First-Timers Guide So you're a first-time Attendee – that's great! The following are answers to frequently-asked questions about Symphony-going, designed to make your first trip to the Santa Barbara Symphony a pleasant one. 1. What is classical music? The term "classical music" is a generic term applied to a type of music. Classical music encompasses many styles of music spanning over 700 years - 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. 2. Will I enjoy the concert? Absolutely! Classical music is exciting and surprising. You'll hear familiar melodies and be wowed by concert pieces that will truly amaze you. Whether you're watching how the conductor and our professional musicians work together to create this beautiful music, or just sitting back, closing your eyes and letting the music take you away, symphonic music has something compelling and moving for everyone! You'll really start to feel how each composer has his or her own style and grace. The more you know about the pieces, the more interesting they get! And the whole concert is a special, wonderful experience. 3. How would I recognize any music? Odds are, you'll recognize far more than you realize. Many of today's popular songs, television shows, and movies include or are taken from classical themes, like the “Lone Ranger” theme (Rossini's William Tell Overture), the Bugs Bunny cartoon "What's Opera, Doc?" (Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries..coming October 2006! ), United Airlines television commercials (Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue ), and many more. 4. What exactly are seasons and series? By season, we mean the months from October through May, when our regular subscription concerts take place. Therefore, the 2006-07 season runs from October 2006 to May 2007, with concerts taking place each month at the Arlington Theatre. When you purchase a series, you become a subscriber. Subscribers enjoy many benefits, including lower ticket prices than single ticket buyers, sitting in the same seats for every concert in their series, and ticket exchange privileges. Click here to learn more. 5. What should I wear to a Santa Barbara Symphony concert? Contrary to what many people think, formal attire -- such as tuxedos and evening gowns -- is not required at Symphony concerts. However if you do enjoy dressing in formal clothing, that's fine, especially for opening night in October! At our other concerts, most concertgoers wear business or business casual attire. 6. When should I clap? Generally, it is considered proper concert etiquette to clap only after a piece is complete. Some orchestral music has more than one “movement”. 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. If all else fails, you can always wait for the rest of the audience to clap before applauding! 7. What about other noises -- coughing, cell phones, pagers? Please turn off cell phones and pagers before entering the theatre. Coughing can be an unavoidable problem. Please bring cough drops or lozenges with you if you feel you may cough, but please unwrap them ahead of time to avoid making noise during the music. 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. It's customary not to talk while the music is playing. Being sensitive to your neighbors allows everyone to have a more pleasant concert experience. 8. Can I bring the kids? Children under seven are not recommended to attend our regular subscription concerts -- the programs tend to be too long for them. However, while our subscription concerts are perfect for adults, kids and their families will enjoy our New Year's Eve and July 4 th concerts. 9. How can I learn more about the Santa Barbara Symphony? Sign up for our free online newsletter “SymphonE-notes”, with information about upcoming events, interesting people, special offers and tips to enrich your listening experience can be delivered right to your inbox ! You can sign up by clicking here . 10. How are the Santa Barbara Symphony and the Santa Barbara Symphony's music programs for the community supported? Your subscription purchase to the Santa Barbara Symphony is one of our most valued gifts. You are supporting your community's orchestra and the arts. However , ticket revenue alone does not cover the cost of presenting symphonic concerts nor pay for our important education and community programs. We rely on charitable support from individuals, companies and corporations. The Santa Barbara Symphony has a 50-year commitment to our music programs, including our Music Van, Concerts for Youth Symphonic performances, Youth Symphony and Music “Informances” for our community's elders. Donors to the Santa Barbara Symphony play a crucial role in sustaining the Symphony's tradition of artistic excellence and community music support. To donate or find out more click here , or call the Symphony office at 805-898-9386. Thank you! (A special thanks to the San Francisco Symphony.)