Collaborative Pianist

Position Overview:

• Coordinate, lead, and critique musical instrument performances, individually or in rehearsal with other musicians, to master individual pieces of music and to maintain and improve skills.
• Perform before live audiences.
• Specialize in playing piano in multiple styles of music.
• Play piano as a soloist or as a member or guest artist of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.
• Play for auditions for orchestras, bands, or other musical groups.
• Provide and lead others in providing musical background for live shows.
• Transpose music to alternate keys, or to fit individual styles or purposes as needed.

This is a full-time, 10 month assignment active from August 2022 to May 2023. It includes an amended benefits package in alignment with UCO’s vacation policy regarding temporary positions. The general schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with occasional evenings and weekends.

Department Specific Essential Job Functions:

This position is primarily a teaching role, teaching students more than 50% of the time. A Collaborative Pianist (also known as an Accompanist) in the School of Music will be expected to collaborate with teachers and students in all three of the following settings:

• Playing in students' applied voice lessons and also in various performance classes and ensembles (for example Musical Theatre I through Musical Theatre VIII class track). In these cases, the faculty member is the teacher of record, but collaborative pianists are expected to co-teach by making corrections and observations to reinforce the aims and objectives the faculty are working to instill in the students.
• Coaching voice students in one-on-one meetings. In this setting, the collaborative pianist/accompanist is expected to work with the students to not only make sure the technical aspects of the musical elements are correct (notes, rhythms, intonation, etc), but also coach them on diction in all the major singing languages, interpretation, character, phrasing, etc.
• Music directing UCO productions in both Musical Theatre and Opera. In this setting, accompanists must coach the students in the leading roles and teach music to the ensemble (not just notes/rhythms, but details of diction and communication of text, as well as molding the vocal sound of the show), and (depending on the needs of the production) rehearse and conduct the orchestra.

Qualifications

The candidate will demonstrate:

• Technical training and a high degree of proficiency in piano performance.
• Expertise and experience in musical theatre, opera, and vocal accompanying.
• Sight-reading proficiency.
• Flexibility to perform other related duties as assigned (which could include faculty performances, some accompanying for the course, competitions, Master classes, etc.)

Qualifications/Experience Required:

Requires a university degree in the field plus 3+ years of relevant experience in the chosen field or 7+ years of equivalent work experience that provides knowledge of and exposure to fundamental theories, principles, and concepts. Requires the application of expertise in a chosen field to achieve results.

Qualifications/Experience Preferred :

Bachelor's degree in related field and 6+ years progressively responsible experience and proficiency in discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

In order to thrive in this collaborative environment with faculty and students, the following skills and experiences are job requirements:

• Strong sight-reading ability and performance skills.
• Satisfactory skill in reading and performing from an open score.
• Satisfactory skill as an accompanist for solo instrumentalists and vocalists and chamber groups of players or singers.
• Satisfactory skill as an accompanist for large ensembles under a conductor's leadership.
• Ability to rehearse large groups of vocalists and instrumentalists in musical theatre and/or operatic productions and lead performances from the piano.
• Satisfactory skill as a performer and accompanist in formal performance situations.
• Satisfactory knowledge and experience in the genres of musical theatre
• Performance of other musical teaching duties as assigned.

The following are preferred skills:

• Ability to conduct performances of musical theatre and/or operatic productions from the podium.
• Satisfactory knowledge of opera literature and repertoire, and classical art song literature.
• Satisfactory knowledge of diction skills in the standard classical vocal repertoire.

Physical Demands:

• Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.