How to Be A Superb Accompanist

Did you know that playing the piano as an accompanist for a singer or a choir is a mastered skill? There are three things that will make you more than just an accompanist...one that is superb and sought out above all others.

* Follow the individual: This is the most important skill as an accompanist that you can master. You must always remember that you are not the leader, but you are to follow the person that you accompany on the piano. This means that you must be on your mental toes, so to speak. If you are playing for an individual person, listen to when they take a breath for the next note and pay close attention to how fast they are going. In order for them to portray the feeling of the music to others, they must not feel rushed and they must feel comfortable making pauses and adjusting the tempo during their musical expression.
* Follow the conductor: If you accompany a choir or a small group of musicians, remember to watch the conductor closely. Nothing is more frustrating to a conductor than to give cues and cut-offs with no results, or try to bring a musical selection to the correct speed, only to be ignored. Having good peripheral vision is necessary in order for you to see your music and the conductor at the same time. What if you can't see the conductor? If at all possible, it would be best to move the piano and eliminate the need to turn your head in order to watch for cues. It's not very fun to have to turn and look at the conductor throughout the music and then try to find your place in the music again, not to mention the fear of not being able to find your place again.
* Feel the music: It's one thing to play the piano. It's an entirely different thing to "feel" what you are playing. The musician you accompany is going to try to portray a feeling to their audience. It is up to you to help convey that feeling in the way you play. Nothing is worse than the accompaniment drowning a singer out on a soft and sweet part of a song. It is also disappointing to reach a point in a song that should be loud and vibrant with the singer doing their best to convey that vitality, only to have the accompanist playing in sweet and soft mode.

Music is a wonderful gift, not only for the listener, but for the musician. May you strive to be the best accompanist possible!