What's the Most/Least You've Paid for an Accompanist?

[tubasinfonian]

I'm unsure as to whether you're meaning accompaniment at the collegiate level, or possibly on a professional performance level, but for me during my undergrad, I've paid as little as $10 an hour to around $30 an hour.

I would expect in higher income areas to pay as much as $50 an hour.

[mclaugh]

I'm married to my accompanist ... so I guess the answer could be "nothing" or "my freedom," depending on how you look at it.

Did you get what you paid for? Better? Worse? Any nightmare experiences?

I ain't touchin' that one with a 10' pole!

[TUbajohn20J]

I had to pay the pianist 40$ just to play Andante and Rondo last semester. He charged every student 40$ and he accompanied about 10 people. I thought that was over priced.

[WoodSheddin]

I had to pay the pianist 40$ just to play Andante and Rondo last semester. He charged every student 40$ and he accompanied about 10 people. I thought that was over priced.

How much would you expect to get paid if you were a member of a brass quintet accompanying a pianist on a tune?

[JHardisk]

$600 for 6 rehearsals and a recital.

The program involved the John Williams concerto, which has a notoriously difficult piano part.

A great pianist, but terrible accompanist. I learned my lesson!

[BopEuph]

The last few accompanists have been clients of my engraving services, so they don't charge me because they are appreciative of my work. One of them was the piano professor at my school and played my senior recital. You'd think as much as I charge, that they would want to work out a discount or something.

The most was $100 for the second movement of the Mozart Bassoon Concerto for a concerto competition I was a finalist in.

Nick

[KevinMadden]

The staff accompanists here charge up to $50/hour I believe. The accompanist that I've used for my recitals charges a flat fee of $200/recital including all rehearsals. Since the school pays for accompanists for junior and senior recitals, I gave him a $100 tip for playing the HIndemith. ( so I guess he got paid about $300 for a junior recital)

[tofu]

[BVD Press]

One of the reasons I started this thread was I had a recent experience in pricing different pianists for a recital. I was kind of amazed at the differences in what they charge. It had been some 20 years or so since I had to contract a pianist, so I wasn't prepared for the experience this time.

Hit Ken. Since you started the thread, what was your experience now vs. 20 years ago etc.?

From one of the posts above, would you play your ax for $40.00? With the cost of gas, I might do it if it were in my house but not if I had to drive anywhere.

[BVD Press]

Hit Ken.

Why? What did I do THIS time?

There is not enough space here...

Have a great day,

[Todd S. Malicoate]

20 years ago, the average pianist could be contracted for $25 per recital hour, with one rehearsal with the studio teacher. Juniors and seniors were charged per semester, since they were preparing for graded recitals. This usually came with the tuition bill and the department cut the accompanist a check. This at least guaranteed the pianist wouldn't get stiffed by those students, I guess.

My experience this time was privately contracting the pianist. I saw prices anywhere from $30/hr to $500 for recital and three rehearsals. With my playing ability, I definitely wasn't planning to cut a live CD, so I opted low.

I still only charge $25 for a single piece on a recital hour, and no more than $100 for a full recital (3 or 4 pieces). I always tell the students we can rehearse as much as they'd like, which 75% of the time turns into a day-before-the-gig run-through. I don't get the "per hour" thing...seems to me that the better accompanists catch on quicker and would therefore make less money. Would you really want to pay more for a poor accompanist that you have to spend more time with hacking through the music?

I have a nice deal with the trombone studio where I handle all their recitals/competitions/tapings and the professor pays me for the whole semester - they treat me very well for my time. They recently "swept" a competition in Tulsa and tipped me 10% of their winnings ($800) for a Saturday's work - not bad.

Just finished juries (finals) here - this semester I only played for 12 students. Last semester, it was something like 25. "Smart Music" is definitely putting me out of some work.

[sungfw]

guess the bottom line here is if you are a smart and frugal euph or tuba player, marry a pianist. Didn't someone here do that already?

And he's STILL paying for it .