Percussion Accompanist (Part-time)

Point Park University • Pittsburgh, PA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Percussion Accompanist (Dance) is a part-time, hourly, as-needed position within the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA). This role is responsible for providing drum/percussion accompaniment for studio/class dance work. The primary function is to support dance students by providing live, improvised percussion accompaniment that responds to the needs of the class and supports the structure of dance exercises.

Requirements

• Excellence in percussion performance
• Excellence in live dance accompaniment
• Excellence in improvisation
• Knowledge of Modern and West African dance repertoire
• Organizational skills appropriate to the variances of university course time scheduling

Responsibilities

• Provide live, improvised percussion accompaniment that supports dance students and responds to the needs of the class.
• Select and perform appropriate musical material with accuracy and responsiveness, maintaining appropriate meter, tempo, phrasing, dynamics, rhythm, and musical structure.
• Clearly support the structure of dance exercises by emphasizing rhythms, phrases, counts, transitions, and exercise lengths, and providing effective cues for dancers during traveling exercises.
• Accompany Modern and West African dance classes, providing music appropriate to the specific technique and instructional goals, including Graham and Horton exercises.
• Develop and maintain a broad dance-accompaniment vocabulary through observation of other accompanists, collaboration with instructors, and exploration of diverse musical traditions and resources.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff and adapt to changing instructional and scheduling needs, while performing other related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed