Accompanist II (10/12 Pay Plan)

California State University, Bakersfield; California (MO); On-site; USD 21,516 - 22,833; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental plans

Vision coverage

CalPERS retirement

Tuition waiver

Vacation days

Sick leave

Holidays

Job summary

California State University, Bakersfield seeks an Accompanist II to provide professional piano accompaniment for instructional, rehearsal, and performance activities within the Music Program. The role supports instrumental, vocal, choral, and operatic activities, coaching students for juries and recitals and contributing to public performances.

The position is part-time (20 hours/week) on-site with a 10/12 pay plan, paying monthly and ending on or before July 31, 2027.

Qualifications

• Education/experience facilitating accompanying choral groups and soloists.
• Ability to coach students for juries, recitals, and performances.
• Familiarity with repertoire across vocal, choral, and instrumental settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional piano accompaniment for instructional and performance activities.
• Accompany rehearsals, juries, and public performances for various ensembles.
• Coach soloists and small ensembles on rhythm, pitch, and phrasing.
• Transcribe music when scores are unavailable and support repertoire development.

Skills

Regular attendance

Piano accompaniment

Harmony knowledge

Rhythmic accuracy

Instrumental/vocal coaching

Public performance readiness

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Music or related field

Job description

CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Accompanist II

UNION CODE: R09

TEMPORARY END DATE: This position is temporary and ends on or before July 31, 2027.

FT/PT: Part-time, 20 hours/ week

PAY PLAN: 10/12 Pay Plan

WORKPLACE TYPE: On-site (work in-person at business location)

ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $1,928 - $2,046

• However, offer amount will be commensurate with candidate’s experience, education, skills, and training.

CSU CLASSIFICATION SALARY RANGE: $1,928 - $2,808

PAY BASIS: Monthly

BENEFITS:

CSUB offers a best-in-class benefit package for eligible employees that includes an array of medical plans, choice of dental plans, vision coverage, retirement participation in CalPERS, CSU tuition waiver, up to 24 vacation days per year, sick leave with unlimited accrual, 15 paid holidays per year and more! See our benefits website for additional information.

CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY:

Open to all qualified applicants.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT:

FOR PRIORITY CONSIDERATION, applications must be received by May 28, 2026; however, the position will remain open until filled.

• This is a 10/12 pay-plan designated position. Employees appointed on this 10/12 pay-plan position work 10 months of the year and receive the months of June and July off. Employees are paid an amount equal to 10 months’ salary over a period of twelve months. This position will be on the 12 month pay-plan at the rate indicated through July 2026 and will then convert to the 10/12 pay-plan. The incumbent will work through July 2026; the first full months off will be June and July 2027.

POSITION PURPOSE:

The CSU Bakersfield Music Program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with emphasis in Music Education and General Music; a Music minor; and curricular support for the General Education and Liberal Studies Programs. The Music Program enhances the cultural environment of the region through wind band, orchestra, jazz, chamber music, choral, and opera performances, as well as recitals, workshops, festivals, and sponsoring guest artists. Under general supervision of the Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities, the Accompanist II provides professional-level musical accompaniment and instructional support for the Music Department’s academic programs. The position supports the instructional process by accompanying instrumental, vocal, choral, and operatic activities, coaching students and ensembles in preparation for juries, recitals, and public performances, and contributing to the successful delivery of curriculum-based and performance-based requirements. The role requires ongoing responsibility for public performance accompaniment and student musical preparation, consistent with Accompanist II-level work.

Duties & Responsibilities

Musical Accompaniment for Instructional, Rehearsal, & Performance Activities

• Provide professional-level piano accompaniment for a broad range of instructional and performance-based activities that are integral to the Music Department’s academic program.
• Accompany instrumental and vocal students during scheduled rehearsals, studio classes, and instructional sessions in support of applied music coursework and degree requirements.
• Provide piano accompaniment for student degree recitals, including required recital permission hearings, dress rehearsals, and public performances.
• Accompany instrumental and vocal juries (performance examinations), ensuring accurate interpretation of repertoire and adherence to faculty-directed tempos, styles, and performance standards.
• Perform accompaniment for recital hour performances, auditions, and guest recitals, festivals, and masterclasses hosted by the department.
• Play for conducting classes, providing real-time musical responsiveness to student conductors for instructional demonstration and evaluation purposes.

Choral, Operatic, & Ensemble Support

• Serve as a primary accompanist for choral ensembles and staged productions, contributing to both the instructional and public performance missions of the department.
• Accompany rehearsals and public performances for University Singers and Chamber Singers, working in coordination with the Director of Choral Studies to support ensemble preparation, musical accuracy, and performance readiness.
• Participate in rehearsals, performances, and tours with choral ensembles as scheduled, adapting accompaniment to varied performance settings and ensemble needs.
• Provide accompaniment for opera and musical theatre productions, as needed, supporting staging rehearsals, vocal preparation, and live performances.
• Demonstrate rhythmic, harmonic, and stylistic elements during rehearsals to reinforce musical concepts and support ensemble cohesion.

Coaching, Musical Preparation, & Specialized Support

• Support the instructional process through coaching, musical interpretation, and preparation activities consistent with Accompanist II-level responsibilities.
• Coach soloists and small instrumental or vocal groups on rhythm, pitch accuracy, phrasing, diction, and stylistic interpretation in preparation for juries, recitals, and public performances.
• Assist students in developing performance-ready repertoire by reinforcing harmonic structure, tempo consistency, and ensemble balance during coaching sessions.
• Transcribe music from recordings when printed piano scores are unavailable, ensuring accurate and usable accompaniment materials for instructional or performance use.
• Maintain familiarity with a wide range of repertoire styles to support diverse instructional needs across voice, instrumental, choral, and operatic settings.

Required Qualifications

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – Special training or coursework that would facilitate composing and improvising music and/or coaching and accompanying. In addition, experience which has led to a thorough familiarity with accompanying choral groups and soloists (instrumental and vocal) or interpretive dances.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES (SKA’s)

• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Skill in playing one or more musical instruments as accompanist.
• Knowledge of fundamentals of harmony, rhythmic patterns, phrasing, and stylistic conventions across vocal, choral, and instrumental repertoire.
• Knowledge of performance practices appropriate to classical, choral, operatic, and academic music settings.
• Ability to select appropriate dance music, compose or improvise music, coach performing artists, and transcribe music from recordings.
• Ability to coach instrumentalists and vocalists on rhythm, pitch, phrasing, diction, and stylistic interpretation.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and apply policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time‑sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills and competence with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on‑line systems, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Music, Piano Performance, Accompaniment, or a closely related field.
• Experience accompanying instrumental and vocal students in a college, university, or conservatory music program.
• Experience coaching soloists or small ensembles in preparation for juries, recitals, or public performances.
• Experience working across multiple musical styles appropriate to vocal, instrumental, choral, and operatic repertoire.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment possessing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

LIGHT WORK – involves mainly sitting, up to 25% standing or walking; lifting medium weight objects limited to 25 pounds.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

SCREENING:

Only those applicants possessing experience most directly related to the immediate needs of the office will be invited to appear before a Qualifications Appraisal Board for the purpose of appraising training, experience, and interest in the position.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Education Code 89521 Requirements:

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last seven years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

SENSITIVE POSITION:

Sensitive positions are designated by the CSU as requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position, based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of the people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to the CSU or individuals in the university community.

MANDATED REPORTER:

The person holding this position is considered a limited mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017.

GENERAL INFORMATION: