<p>For the BM (Voice Performance) students' weekly/private voice lessons with studio professor or similar assignments, who pays for the pianists/accompanists? the school or the student? I thought I heard both ways during music school information sessions! which is the more common practice? How much/semester would it cost if the student ends up paying it? Thanks.</p>
<p>My school does scholarships for anyone who accompanies.</p>
<p>At Rice the school pays unless you are doing extra outside the normal events.</p>
<p>It varies, but even when D was at a school where payment was required, there were small scholarships available for select students that subsidized her fees. Basically she never did have to pay. Ask the schools about that sort of set up. It really pays to a) be nice (seems obvious, but you would be surprised) b) come to the studio prepared c) volunteer to sing at lessons and masterclasses for pianists studying collaborative piano.</p>
<p>It completely depends upon the school. It’s included in my D’s tuition and she gets a half hour of accompaniment during her weekly lesson and another half hour during the week for a session with her accompanist- more close to her recital time.
At other schools, the student pays, but there is a set scale.
The only time that a student would ever be expected to pay out of pocket is if there is something needed outside of school.
You’ll have to look at each school’s website- it may be broken out so that you see “accompanist fee” or listed under “miscellaneous”, or you can call the school and ask. Usually, if you don’t see anything specific, it’s bundled into the tuition or fees; but the specific amount charged will vary from school to school and area of the country, so there is no way that we can give you a definitive number.</p>
<p>It varies from school to school. It is more likely that accompanist services will be provided at a school where there is a collaborative pianist program. Be sure to ask, because it will drastically affect your out of pocket costs to attend. Additionally, some schools do not charge for the pianist at lessons, but the pianist does charge to play a degree recital. The costs could easily be several hundred dollars.</p>
<p>Interesting topic! My daughter pays pianists out of pocket, but then her tuition is lower than Mezzo’sMama’s daughter’s school, and she gets well-reimbursed employment of her own through the school. So the overall cost to her is still less…</p>
<p>Edit: I just realized this is a thread for vocalists… I presume the arrangement at her school is similar for vocalists, but it should be noted that instrumentalists often bring accompanists to lessons, if not every week.</p>
<p>D3 is assigned an accompanist for the semester/year but has on occasion chosen to pay that person (or sometimes a different pianist) privately if her needs exceed the contractual expectations or if the purpose of the session is not school-related (e.g. making a recording for summer programs etc.)…or if her assigned accompanist doesn’t mesh well…</p>
<p>A school with a great collaborative piano program is a huge asset for singers (and yes, the arrangements for singers are different from those made for accompanying other instruments; the instrumentalists get them for studio classes on occasion, for recital and concerto competition prep and can request them when needed on other occasions). My D is extremely fortunate to have a marvelous accompanist who has played for her from day 1, has since moved into the PhD program but continues to play for my D’s lessons, coaching and recitals.
Moral of this story is, when you find someone terrific with whom you can work to your full potential, treat them as you would something very precious, for indeed they are. Don’t waste their time (or your teacher’s) by showing up unprepared, give them as much warning as possible if you are ill, or have to reschedule; make sure they are aware if your teacher is going to be away or is missing a session too. When you set up your lesson schedule for the next semester, let your accompanist know as soon as you can and work with them to find a time that works for everyone.</p>
<p>DD has never had to pay for pianist at SFCM…she has 1 hour coaching a week plus the coach comes to 1/2 of her voice lesson each week…she also just had her junior recital in which her coach accompanied her for that and the rehersal.</p>
<p>Practicing during the week is just her plunking it out on the piano…and plunk it she does :-)</p>
<p>Hey, opera-mom, our girls are “piano playing sisters”! Mine is even taking an extra semester of piano (and keyboarding is also a component of their theory sequencing ) but I really wish the VP students were made to take more piano during their years at school. It would serve them well.</p>
<p><a href=“and%20yes,%20the%20arrangements%20for%20singers%20are%20different%20from%20those%20made%20for%20accompanying%20other%20instruments;%20the%20instrumentalists%20get%20them%20for%20studio%20classes%20on%20occasion,%20for%20recital%20and%20concerto%20competition%20prep%20and%20can%20request%20them%20when%20needed%20on%20other%20occasions”>quote</a>.
[/quote]
Actually that is not completely accurate-- my instrumentalist daughter is often told to bring a pianist to her lesson, and not only when a recital or competition is on the horizon. It depends on repertoire and on the teacher. But of course your larger point is correct.</p>
<p>Sorry glassharmonica, I was referring to D’s specific school. The fee for instrumentalists is also all inclusive and covers accompanists whenever the teacher thinks one is needed. They show up for studio class twice per month as well. Again, since tuition keeps rising to astronomical highs, the school really shouldn’t impose any additional charges!</p>
<p>It depends upon the school. It also can depend on the occasion. I don’t think any school is so generous that it will pay for an accompanist for any reason. You need to ask how it works with each school.</p>