If you have a passion for playing the piano, consider pursuing a career in accompanying other musicians.
There are different jobs that pianists can get, and one of these options is to become a piano accompanist.
Piano accompanists — also known as collaborative pianists — are professional musicians who play piano to support another performer or performing ensemble, such as a dance group, singer, chamber group, or choir.
In addition to live performances, accompanists may support an ensemble’s rehearsals, recitals, private lessons, studio classes, and recordings.
On top of having an excellent grasp on the technical skills required to learn and play challenging new piano pieces quickly, piano accompanists are expected to be able to understand and respond to the needs of the performer/performers as each piece of music is played in order to adapt their style, pace, and so on.
Piano accompanists are also responsible for ensuring that their sound does not drown out the others, which is quite possible with an instrument of such a size.
Thus, accompanists need to understand how to adjust their playing according to the acoustic environment of each performance venue.
Getting a formal education in music is optional for those interested in becoming an accompanist. Still, since doing so can open up many great job opportunities, many opt to earn a music degree.
In many college music departments, the degree required to become a piano accompanist is often called a “collaborative piano.”
If you want to learn more about what becoming a piano accompanist entails, how to make it in this career, how much you might expect to earn, and anything else you should know about the job, read on to learn more.
Salary – How Much Do Accompanists Make?
According to some sources, the average hourly pay for piano accompanists in the United States is $23.
A quick search on the internet brings up jobs for piano accompanists, offering wages starting at $15 an hour, rising to more than $50 per hour for positions requiring substantial prior experience.
However, it is essential to remember that earnings for piano accompanists can vary significantly from person to person. Most accompanists are paid per gig rather than receiving an annual salary.
Some are also employed long-term at universities, conservatories, or other institutions needing full-time pianists on staff to accompany musicians.
Although there is little data available regarding the average pay specifically for piano accompanists who work at music schools, the median salary for university instructors is just over $56,000 annually, equal to an hourly rate of $26.93.
For freelance piano accompanists, some people in the industry recommend charging a minimum hourly rate of $70 to accompany students taking exams, and $90 an hour for playing for rehearsals.
However, these recommendations may not reflect the current industry standard since other sources claim that the average hourly rate piano accompanists charge is about $35, with only the top 10% of earners making more than $60 an hour.
This suggests that although earning a big salary as a piano accompanist is possible, it will take some time to get to that level.
What Jobs Can Piano Accompanists Get?
The available jobs for piano accompanists primarily consist of being employed by performance ensembles, such as orchestras, choir groups, or soloists.
Responsibilities for this kind of job typically include attending the ensemble’s rehearsals and performances to provide piano accompaniment for the group.
Musicians or groups going on tour sometimes also hire piano accompanists to accompany for the duration of the tour.
These accompanists are required to travel, working long and irregular hours for many performances in a short period.
Some people who work as piano accompanists are employed by music conservatories or universities that have strong music programs.
These roles include providing piano accompaniment for music or dance classes, student recitals, lessons, and any other music department event requiring a pianist.
Many piano accompanists are employed as independent contractors and are tasked with finding their own work.
Freelance accompanists can work for a large number of different clients on an occasional basis, with varying pay for each gig.
Another option for earning additional income as a piano accompanist is offering piano lessons.
On top of the extra money giving lessons can bring in, many professional musicians agree that taking on students can be an enriching learning experience for both the teacher and the student.
Piano accompanists who offer private piano lessons independently, rather than through a music school or conservatory, are free to determine their own hourly rates, what their lessons are like, how many students they have, and so on.
What Schools Offer Collaborative Piano Degrees?
There are quite a few great music schools for students interested in pursuing a degree in collaborative piano.
One stellar option is the Juilliard School, located in New York City. Juilliard has a collaborative piano department that offers several different graduate degree programs.
Students in Juilliard’s collaborative piano program receive numerous performance opportunities, like accompanying student singers/musicians in one of the school’s many yearly concerts.
Another college that offers a collaborative piano degree is the University of Michigan.
The college offers a Master of Music in collaborative piano, where students study music interpretation, music theory, and piano literature.
The New England Conservatory of Music is located in Boston, MA. The NEC music department has a collaborative piano program involving intensive study in opera, chamber music, and song in general.
In addition to academic coursework, students in this program receive private lessons, learn a substantial repertoire of challenging music, attend daily performance classes, and develop the skills they will need to succeed as professional collaborative artists.
To apply to NEC’s collaborative piano program, students must learn a significant audition repertoire.
Not far from the New England Conservatory, there is Boston University. BU’s College of Fine Arts has a collaborative piano department that offers a master of music degree program and a doctor of musical arts.
The collaborative piano programs offer students ample opportunities to perform both on and off campus, in addition to rigorous study in piano performance, music theory, foreign languages, history, literature, and more.
Should You Pursue a Career As a Piano Accompanist?
You should consider many vital factors if you are considering pursuing a career as a piano accompanist.
You must ask yourself how hard you will work to make it in this career. According to surveys, piano accompanists report that finding work is quite difficult for people in this field.
Of course, that does not mean it is impossible to succeed as a piano accompanist — it just means that you will need to put in considerable time and effort to do so, especially if your goal is to secure a full-time job.
Many piano accompanists are employed part-time, so if you are looking for a career field where full-time employment is the norm, it may be best to pursue other options.
On the other hand, if you like having a job with fewer, less consistent hours to supplement your income from another job, becoming a piano accompanist could be an excellent path for you.
Another thing to consider is the level of education you are willing to obtain, given the more significant number of jobs and higher pay for those with degrees.
The job market for piano accompanists is quite competitive, so earning a degree could be a great way to make yourself stand out to potential employers.
For some people, being an accompanist is preferable to being a soloist.
Some pianists may prefer not to be the main focus during performances, and many appreciate the beauty of complimenting another musician.
Whether or not you are compatible with becoming a piano accompanist depends on your personality, preferences, and professional aspirations.
If you are creative, hard-working, and work well with others, then being a piano accompanist could be your best career.
