Results

Following the concert itself, we had short feedback forms to be filled out. Of the 55 audience members, 30 responded on a form - that’s a 54.55% response rate, meaning we heard from more than half of the audience! From this we found out that 2/3 people only occasionally attend concerts, more than half were more likely to attend another local concert and most people (27/30) would come to another concert by Rose Brass Trio!

This WordCloud depicts the popularity of comments that were made on the feedback forms. Words that occurred most appear in the largest font. We made this so we could see clearly the data received and analyse it effectively.

In addition, Anna, Freya and I spoke to people after the concert, receiving some lovely comments including one lady in her eighties saying she would go home and dust off the keyboard for the first time since her husband died because we had played “Fur Elise”, a tune she used to love playing on the piano. This was really special and highlighted to us how music touches many lives in different ways. It also possibly indicates the lack of concerts this lady had been able to attend, so to have heard live music again had a profound impact on her.

A few weeks after the concert, we received feedback in a review format from the local organist. This type of feedback is useful as it was well thought-through, typed in prose and therefore more informative and easier to interpret. Much of the general impression was similar to that reflected in the audience feedback forms, but more musically informed comments such as “demonstrate their expertise in variety of styles” and “the ensemble was always rhythmically precise with some lyrical playing in the slower second movement” gave us confidence our rehearsals and aim to bring a high standard of music to the area was not going unnoticed. In addition to the public review, I was also offered some comments in an email which proved to be the most honest feedback – “there seemed to be more obvious errors in the simpler pieces… it’s important to give them as much care and attention as the larger works”.