot from your seat. Read first orchestra concert with kids and what does a conductor do.
More from this guide
This article is part of First orchestra concert with kids: what to expect and how to prepare.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.