School Pianist

San Francisco Ballet; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 59,000; Part time

Job summary

San Francisco Ballet School is seeking enthusiastic pianists to provide live accompaniment for ballet classes across the School, including Children’s Division, Pre-Ballet, Levels 1–8, and adult programs.

Experience is welcome but not required; strong musical skills and a willingness to learn ballet accompaniment are valued. Mentorship and on‑the‑job training are provided in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Strong piano performance skills and solid musicianship.
• Comfortable sight-reading and learning music efficiently.
• Ability to improvise or adapt music; jazz or related styles welcomed.
• Professional, dependable, collaborative, eager to learn.
• Willingness to receive coaching and develop ballet accompaniment skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide live piano accompaniment for ballet classes and outreach programs.
• Work with faculty to support musical and artistic needs of each class.
• Adapt tempo, phrasing, dynamics, and style to match instruction.
• Improvise or modify music as appropriate for class exercises.
• Create an engaging, supportive musical environment for all ages.
• Arrive prepared, on time, and ready to collaborate with faculty.
• Attend occasional meetings and training sessions.

Skills

Piano performance

Sight-reading

Improvise music

Collaborative

Coachable

Education

Degree in piano performance

Job description

Job Title: School Pianist (Part-Time)

Department: School

Reports To: School Pianist Supervisor

Classification: Part-time, non-exempt

Compensation: $42.86 per hour for teaching, $31 per hour for meetings

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Position Summary

San Francisco Ballet School is seeking enthusiastic, collaborative pianists to provide live accompaniment for ballet classes throughout the School, including Children\'s Division, Pre-Ballet, Levels 1–8, the Adult Program, and community outreach programs. Previous ballet accompaniment experience is welcome but not required. Comprehensive mentorship and on-the-job training are provided for pianists with strong musical skills who are interested in developing as ballet accompanists. We welcome applicants from a variety of musical backgrounds who are excited to learn and grow in a collaborative environment.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide live piano accompaniment for ballet classes and outreach programs.
• Work closely with faculty to support the musical and artistic needs of each class.
• Adapt tempo, phrasing, dynamics, and musical style to match classroom instruction.
• Improvise or modify music as appropriate for class exercises.
• Create an engaging, supportive musical environment for students of all ages and levels.
• Arrive prepared, on time, and ready to collaborate with faculty and fellow pianists.
• Attend occasional meetings and training sessions as requested.

Qualifications

• Strong piano performance skills and solid overall musicianship.
• Comfortable sight-reading and the ability to learn music efficiently.
• Ability to improvise or adapt music is highly valued. Experience in jazz, church music, musical theatre, collaborative piano, or other improvisatory styles is encouraged.
• Professional, dependable, collaborative, and eager to learn.
• Willingness to receive coaching and develop ballet accompaniment skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience accompanying dance classes or other collaborative performance settings is helpful but not required.
• Degree or current study in piano performance, collaborative piano, jazz studies, music education, or a related field is preferred but not required.

Work Schedule

• Part-time positions are available throughout the academic year, summer programs, and occasional community outreach activities. Classes are scheduled weekdays, evenings, and weekends, with assignments based on availability and the needs of the School.

Application Procedure

We prefer you apply online

NO CALLS, PLEASE

San Francisco Ballet Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to employing a diverse staff.

Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for the position in accordance with the Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO).