Entering our competition? Louise Holdenhas some tips for reviewing music

Every flavour of school magazine comes across the judging table, from arty to political and sporty to gossipy. One thing unites them all, however, and that's the music review. Many student journalists give their angles on new releases; others look back at their favourite artists, albums or gigs from the past.

Occasionally, we get something truly original, such as the piece by last year's writing winner, Daniel Sutherland of the Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School, in Newry, Co Down. In "That's not music, that's not noise - a day in the life of a local music activist", he stuck his notebook in his pocket and set off to review gigs by local bands. The result was a comprehensive review of what was going on musically in a pocket of Ireland. He wrote with passion for music and commitment to his hometown music scene. Here's a snippet.

"As official diplomat of the Warrenpoint music scene, I can ensure that all tastes are catered for. The aim of Saturday night is to praise and celebrate the collective appreciation of music. Like a 19th-century Mormon husband, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to genres, subgenres, movements and revolutions. For those of you who appreciate super harmonic chords and indie charm, The Heathrow Yesterdays are the band for you. Fronted by the charismatic G, they preach a message of musical unity, combining incredible musicians from all walks of life . . . Oozing with originality, the suite have sent out ripples in Northern Ireland, bringing their indie-pop-ska sound to Armagh, Derry and Belfast . . .

"The godfathers of Warrenpoint rock'n'roll are, undoubtedly, The Beat Poets. Starting out in May 2005, words cannot describe the impact this unsigned band have had on the national and international music scene. But they'll just have to do."

Whether you choose to review the big artists, local bands or the school musical, here are a few tips on music criticism from Irish Timesmusic critic Kevin Courtney:

• Love your subject but be objective. "If you like everything you hear, your musical radar is not working," he says.
• Have a good knowledge of the rock scene and a decent understanding of music history. "Knowing about music past also helps in spotting what is influencing music present."
• Develop your own style of writing. "Avoid simplistic descriptions - 'very good', 'great', 'brilliant'." You can do better than that. Draw your readers into the music by using evocative vocabulary that shows insight.
• Expand your subject. "If you're reviewing a gig, observe and describe the crowd." You can tell a lot about a band by their following.
• "By all means be scathing in your assessment, but don't get nasty and don't get personal." You'll undermine your credibility
• Keep an open mind. Writing off genres and bands without listening to them is a necessity for the general listener but a risky short cut for the music critic.

Next week: Designing your magazine. For more about the competition, see www.irishtimesschoolmag.ie