Piano Accompanist (Flexible-Hour/Year-Round)

State Center Community College District; Madera (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

State Center Community College District seeks a piano accompanist to support music classes, rehearsals, and performances across the district. The role involves coaching students and coordinating sheet music, with occasional instrumental accompaniment as needed.

You will work with instructors to enhance musicianship, collaborate on performances, and contribute to equity-minded practices within the District. Formal piano study is preferred; a degree in piano is desirable.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED required with 3 years of piano accompaniment experience.
• Formal study of the piano is preferred; a bachelor’s or master’s in piano is desirable.
• Experience accompanying vocal or choral groups in an educational or professional setting.

Responsibilities

• Provides piano accompaniment for music classes and performances including choirs and recitals.
• Collaborates with faculty and students to improve technique and artistry and support long-term goals.
• Records songs for instructors and students and posts them on the school system.
• Assists with music festivals and related duties as assigned.

Skills

Sight-read piano

Follow conductor

Improvise music

Coach students

Equity & inclusion

Effective communication

Computer literacy

Education

Bachelor's or master's degree in piano (desirable)

High school diploma or GED + 3 years piano accompaniment experience

Job description

General Purpose

Under general supervision, provides piano accompaniment for music classes, rehearsals, recitals and concerts; assists instructors in class and coaches students outside of the classroom by appointment; coordinates sheet music; may provide instrumental accompaniment on an as-needed basis; and performs related duties as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

• Provides piano accompaniment for music classes including choirs, voice classes, voice lessons and opera classes.


• Provides piano accompaniment for various performances, including rehearsals.


• Illustrates different musical forms in modern dance and theory courses.


• Adapts themes to the piano from recorded music.


• Collaborates with faculty and students to help improve technique, develop musicianship, deepen artistry and work toward their longer-term goals.


• Records songs for instructors and students and posts them on the school system.


• Assists with music festivals.


• Demonstrates sensitivity to and understanding of historically minoritized groups and participates in professional development activities to increase cultural competency to enhance equity-minded practices within the District.

Other Duties

• May assist in music selection.


• Transposes music to another key for instructor or student.


• Provides instrumental accompaniment.


• Performs related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards / Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Fundamentals of piano playing, music theory, harmony, rhythm, composition transition and tempo.


• Musical terms, signs and abbreviations.


• The relationship between the vocal instrument and the piano.


• A wide variety of musical styles.


• The connection between poetry/libretto and music.

Skills and Abilities to

• Work with students effectively, diagnosing needs and finding methods to help them improve their skills and lesson understanding.


• Follow a soloist or conductor in performing musical score.


• Improvise, adapt music and memorize musical selections.


• Sight-read music and play it on the piano.


• Determine performance quality.


• Support instructors.


• Effectively engage and support historically minoritized groups by addressing issues of equity and improving culturally responsive service-oriented practices.


• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.


• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.


• Operate a computer and use standard business software.


• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.

Education and Experience

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, and at least three years of experience accompanying vocal or choral groups, dancers, vocal soloists or similar musical work on piano in an organized educational, professional or similar setting; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Formal study of the piano is preferred. A bachelor's or master's degree in piano is desirable.

Licenses, Certificates and Other Requirements

Certain assignments may require a California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the Districts vehicle insurance program.

Physical and Mental Demands

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, employees are regularly required to sit; talk or hear, use hands repetitively to play the piano or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms. Employees are frequently required to walk and stand; and lift up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work; work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work with frequent interruptions; work under intensive deadlines; and interact with District faculty, staff, the public and others encountered in the course of work.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT