How To Write Program Note For Atcl Options

[snwikt]

Hi there. I am going to sit for the ATCL for violin in November. I have difficulties in writing the program note. Any advice out there? Thanks so much.

[AmandaL]

The ABRSM publish a guidance leaflet giving advice on writing the programme notes. If you give them a call or send an email I'm sure they'll drop one in the post to you - it might even be available online?

Basically, you must write in grammatically correct English and not let your programme notes stray from the point. Don't make it an essay about the composers, write about the music you are playing.

Perhaps set it in the context of other music by the composer written around about the same time. Try to be descriptive about the content of the music - describe unusual modulations, or use of repeated motifs, ideas of images the composer may have been trying to portray in the music, etc.
At all costs, avoid the use of "I", as in describing what you think, and modern speech terms.

Obtain some concert programmes and read the notes. It will give you a broader idea of what is expected, and might also kick-start your own ideas.