Online Newsletter / July 2007

Skills Needed to Accompany a Choir

By Wesley Schaum

Like many piano teachers, I am involved with the music program of our church as a pianist, choir member and occasionally as organist. For over fifteen years I have been a volunteer accompanist for the adult choir.

This involves one to three hours per week of practice at home, in addition to Thursday night rehearsals. Short practice sessions of 15 to 25 minutes, several times a week, are most effective for me. I am usually working on at least three anthems at a time. At the rate of one anthem per Sunday, this allows a minimum of three weeks preparation before each performance.

I also practice the individual voice parts (soprano, alto, tenor and bass). At rehearsals, I may be asked to demonstrate the voice parts or to play along with the singers. The director may like to rehearse combinations such as soprano and alto alone, or tenor and bass alone.

For students who aspire to choral accompanying, I recommend developing these skills:

1. Sight Reading - be able to play all voice parts (without accompaniment) or individual voice parts, as needed during rehearsals
2. Accurate Rhythms - be able to demonstrate the correct rhythms for the group when necessary
3. Keep a Steady Tempo - be careful not to unconsciously speed up or slow down - practice with a metronome, if necessary
4. Listen Carefully - hear the balance between the accompaniment and vocal parts - listen for changes of dynamics
5. Watch the Director - look for changes of dynamics, tempo, rubato, fermatas, etc.
6. Watch the Music - especially during rehearsal - be able to quickly find page numbers, measure numbers, rehearsal numbers, system numbers, individual voice parts - any place the director may need you to start or demonstrate - try to anticipate the director's rehearsal needs