Percussion Accompanist (Part-time)

Point Park University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Point Park University in Pittsburgh seeks a part-time Percussion Accompanist (Dance) to provide live, improvised percussion for studio and class dance work. The role supports modern and West African techniques, including Graham and Horton exercises, and requires strong improvisation and musical responsiveness.

Responsibilities include selecting material, maintaining tempo and musical structure, cueing dancers, and collaborating with instructors to adapt to class needs.

Qualifications

• Excellence in percussion performance and live dance accompaniment.
• Knowledge of Modern and West African dance repertoire.
• Organizational skills appropriate to university course scheduling.

Responsibilities

• Provide live, improvised percussion accompaniment for studio/class dance work.
• Select and perform appropriate musical material with accuracy and responsiveness.
• Clearly support the structure of dance exercises by emphasizing rhythms, counts, transitions, and phrasing.
• Accompany Modern and West African dance classes including Graham and Horton exercises.
• Develop a broad dance-accompaniment vocabulary through observation and collaboration.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff and adapt to changing instructional and scheduling needs.

Skills

Percussion performance

Live dance accompaniment

Improvisation

Modern dance repertoire

West African dance repertoire

Dance accompaniment

Organizational skills

Job description

POSITION

Percussion Accompanist (Dance)

STATUS

Part-time, Hourly, As Needed

DEPARTMENT

Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA)

REPORTS TO

Accompanist Supervisor

PRIMARY FUNCTION

Responsible for providing drum/percussion accompaniment for studio/class dance work.

REQUIREMENTS

Excellence in percussion performance, live dance accompaniment, and improvisation. Knowledge of Modern and West African dance repertoire. Organizational skills appropriate to the variances of university course time scheduling.

DUTIES

1. Provide live, improvised percussion accompaniment that supports dance students and responds to the needs of the class.
2. Select and perform appropriate musical material with accuracy and responsiveness, maintaining appropriate meter, tempo, phrasing, dynamics, rhythm, and musical structure.
3. Clearly support the structure of dance exercises by emphasizing rhythms, phrases, counts, transitions, and exercise lengths, and providing effective cues for dancers during traveling exercises.
4. Accompany Modern and West African dance classes, providing music appropriate to the specific technique and instructional goals, including Graham and Horton exercises.
5. Develop and maintain a broad dance-accompaniment vocabulary through observation of other accompanists, collaboration with instructors, and exploration of diverse musical traditions and resources.
6. Collaborate with faculty and staff and adapt to changing instructional and scheduling needs, while performing other related duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must have percussive skills able to withstand several hours of accompanying per day.