Accompanists!!?!

[adam0408]

The recent discussion of organists prompted some thought on my part. I have had some nightmare experiences with accompanists. Lets see..... where to start.

In high school, I played the second movement of the Vaughan Williams. I gave my accompanist the music MONTHS ahead of time. She had about a half year to work it up because I warned her about it and told her that I really wanted to do it. The time came for us to get together, and she couldnt do it. I couldnt either looking back on it, but thats beside the point entirely (I could get the notes out, just not as fast as it should have been) As many of you know, the RVW has a very challenging piano part. She obviously had not prepared. So I did the damn thing unaccompanied for contest. Probably one of the worst decisions I have made in my whole career.

Ahh, enter sophomore year of college and my jury. I was a lazy bum for the first year and didnt play anything really (my tuba teacher is not the best) so I hired this accompanist who was suppposed to be very capable. She was a student. She also constantly came up with excuses why she couldnt rehearse with me. Car broke down. Kids sick. WAIT A MINUTE? this girl has kids? Huh? okay, well stuff happens, we didnt practice nearly enough, played a recital before my jury and it went.... o.k. the week before my jury I was getting really worried because she cancelled on some VERY NECESSARY pracitces. The jury came and went..... o.k.... nothing spectacular. I was not happy with it.

half recital: Had a good accompanist for once. Paid her well.

Senior recital: NIGHTMARE OF NIGHTMARES!!! gave my chosen accompanist what I thought was a reasonable amount of time. Three months to learn my music. She gets back to me a month later (over the christmas break) and says she cant do my music. Too busy. I freak out because my recital is in a month and I dont have an accompanist. She supplies what she says is a competent accompanist, who turns out to not have much experience though an excellent pianist. she couldnt follow me to save her life, therefore my senior recital was less than stellar. Now I really dont trust accompanists.

Those are my stories... what are yours?

[tjs]

I guess it depends on how seriously your accompanist takes their job. When I was at UMASS I had the opportunity several times to play with a woman named Nikki Stoia. Nikki was just amazing -- I think you could literally put almost ANYTHING in front of her and she would sight read it. She was always professional, had wonderful suggestions, and was just a blast to work with. I felt like she made me play better than I would have otherwise played.

I occasionally do some accompanying myself, and I personally find it pretty difficult. When I've been asked to accompany people I treat learning the music like any other music I might be working on.

Tim

[TexTuba]

I have to say that I've been VERY fortunate to have such wonderful accompaniasts. The one I have for my recital is just a monster on the piano. At times it's intimidating to play with such a great musician.





Ralph

[MaryAnn]

when you think of what an accompanist has to do ahead of time, and the fact that they don't get paid for preparation time....it's a wonder any of them do it at all. I see why many specialize in particular instruments or groups (i.e., horn, brass, violin accmps only)....because at least then they get to repeat literature.

Unless they sight read extraordinarily well. Which some of them do, but I have yet to run into one who sightreads extraordinarily well, follows extremely well, and doesn't play like an elephant, all at the same time.

MA, who thinks it's a hard way to make a living

[WoodSheddin]

I have also found it rare to find an accompanist who puts 1/2 as much effort into preparation as those (s)he accompanies.

There are some professional accompanists who take pride in what they do, but they are a rare find and worth paying top dollar. Most of the accompanists students pay are fellow students who consider accompanying more supplemental income for their concert stage aspirations than an actual professional obligation/career in itself.

If you are gun shy then it might be worth paying for a couple of extra services to run through the tunes well in advance of the performance. This can help to prevent the accompanist from working up the tunes while you are unpacking your horn for the recital.

[daktx2]

i am lucky enough to have a reasonably priced accompanist who has perfect pitch, can follow anyone, and most importantly, is supremely cool.

[TubaRay]

i am lucky enough to have a reasonably priced accompanist who has perfect pitch, can follow anyone, and most importantly, is supremely cool.

How important is it to have an accompanist with perfect pitch? Perhaps a discussion for another thread....