Dance Accompanist

Modern/Contemporary Dance Technique Class Accompanist: • The pianist or percussionist shall improvise music to match tempo, meter, musicality and length of dance exercises or combinations given by a dance instructor to dance students. Required for modern/contemporary technique class accompanist: • Advanced technique and strong musicality on one’s primary instrument (piano or percussion) • Ability to communicate effectively with the teacher, making necessary adjustments in tempo/rhythmic or music choice upon instructor’s request and to tactfully ask for clarification when needed • Outstanding improvisational skills • Teacher will usually set a tempo for the accompanist for each exercise/combination and the accompanist improvises while watching the dancers, complementing and supporting the movement with creative musical choices made within the parameters of the instructor’s given tempo and meter • Ability to keep consistent and precise tempos given by instructor, ability and willingness to adapt to any requested changes • Ability to occasionally play odd meters/phrases or change meter mid-exercise where required (the instructor almost always teaches an exercise without music first, so the accompanist can observe and note any needed changes that would be expected before playing) • Ability to play a range of tempos, time signatures and rhythmic/stylistic qualities • Ability to provide textural, non-rhythmic, timbral-focused sounds when needed Ballet Technique Class Accompanist: • The pianist plays repertoire of their choosing or capably improvises (mostly in classical styles but also can include popular styles of music) to ballet exercises and combinations taught by the instructor, providing appropriate music to match the tempo, meter, musicality and length of each ballet exercise. Required skills for ballet technique class accompanist: • Advanced classical piano technique • Excellent sight reading ability and ability to learn intermediate to advanced music quickly • Improvisational skills; the more fluent as an improviser the better • Effectively choose appropriate music (or improvise) within seconds' notice to support each exercise. • Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with the teacher, making necessary adjustments in tempo or music choices upon instructor’s request.

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