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New Piano Piece by Chopin Discovered – Free Piano Score
A previously unknown manuscript by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered at New York’s Morgan Library and Museum. The handwritten score is titled “Valse” and consists of 24 bars of music in the key of A minor and is considered a major discovery in the wold of classical piano music. Read more >>

Topic: Accompanist fees  (Read 2829 times)

Offline Scarborough

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Accompanist fees
on: November 26, 2003, 08:14:50 AM
Greetings,

I realize this really differs from community to community and state to state but I need some input on what to charge for some accompanying work.  Last year I resigned from the a teaching job at a school, but I remain friends with the music department staff, including the woman who took over for me in the orchestra department.  In the past I did all my own piano playing, when needed for pieces, and taught the kids to play sans conductor as a chamber ensemble.

The choir director wants me to accompany her 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choirs, each of which are doing about 5 pieces of music.  The new orchestra director also wants me to play piano for about 7 pieces.  The three choirs and the three orchestras are to perform on the same night.  There is a dress rehearsal the day before, and the choir director wants me to come in for some rehearsals the week before.  

These are catholic schools with fairly well-supported music groups.  Can anyone offer me any suggestions on what I should charge the choir director?  What to charge the orchestra director? I know what I'm comfortable charging for a single performance and three rehearsals but that is for an individual.  Should I go with a hourly rate?  Or just a fee?  I have a feeling they are not going to ask me in for a lot of rehearsals, knowing how I play and due to time, so a lump sum (for each director) might be better for me, but how much?

Ideas?

Heather Anderson
handerson1@sbcglobal.net