PIANO HANDBOOK (Click to Open)

ACCOMPANYING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Dr. Steven Harlos,Coordinator of Accompanying
Fall 2010

The following policies and procedures are designed to ensure fairness in accompanying workloads.  This memo is being circulated to pianists and faculty so that everyone knows the way things should operate.

I.  Definition of assigned hours
The basic unit of accompanying time is 1 hour.  This represents time per week in a lesson.  Students are compensated for assigned accompanying either with money (graduate assistantships) or with ensemble credit (accompanying lab). 
For each hour of accompanying, the accompanist is expected to provide 1 hour of rehearsal with the student, without charge.  The accompanist is also required to provide the following additional services without charge.

1. studio class performances
   (up to 3 times per semester)
2. departmental recital performances
   (up to 2 per semester)
3. end of semester juries

The following services are not included and should be compensated by the soloist:

1. additional rehearsals (more than 1 hour per week)
2. recitals
3. competitions, on or off campus
4. recordings
5. scholarship auditions

II. Repertoire assignment
Accompanying repertoire should be assigned to the accompanist as soon as possible, but no later than October 1st.  This will allow the accompanist to learn their repertoire before the very end of the semester, which is traditionally the busiest time. 

If there are any questions about any of these policies as stated above, please see Dr. Paul or Dr. Puccinelli, while Dr. Harlos is on sabbatical.


15/16 Keyboard (Small Keyboard) at UNT
UNT offers all College of Music pianists the opportunity to play on the 15/16 keyboard for recitals and practice.  This keyboard is custom built and its octave measures 6 inches (1/2 inches narrower than the standard).

 



For practice:
There is an upright piano in Room 101 of North Music Practice building.  All keys for a grand piano room can open the room.

For recitals:
NY Steinways in both Recital Hall and Concert Hall can be used with the 15/16 keyboard (the keyboard is portable).  Please contact a piano technician, Cyriel Aerts, to request (caerts@music.unt.edu). 


According to UNT research in 2005, eighty-six percent of piano major students at UNT reported pain while playing the piano.*  Several studies confirm that small-handed pianists tend to experience playing-related pain.  Ergonomically, small hands fit better to the 15/16 keyboard than to the standard keyboard. 


Any questions?
Eri Yoshimura: pianoeri@hotmail.com
Dr. Pamela Paul: pamela.paul@unt.edu
Cyriel Aerts: cyrillus.aerts@unt.edu
Dr. Kris Chesky: kris.chesky@unt.edu
Texas Center for Music and Medicine:http://www.unt.edu/tcmm/