Working With Your Accompanist
some thoughts by Prof. Purdy

1. General Do’s and Don’ts
   
   
   1. Make sure your part is well practiced before going into rehearsal.
      
      
   2. Ensemble time should not be used to learn your own part.
      
      
   3. Be courteous and begin your rehearsals on time. Many pianists have other accompanying and teaching commitments.
      
      
   4. Look realistically at the requirements of the piece. How much time is required to prepare the piece as an ensemble.
      
      
   5. Look carefully at the requirements of the piano part. If it is difficult, make sure the pianist has plenty of time to prepare. If you can’t make a judgment on the difficulty, ask your teacher or a piano faculty member.
      
      
   6. Be sure to ask your accompanist what he or she charges. Pay promptly.
      
      
      
      
2. Working in the Rehearsal
   
   
   1. Have a working plan before coming into rehearsal. What is it that you specifically want to rehearse. If it is the first time on the piece, run it all the way through, then go back and rehearse problem spots. Again, make the best use of your ensemble time. This is not the time to go back and work on your own part.
      
      
   2. It is your job to run the rehearsal. Have a clear picture of what your want musically and interpretively. The best way to relay this to your accompanist is by demonstrating.
      
      
   3. In sonata repertoire it is especially important to discuss interpretation. In sonata playing you have entered into equal partnership with your accompanist.
      
      
   4. Cuing beginnings and endings
      
      
3. Stage Presence
   
   
   1. Lid up or down? Proper setup.
      
      
   2. Making your grand entrance and exit----Sonatas vs. concerto/character pieces
      
      
   3. Tuning
      
      
   4. Stance in relation to piano
      
      
   5. Take your head out of the music.
      
      
   6. The Unknowns.....what if. Keeping your concentration.