Piano Accompanist (Flexible-Hour/Year-Round)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides piano accompaniment for music classes including choirs, voice classes, voice lessons and opera classes.
• Provides piano accompaniment for various performances, including rehearsals.
• Illustrates different musical forms in modern dance and theory courses.
• Adapts themes to the piano from recorded music.
• Collaborates with faculty and students to help improve technique, develop musicianship, deepen artistry and work toward their longer-term goals.
• Records songs for instructors and students and posts them on the school system.
• Assists with music festivals.

Employment Standards / Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge: Fundamentals of piano playing, music theory, harmony, rhythm, composition transition and tempo. Musical terms, signs and abbreviations. The relationship between the vocal instrument and the piano. A wide variety of musical styles. The connection between poetry/libretto and music.
• Skills and Abilities: Work with students effectively, diagnosing needs and finding methods to help them improve their skills and lesson understanding. Follow a soloist or conductor in performing musical score. Improvise, adapt music and memorize musical selections. Sight-read music and play it on the piano. Determine performance quality. Support instructors. Effectively engage and support historically minoritized groups by addressing issues of equity and improving culturally responsive service-oriented practices. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Understand and follow written and oral instructions. Operate a computer and use standard business software. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.
• Education and Experience: Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, and at least three years of experience accompanying vocal or choral groups, dancers, vocal soloists or similar musical work on piano in an organized educational, professional or similar setting; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Formal study of the piano is preferred. A bachelor's or master's degree in piano is desirable.
• Licenses, Certificates and Other Requirements: Certain assignments may require a California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District's vehicle insurance program.

Pysical and Mental Demands

• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this class, employees are regularly required to sit; talk or hear, use hands repetitively to play the piano or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms. Employees are frequently required to walk and stand; and lift up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
• Mental Demands: While performing the duties of this class, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work; work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work with frequent interruptions; work under intensive deadlines; and interact with District faculty, staff, the public and others encountered in the course of work.