Program Notes
Program Notes are written descriptions that help concert audiences understand the music they're about to hear. They provide background information about the composers, explain the historical context of pieces, and highlight important musical elements in everyday language. Think of them as a guide that helps listeners, even those who aren't music experts, appreciate and connect with the performance. These notes appear in concert programs, on orchestra websites, and sometimes in pre-concert presentations. Creating them requires both musical knowledge and the ability to write clearly for a general audience.
Examples in Resumes
Wrote Program Notes for the symphony's entire concert season, reaching over 100,000 audience members
Researched and developed engaging Concert Notes and Program Notes for major orchestral performances
Created accessible Program Notes and Musical Notes for youth concert series
Typical job title: "Program Note Writers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Program Note Writers
Professional Organizations
Job Resources
Learning Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you approach writing program notes for a contemporary piece that's having its world premiere?
Expected Answer: A senior writer should discuss interviewing the composer, researching their previous works, explaining new music in accessible terms, and connecting it to familiar musical concepts for the audience.
Q: How do you balance academic content with audience engagement in program notes?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate experience in making complex musical concepts accessible while maintaining scholarly accuracy, using storytelling techniques, and adjusting writing style for different audience demographics.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you research historical context for program notes?
Expected Answer: Should explain use of musical encyclopedias, scholarly sources, composer biographies, and historical documents to create accurate and interesting historical context.
Q: What elements do you include when writing notes for a piece that's frequently performed?
Expected Answer: Should discuss finding fresh angles on familiar works, balancing basic information for newcomers with interesting details for regular concertgoers, and highlighting specific aspects of the current performance.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's the typical structure of program notes?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic elements like composer background, composition history, musical analysis, and listening guides, showing understanding of standard format.
Q: How do you make technical musical terms understandable to a general audience?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate ability to explain musical concepts in plain language and use analogies or comparisons to help non-musicians understand.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic music history knowledge
- Clear writing ability
- Research skills
- Understanding of musical terms
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced musical analysis
- Audience engagement techniques
- Independent research ability
- Different writing styles mastery
Senior (5+ years)
- Expert music historical knowledge
- Leadership in content strategy
- Composer interview experience
- Contemporary music expertise
Red Flags to Watch For
- Limited classical music knowledge
- Poor writing samples
- Inability to explain complex concepts simply
- No understanding of different audience needs
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