Part Time Accompanist

Choir Accompanist duties and strengths

• Support the choir director as choral music is selected. Work together to get best results!

• Prior experience as an accompanist is preferred but not required.

• Be familiar with religious music and be comfortable with all types of worship music.

• Possess basic knowledge of music theory.

• Should have good interpretation skills and musicality to get good results from each piece of music.

• The accompanist should have strong rhythmic knowledge and skills. The accompanist should also have the ability to play in a variety of musical keys.

• Be able and willing to problem-solve with the director to resolve any choir or music difficulties.

• Be available to accompany solos, duets, quartets, etc. during worship. Help schedule time to rehearse with these individuals, time that could be in addition to the choir practice hour.

• Be able to sight read hymns and easy accompaniments.

• It is preferable for an accompanist to be able to play the organ occasionally, but not required.

• Pianos in the church buildings are tuned two times a year. It is the accompanist’s responsibility to let the office know if/when the piano tuner needs to come, especially if additional tunings are needed.

• The piano in the sanctuary is formatted with a dehumidifier/humidifier system. It is the accompanist’s responsibility to check this system and add water if needed.

Other music needs in our worship service

• A typical Sunday service music includes: four congregation hymns; anthem, and benediction response; piano/organ prelude; communion meditation, 3-5 minutes; short uplifting offertory; Doxology; and a short postlude.

• The accompanist should be open to suggestions from the minister, Choir/Music director, or Worship Team when choosing music for the prelude, communion, offertory, and postlude. The music selected should reflect the essence of the service, follow the theme from the lectionary or sermon when possible, and coordinate with other music used in the service. Working closely with the Choir/Music Director will help make this task possible. MCC enjoys a variety of music styles (gospel, classic, ethnic, oldies, contemporary, etc.), and particularly enjoys uplifting music in a service.

• Special services are held at MCC on Maundy Thursday, Christmas Eve, Epiphany, and Easter and are included as part of this position. In addition, an increase in special music (choral or instrumental) on and around Easter and Christmas is to be expected.

• The accompanist should welcome any guest musicians (guitar, flute, trumpet, etc.) and be available to work with him/her.

Other skills

• Help the choir director run an efficient choir practice (be prepared).

• The accompanist needs to have great people skills, and an upbeat, positive slant on life!

Dates and times for services and practice

• Be on time! Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to Wednesday practices and Sunday warm-ups.

• : 7:00 – 8:00pm. Practice leading up to Christmas/Easter start early or end at 9:00 pm.

• No choir practice: night before Thanksgiving, the Wednesday(s) between Christmas and New Years; the choir usually takes off several Wednesdays in the summer. Some sort of special music, though, is included in every Sunday service.

• : An additional practice session may be scheduled, usually on a Saturday, for Holy Week and/or Christmas preparation. These are considered a part of the position and no additional pay for these will be given.

• : Accompanist should have all music prepared before joining the choir warm-up at 10:30 am.

• Prelude usually begins at 10:55 am; service is over around noon, or shortly after.

Meetings and other events:

• At the minister’s suggestion, the accompanist may be asked to attend a monthly Worship Committee meeting or any scheduled staff meetings.

• Piano volunteers are needed for some church functions, i.e. Epiphany Dinner, Lenten breakfasts, or the Sunday afternoon worship service at a nursing home 3-4 times a year. The accompanist is asked to help out with these events.

• Occasionally, there are weddings and/or funerals held at the church. Accompanists may be asked to play at these services but are not required to do either.

• A Personnel Relations Committee will be established to meet periodically with the accompanist. This group will be available for consultation and guidance, offering feedback to promote open communication between the congregation, other church personnel, and the accompanist.

Terms of employment & compensation

• Compensation is $ 200/ a week, paid bi-weekly.

• After a year of working as an accompanist, the church will contribute 14% to the Pension Fund (retirement). This can be taken as salary if preferred.

• There are four Sundays off, with pay, per year. The accompanist is responsible for lining up a church-approved accompanist at least one month in advance (to be paid at the same rate by the church.) Dates off may not include services for Holy Week or the week of Christmas and the practice(s) preceding each of these weeks.

• The minister, and ultimately the church board, is the supervisor of this position. It is expected that the accompanist will also work willingly with the Choir/Music Director and Worship Committee to achieve the most effective music for each service.

• The minister or church board representative will conduct periodic job reviews.

• A 2-week notice is required for either party to terminate this agreement. Severance pay must have church board approval

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $200.00 per week

Work Location: In person