General Policies
The Accompanying Program is administered by the Director of Accompanying, who is responsible for all assignments and other arrangements. A fee is paid to those accompanists who reach the proficiency of studio accompanying through study or previous experience. No fees are paid to student accompanists who are enrolled in an Accompanying course and who carry responsibilities of accompanying as part of the course. The Accompanying Program is organized on the premise that student accompanists are learning a valuable skill and are gaining important experience.
Subject to availability, accompanists are provided for Converse music majors taking lessons enrolled in the 220, 320, 440, and 620 lesson series at the Petrie School of Music. Accompanists may be available to music minors or those taking elective or secondary lessons subject to availability and at the discretion of the Director of Accompanying. The Petrie School of Music does not provide accompanists for Lawson Academy students.
Accompanying Policies
1. Singers and recitalists will be assigned an accompanist for the whole semester. The accompanist will come to 30 minutes of their lesson, and have a 30-minute rehearsal time with the student each week. It is up to the student to schedule those times with their accompanist. If the student misses a rehearsal time without giving the accompanist notice, it will only be made up at the discretion of the accompanist.
2. Those with Gateway juries or particularly difficult music will have an accompanist at their lessons after Mid Term. Students may arrange rehearsal times before that, if needed.
3. Everyone else will be assigned an accompanist to be contacted if needed for Student Recital or jury. Students must be sure their accompanist has copies of all music in advance, so they have time to prepare.
4. A recital fee of $75 for Junior Recitals and $125 for Senior/Graduate recitals will be paid by the student to the accompanist when program information is turned in. If it has not been paid by the recital date, the accompanist will not go onstage. A word to the wise---upon graduation, the opportunity to collaborate with good pianists will be directly related to how and when they are paid.
5. It is the students’ responsibility to notify the accompanist if a lesson or rehearsal must be missed. Do not expect your teacher to do this.
6. Students must give the accompanist at least a week’s notice prior to performing on a Student Recital. The accompanist has the right to refuse last-minute requests.
7. If students want extra rehearsal time (more than the 30 minutes a week allotted), or do any outside performances or auditions (NATS, MTNA, etc.), they must pay the accompanist at a rate agreeable to both parties.
8. The student should notify the Director of Accompanying if there is any trouble with an accompanist’s competence or reliability.