Noteworthy

If you've never been to the symphony before, you're not alone in wondering what to expect. Do people dress up? When are you supposed to clap? What happens if you're late?

The good news is that most first-time concertgoers have the same questions. And once you're through the doors, you'll probably find the experience is much more relaxed than you imagined.

A typical evening at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is refreshingly straightforward. You find your seat, settle in with the program, enjoy about two hours of live music, often with a 20-minute intermission, then head back out into the city. Along the way, you might discover there are far fewer rules and a lot more room to simply enjoy yourself than you expected.

Here are five things I wish someone had told me before my first visit.

1. You don't have to dress up.

Let's start with the question almost everyone has: no, there’s no dress code. 

If you've been debating between a suit and sneakers, here's your answer: wear what feels comfortable.

On any given night at Roy Thomson Hall, you'll see everything from jeans and sweaters to dresses and jackets. Some people are coming straight from work. Others have made a night of it. There isn't a dress code and there isn't a "right" way to look.

The best outfit is the one that lets you settle in and enjoy the music without thinking about what you're wearing.

2. Arrive a little early. You'll be glad you did.

If it's your first visit, give yourself a little extra time. Arriving about 45 minutes to an hour before the concert begins makes the whole experience feel more relaxed.

You'll have time to find your seat, browse the program notes, check your coat, take in the architecture of Roy Thomson Hall or grab a drink and a snack before the lights dim. If you're planning to enjoy a drink during intermission, you can even pre-order it before the concert and pick it up later without waiting in line.

The hall is also surprisingly easy to navigate. It's essentially one big circle with clearly marked entrances and friendly ushers throughout, so if you're unsure where to go, there's always someone happy to point you in the right direction.

3. Intermission is part of the experience

A typical concert runs about two hours with a 20-minute intermission in the middle.

Think of it as a chance to stretch your legs, chat about what you've heard so far, visit the washroom or enjoy a drink. Drinks purchased at the bar are welcome inside the auditorium and unopened bottles of water are allowed too.

It's also a great moment to take in Roy Thomson Hall itself. If it's your first visit take a moment to look around. The sweeping glass exterior and circular auditorium are part of the experience, and seeing the hall come alive during intermission is something first-time visitors often remember.

4. The clapping thing isn't as complicated as you've heard

If you've ever worried about applauding at the wrong moment, you're in good company.

Here's the easiest rule to remember: if you're unsure, follow the audience.

Some pieces are made up of several movements, and audiences usually wait until the end of the full work before applauding. Other times, enthusiastic applause comes right away.

Either way, there's no expectation that you'll know every concert tradition before you arrive. Everyone who now seems like a seasoned concertgoer was once attending their very first performance too.

5. You don't need to know the music to enjoy it

One of the biggest surprises for first-time audiences is how much of the music already feels familiar. The TSO performs everything from classical favourites to film concerts, contemporary works and programs inspired by jazz, pop and video games. You might recognize a melody from a movie or discover a composer you've never heard before. Either way, you're in the right place!

One of the pleasures of hearing an orchestra live is that you don't have to understand everything for it to move you. Watch the musicians listening to one another. Notice how the conductor shapes the sound. Feel what happens when more than 80 people create something together in real time.

By the end of the evening, you may realize you're no longer thinking about what to wear or when to clap.

You're thinking about the piece that caught you off guard, the sound of the orchestra filling the room and which concert you might come back for next.

Jonathan Dekel is a Toronto-based journalist and enthusiastic concertgoer. His work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star and CBC.