I have found that most students have written book reviews and movie reviews but never music reviews.  In fact, few students read music reviews.  For that reason, we spend a significant amount of reading and analyzing reviews written by professional writers.  Here are my suggestions for acclimating students to the world of writing about music:

1. Class Discussion about Purpose of Music Reviews.  Ask volunteers to talk about their favorite (and least favorite) CD.  What makes a CD "good"?  What makes someone want to buy a CD?  Have you ever purchased a CD because of one song (or because of the artists, etc.) then found the rest of the album did no meet up to your expectations?  What is the value of a music review?

2.  Where Can You Find Music Reviews? Many teen magazines and other magazines offer brief music reviews.  The "Recordings" section of Rolling Stone Magazine offers reviews of varying lengths.  The Internet has dozens of sights devoted to reviewing music.  Discuss these options.  You might assign students to bring in a sample review (not only will it encourage awareness of this form of writing, but also it will help build a collection of sample reviews).

3.  Reading Reviews.  Give your students class time to read music reviews, informally.  I generally take my students to the library and let them peruse stacks of Rolling Stone and People magazines.  The more reviews they read, the more they absorb the characteristics of a music review.

4.  Analyzing the Structure of a Music Review.  Before writing their own review, students need to examine the structure and characteristics of a music review.  I have students read five reviews and complete an analysis.  A class discussion follows, during which we try to determine a basic outline for reviews -- although I am careful to not turn this assignment into a formulaic one.

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