Description
Piano Accompanist Job Requirements
Basic Function:
Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, work with a vocal music teacher and a musical theater teacher/director to provide piano accompaniment for a variety of musical performances, liturgies and rehearsals for assigned choirs/casts, providing students access to high quality learning options and a variety of activities; be able to substitute for the choral director in case of absence.
Essential Functions:
- Perform piano accompaniment for practice, rehearsals, performances, and school masses under the direction of the choral director.
- Rehearse with vocal sections and large groups; provide high level instructional assistance in diction, rhythms and memorization of parts.
- Communicate as needed with performing arts students and staff regarding rehearsals and productions.
- Learn the music in a timely manner and be able to play up to 4 vocal parts at once.
- Assist in the coordination of and participate in student group activities related to music education and productions to assist students to achieve their personal best.
Knowledge and Abilities:
- Advanced piano skills
- Music theory
- Basic vocal techniques
- Basic office practices, procedures, and equipment
- Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy
Ability to:
- Accompany choirs, soloists, and ensembles
- Play piano at an advanced level and sight read musical scores; improvise from lead sheets on an as needed basis.
- Assist a diverse range of students in learning vocal music interpretation
- Follow the conductor’s tempo and dynamics
- Play vocal warm-ups as directed by the choral conductor
- Communicate, understand, and follow both oral and written directions effectively
- Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with a diverse range of people
- Exhibit professionalism in all situations
- Apply integrity and trust in all situations
- Communicate using patience and courtesy in a manner that reflects positively on the organization
- Learn new or updated skills/equipment or computer systems and programs and apply to current work
- Provide accompaniment; sight-read accompaniments and musical theatre scores in rehearsals; improvise and transpose music.
- Accompany concerts, school-wide masses special events, and musical recitals
- Participate in choir and musical theatre rehearsals
- Provide vocal coaching to students at x-period
- Perform related duties and responsibilities as required to accomplish the objectives of the position as listed in the above summary.
- A friendly, intuitive, and encouraging collaborator who has a passion for music and student enrichment.
- Excellent sight reader with a strong knowledge of the Catholic liturgical music and musical theatre catalogue (classic and contemporary styles) is a plus. Experience in pit orchestras is a plus.
- Comfortable working with high school kids and collaboratively coaching students alongside the teacher.
- Being able to take direction and make adjustments on the fly. Able to internalize notes/changes. Comfortable starting and stopping, quickly jumping to different sections, generally possessing a strong understanding of each part of whatever piece of music is being drilled.
- Comfortable with teaching vocal lines and harmonies. Knowing when to double the singer.
- Transposition & transcription skills (both written and by sight/ear) are a huge plus.
Requirements
Education/Licenses/Experience
(Any combination equivalent to):
- graduation from high school
- supplemented by private or college-level training in piano and music theory and prior experience as an accompanist strongly preferred.
- Experience accompanying an ensemble tinder the direction of a conductor for 1-3 years.
- Worked in a high school educational environment for at least 1 year prior.
Licenses/Certificates:
Graduation from high school or its equivalent and some experience working with children in an organized setting. Completed at least 48 semester units of study at an institution of higher education (college level) OR obtained an associate’s (or higher) degree.
Working Conditions:
- Music environment; subject to accompanying soloists or groups during occasional evening or weekend hours.
- Theatre environment; involved in the process of teaching musical score to young actors
Work Hours:
- MWF 8:30-9:55 & 1:40-3:00
- Tues Thurs 8:30-9:55 & 1:40-3:00
- Performances/rehearsals are on evenings and weekends, dates will be provided in advance. School masses have an 8:00am call and will take place once a month
Physical Demands:
With reasonable accommodations, if necessary, dexterity to play the piano; basic knowledge of electronic keyboard usage; seeing to read music; hearing to listen to tempo; sitting for extended periods of time; speaking to communicate with others; pushing upright pianos and setting up electronic keyboards for performances.
Wage Range
The rate of pay offered to the selected candidate is based on internal pay policy and budget. New hires are commonly paid at the minimum of the wage range or within the lower part of the range. We consider a number of factors when making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience, training and other department needs.
Information/Application Contact
Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks)
13645 Riverside Dr.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
shaw@ndhs.org