Piano Accompanist (Flexible-Hour/Year-Round)

State Center Community College District; Reedley (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

State Center Community College District is seeking a piano accompanist to support music classes, rehearsals and concerts. The role involves accompanying choirs, voice classes and operatic performances, and coaching students outside of class by appointment.

You will collaborate with instructors to improve technique, develop musicianship and help students achieve long-term goals while adapting music to performance contexts.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Formal study of the piano is preferred; a bachelor’s or master’s degree in piano is desirable.
• Experience in an educational or professional setting is preferred.
• Ability to work with instructors and students in a college environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide piano accompaniment for music classes, choirs, voice classes, and performances.
• Collaborate with faculty and students to develop musicianship and artistry.
• Transpose music and provide instrumental accompaniment as needed.
• Record songs and post them for instructors and students on the school system.
• Assist with music selection and support equity-minded practices.

Skills

Student support

Score following

Improvisation

Sight-reading

Quality assessment

Support instructors

Equity & inclusion

Communication

Follow instructions

Computer skills

Relationship building

Education

High school diploma

3+ years accompanying experience

Formal piano study preferred

Bachelor/Master in piano desirable

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 Of

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.

P YSICAL 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