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Skills For A Accompanist
Just because you can play the piano does not mean you are automatically a good
accompanist. Accompanying is another, different set of skills which must be
added to the ability to play. And like playing the piano, accompanying requires
practice. Alas, the only way to gain this skill is to accompany!
The accompaniment part necessarily easy! Anyone who's even looked at the
accompanyment for Schubert's "Erlkoenig" will realize that this piece is no walk
in the park! Therefore, being an accompanist is not an also-ran to being a piano
soloist.
I feel there are different techniques needed for accompanying a choir, vocal
soloist, or an instrumentalist. The skills interlock, but there are some
subtleties which make a difference.
Here are some hints to help you through your first rehearsals with minimal
embarrassment and to assist when it's time to go on the stage.
Accompanying a Choir
Know your music well. Practice playing it faster and slower than rehearsal tempo
in case there is a change at performance.
Be familiar with the choir's music. How many parts are there? How many singers
on each part? What's the form (ABA? rondo? stanza and chorus)?
Know where the choir is doing what. For example, where do they begin the fugal
section?
Number the measures in your score.
Ask the director if she/he would like to add rehearsal letters. Make sure you
have these marked in the correct spots.
Watch the director. This means you must have a good working knowledge of the
geography of the keyboard so you don't have to watch your hands all the time.
You'll need to look up frequently, perhaps as often as every 10 seconds.
Accordingly, be able to find where you were in the music when you look back.
That is, know approximately in the score where you were and remember it so your
eyes can return there. For instance, "line two in the middle in the middle of
the score".
Have a knowledge of chords. You can simplify the accompaniment if needed; or
fake it if you get lost. I suggest you write in the chord names above the
measures or somewhere you can see them easily. Knowledge of scales is another
help for you.
Have a knowledge of how to arpreggiate chords and play them in inversion in case
you have to fake it. A good working knowledge of the I-V-I bass pattern is also
useful in faking it.
Have the ability to play one voice louder than the others. The director calls
this "bringing out" whatever voice that is; pianists call it "voicing". This
means you'll have to learn how to play one finger louder than the others.
An ability to hear which part is having a bit of trouble and bringing out that
part is helpful in keeping the rehearsal going smoothly. Perhaps doing this will
negate the director's taking time to work with that section on that area. Just a
little support from you will do the trick. This is a judgement call for you, of
course. Be careful not to tread on the director's toes!
Support the director in proper deportment for the choir (especially helpful with
children and teens). Be on time; have your music open; have a pencil tucked
behind your ear; be sitting on the bench, etc. Model good professional behavior
for the choir.
Other tips for children and teens:
If you see a child having trouble but making an effort, be sure to compliment
the child after rehearsal on how hard he/she tried or how much improvement you
saw or how well the child watched the director. Find something musical to praise
especially to that child on that day. Despite having trouble, if the singer
knows that somebody noticed his/her effort, the child will be less inclined to
quit, thinking he/she "is obviously not able to do this".
Be prepared to level a "look" on especially rowdy ones. Follow this by a wink or
a smile. If warranted, compliment the child for calming down. Kids sometimes
(often?!) act out because they are having difficulty and don't want anyone to
notice that. By being a disturbance, attention is focused on the behavior rather
than the true problem.
At performances, help corral the kids and calm them. Help them robe or do
whatever other preparation is necessary before going on stage. If the children
are young, ask if any of them needs a "potty call" before robing.
Adults will not need "mothering" kinds of help, of course, but do model
professional behavior. Many adults have not sung in a choir before and will
appreciate your subtle assistance.
Accompanying a Solo Singer
Many of the techniques are the same, such as knowing your and the soloist's the
music well, marking the music (including rehearsal letters), and watching the
soloist.
Although you are enhancing the performance of the soloist, consider yourself a
safety net, too.
Be prepared to jump forwards or backwards in case the singer gets lost. You
must, as far as possible, cover the goof.
Be prepared to "vamp 'til ready" if the soloist gets lost and then rattled and
misses the next entrance. If the soloist knows she/he can count on you to cover,
it is a great feeling of security. Although the soloist is the star, you are
really a team. An experienced and sensitive soloist knows this.
Watch carefully for the solist's indication to begin and end. Rehearse beginning
and ending quite a bit. If the soloist is not making these indications obvious
enough to you, say something! If you say nothihg, you may have a disaster in
performance.
Also, watch carefully for the speed the soloist sets. You have rehearsed this
and you know approximately what to expect, but watch carefully, anyway. If it is
a child or teen and this is a competition, the tempo set may be a little/quite a
bit faster than was planned.
Generally, the soloist comes on stage first, and you follow. Work out whether
you will bow together before the piece or whether the soloist will bow alone
(while you sit down on the piano bench unobtrusively). Work out how you will bow
afterwards. Normally, the soloist extends his/her arm, palm outwards, to
"indicate" the accompanist, upon which signal the accompanist rises, steps away
from the piano, and bows. Sometimes the pair of you bows again. (If they're
still clappin', honey, take another bow!)
If this is a competition, be especially sensitive to how your playing may
influence the judge.
Accompanying An Instrumentalist
In addition to the tips given about for a vocalist, consider these additional
tips when accompanying an instrumentalist.
Make sure you know how to assist in tuning. For example, a violinist will want A
440 (the A above middle C). A young child violinist may find it helpful to hear
a d minor triad (root position).
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