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You should clap after every movement of a piece, even that one piece they always play at the beginning where a violinist stands up and everyone plays the same note. Classical music isn't meant to be enjoyed - it's meant to be appreciated. Its good to leave your cell phone or your pager on during a performance especially if you answer the phone and carry on a complete conversation. Coughing adds to the music - it's like a new percussion instrument. You're still new at this, and we want your first experience with the San Francisco Symphony to be faux pas-free. So, we've put together some tips for the first-time concertgoer. The following are answers to frequently-asked questions about Symphony-going, designed to make your first trip to the San Francisco Symphony a pleasant one. The term "classical music" can mean anything from a Bach Concerto to a Brahms Rhapsody, anything from an Adams tone poem to a Schubert Symphony. Generally, classical music is played by a symphonic ensemble comprised of strings (violins, violas, cellos and basses), woodwinds (clarinets, oboes, flutes and bassoons), brass (trumpets, French horns, trombones and tubas) and percussion (drums, xylophones and bells), or some combination thereof. Classical music is exciting, surprising, and oftentimes funny. When you join us in the concert hall, you'll learn why Haydn called it the "Surprise" Symphony, you'll hang on every note of the third movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, you'll giggle at Ives' Three Places in New England, and you'll be in awe of Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra. By season, we mean the months from September to May or June, when our regular subscription concerts take place. Therefore, the 2002-2003 season runs from September 2002 to June 2003, with concerts taking place almost every week in Davies Symphony Hall. A series is a set of pre-selected concerts that you can purchase as a package. If you purchase a series, you become a subscriber (you have purchased a subscription). Subscribers enjoy many benefits, including sitting in the same seats for every concert in their series and ticket exchange privileges. At a concert, the entire Symphony will play, led by a conductor. At a recital, only a soloist -- sometimes with a piano accompanist -- performs. Recitals are very intimate, whereas concerts are intended for larger audiences. Artists in recital can be found on our Great Performers Series and certain Special Event concerts. Contrary to what many people think, formal attire -- such as tuxedos and evening gowns -- is not required at Symphony concerts. In fact, most people only wear formal clothing to our Opening Gala. At our other concerts, most concertgoers wear business attire or slacks, skirts, sweaters, cocktail dresses, etc. Generally, it is considered proper concert etiquette to clap only after a piece is complete. This means that, for example, if you're listening to Beethoven's Symphony No. You can look at your program book to find out how many movements a piece has. Usually, there is a 15- to 30-second pause in between movements. So, in the case of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, you know you're hearing the Finale after three pauses. If all else fails, you can always wait for the rest of the audience to clap before applauding. What about other noises -- coughing, cell phones, pagers? It is always best to turn off cell phones and pagers before entering the concert hall. Noises such as a pager going off or a cell phone ringing are very distracting to the conductor, the musicians and your fellow audience members. If you feel a cold coming on, please bring lozenges with you. Or, grab some free from our dispensers placed throughout the Hall. Unwrapping a cough drop during the music makes more noise than you might think. If there are no lozenges in hand and you need to cough once or twice, please try to wait for the end of the movement. If that's not possible you can try to bury your cough in a louder section of music, rather than coughing in the midst of the most delicate pianissimo. And, either way, a handkerchief or scarf will further help to muffle the disruption. If you need to cough more than a couple of times, there's nothing wrong with getting up and excusing yourself from the Hall for the rest of the movement. Following these guidelines helps you be sensitive to your neighbors, and allows everyone to have a more pleasant concert experience. Children under seven are not encouraged to attend our regular subscription concerts -- the programs tend to be too long for children. However, while our subscription concerts are perfect for adults, kids and their families will enjoy our Music for Families series, Concerts for Kids, Holiday programs and some of the weekend-matinee Summer in the City concerts. If you would like to learn more about directions to Davies Symphony Hall, restaurants or parking, please 20 Click here. If you have any other questions, please feel free to call Ticket Services at 415-864-6000, Mon-Fri 10am-6pm and Sat noon-6pm.
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