Music criticism majors study music history, ethnomusicology, music aesthetics, basic theories and basic knowledge of composition techniques, and musicological analysis methods.

Music criticism is a practical activity that explains the value and makes judgments about music works, performances, phenomena and characters. May resort to formal written writing, but also manifest in the teaching, conversation, and communication of informal writing.

Now refers specifically to music criticism articles published in newspapers and periodicals. Based on certain aesthetic judgment standards and principles, opinions are expressed through critical essays and involved in music life, thereby affecting music creation, performance and the music of the public. consciousness.

A brief introduction to music criticism

Professor Zhang Qian of the Central Conservatory of Music once said: "Music criticism is as important to music as water and air." He believes that there is no normal music criticism , it will be difficult for music creation, performance and music life to develop healthily and sustainably. When it comes to "criticism", most people's understanding of the word "criticism" is: "advising others about their shortcomings and mistakes."

1. Criticism: Point out the advantages and disadvantages, and comment on the quality. ——"Modern Chinese Dictionary"

2. Criticism: Analyze things and evaluate their rights and wrongs. ——"Cihai"

From this we should have made the meaning of "criticism" clear. Then adding "music" before "criticism" will give us "music criticism", which is why there is Many scholars are accustomed to calling it "music criticism".

So, what is music criticism as we understand it? Music criticism has been defined in many Chinese and foreign dictionaries and essays, such as the British musician Wynton Dean’s "New Music Criticism". Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Encyclopedia of Music" by Soviet scholar Yufo Kelder, "On the Consciousness of Music Criticism" by Chinese musicologist and critic Ju Qihong, etc.

A review of various opinions can be roughly divided into two categories in terms of scope: one is a "narrow" definition, which limits music criticism only to the evaluation of current music creation and performance activities; One is a "broad" definition, which expands the vision of music criticism to a theoretical value evaluation of music history and performance activities that is rich in the critic's own color.