“There are many accompanists who are very good pianists, but there are not many pianists who are good accompanists!”
Irwin Gage
Any soloist will tell you that a good accompanist is worth their weight in gold. A good accompanist provides support for the soloist without overshadowing or dominating the performance, and provides a safety net when things don’t go according to plan.
Accompanying also teaches many vital skills to student pianists, including keeping a steady beat, following another musician’s interpretation, and sight-reading and transposition skills, among others. Many students of mine are currently accompanying school and community choirs, Church congregations and beginner string ensembles, as well as instrumental and vocal soloists.
My top tips for becoming a wonderful accompanist are –
- Always maintain a steady beat – don’t stop, regardless of what happens.
- Know your role – you are the support, not the soloist.
- Play at an appropriate dynamic level to provide support for the soloist and to blend with their instrument. Remember that an accompanist’s ‘forte’ is not as the same as a soloist’s ‘forte’.
- Know the soloist’s part as well as you know your own.
- Expect the unexpected – be prepared to jump to a different section of the piece if the soloist has a memory lapse.
- Be prepared to play the accompaniment slower and faster than marked on the music.
- Know which pitch the soloist tunes to.
- If working with singers, learn to transpose at sight.
- Learn the geography of the piano well. You need to play while watching the conductor/soloist, rather than your hands or music.
- Be able to play a reduction of a choral or orchestral score in case a piano part is not provided.
- Independence of the hands & control of each individual finger is a must – often a conductor will ask you to ‘bring out’ one part more than others.
- Learn the harmonic outline of the piece. If at first you struggle playing the full accompaniment, you at least need to be able to vamp over the chords with a steady beat until the full accompaniment is learnt.
What tips do you have for accompanying? Please feel free to add to the discussion through the comment section below.
Tips, I have none at the moment – apart from listen, learn to listen, and listen again.
Just a few of my thoughts below on Piano Accompanying, and yet they hardly do my feelings for Accompanying justice…. I love being an accompanist.
Piano Accompanying has provided me with some of my most satisfying moments as a musician.
An accompanist is key, and yet not in the spotlight – perfect!
Always in sync with the soloist, or choir, or music ensemble and/or the conductor – the feeling of knowing that I’m right there with them and always will be is simply the best!
For me as an accompanist, I have learned to listen, listen and listen. Listen to what the performer is feeling; listen to his mood; anticipate his ups and downs; step in for him when he needs an unexpected break; help him lift a maybe sinking performance; envision his success and yet, never let on how important and unnerving and disturbing and abrupt it can be. (Did I say abrupt? Of course not!) Smooth, graceful, soaring – the wind beneath his wings.
What’s in it for me? Improvisation, modulation, musical independence, good musicianship skills, good friends AND more! I have developed and grown both musically and as a person. One is entrusted with another’s life (or fame) so to speak – the responsibility is great. And yet, knowing inside of me that I CAN be trusted is so worth it!
I’d never trade that for any applause or recognition or fame!
I’ve heard say that accompanying is one of the most thankless jobs there is – Maybe.
For me, accompanying has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my life as a musician.
So I say, “Thank you for the music!”
Great article – I actually wrote an article about this about a year ago or so. We both sited many of the same tips, but I also included some suggestions on how to get your students involved I think all pianists should learn how to accompany. Essential. http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/teaching-your-piano-students-how-to-accompany/