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Original poster

Music exam - paying accompanist

20 replies

katelyle · 30/06/2007 05:57

Help. DD is doing her grade 3 clarinet exam today. Her teacher arranged an an accompanist for her. She met him last week and they practiced together for about 45 minutes. He's going to meet her at the exam this morning. When we asked him what he charged, he said "Whatever you think appropriate" I emailed her teacher, who's just replied"Dunno, really - I don't usually deal with that side of things. And I'm rubbish at business things!"

Anybody know what's usual?

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pyjamaqueen · 30/06/2007 06:56

I often accompany children who are pupils of my dd's violin teacher - ie, they're not my pupils. If they were my own pupils I wouldn't take any extra money from them for accompanying. However, I feel bad that she's put them in the position where they have to pay me, so I never ask them for money, I wait for them to offer! (They usually do.)

I would say for what you have mentioned, ie one rehearsal and turning up at the exam, maybe £20. We are in the south east though, and a friend of mine in Hereford charges £3 to accompany (but that's her own pupils)!!

The ISM rate for accompanying is about £20ph I think. I would say think of the teacher's hourly rate and also lower it a bit, but you have to factor in the accompanyist's time and expenses for getting to the exam.

It's a tricky one! If the accompanyist hasn't mentioned a figure, I'm sure anything will be greatly received.

pyjamaqueen · 30/06/2007 06:59

would help if I could even spell accompanist!

Original poster
katelyle · 30/06/2007 07:01

Thank you - I thought 20 as well, but I wasn't sure and didn't want to underpay him. We're in the South East too, so that's what I'll go for. I'll wait til afterwards in case he was expecting more and suddenly speeds up in the middle of the Schumann!

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Original poster
katelyle · 30/06/2007 07:02

She'd better pass - that's 55.99 it's cost so far, not to mention the aural assault of minor scales at 7.30 every morning!

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pyjamaqueen · 30/06/2007 07:05

I know, it all adds up!

I hope it all goes well. I get more nervous than my kids when they're doing exams! At least it will soon be over and you'll be able to listen to some new music! Good luck.

MrsJohnCusack · 30/06/2007 07:10

hey good luck to your DD. remind her to breath deeply and take her time - there's no rush, don't panic!
can't believe he hasn't got a standard rate - in that case he'll have to put up with being given whatever he's given IMO. £20 sounds fair enough - I got that per pupil when I did a day of accompanying last summer

exams cost a fortune, can remember my parents complaining like mad.

Original poster
katelyle · 30/06/2007 07:33

And to think I complained about 2.50 for a Brownie badge.

Thanks again. She's been in her school show all this week, so she hasn't been to bed before 10.00 since last Sunday, so I'm not hugely optimistic! Pieces are fine, but she struggles with scales. I'll remind her about breathing and not rushing. Oh and some new music will be wonderful! Her teacher's promised her some jazz next week which she loves.

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hydrophobia · 30/06/2007 08:22

I never thought of that sort of thing mine only did piano exams "privately" and everything else through the school system which now seems ever better value

Original poster
katelyle · 30/06/2007 08:46

NOOOOOOOOOOOO - not a private/state debate when I'm a bag of nerves and won't ba bale to do it justice! Wait til this afternoon, hydrophobia...

Do private schools provide free valium for parents? If so I might bne prepared to change my principles.....

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hydrophobia · 30/06/2007 17:34

not meant to be this is a stand alone music school where things just happen rather than an individual teacher

how did it go?

Original poster
katelyle · 30/06/2007 17:39

Disaster - her pieces were all right, but her scales, sightreading and aural test all "went really wrong" Floods of tears - much chocolate needed. Good thing it's Dr Who night or I don't know what we'd do. Oh well, i suppose failing things sometimes is character building!

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wheresthehamster · 30/06/2007 17:46

No rehearsals here just stump up £15 each time (payable by cheque made out to the music teacher).

multitasker · 30/06/2007 18:05

Katelyle - don't despair - remember her pieces will make up atleast 60% of her total mark, and even though she thinks her scales and other bits and pieces were bad, they are given some credit for attempting them.

MrsJohnCusack · 30/06/2007 21:52

honestly, I came out of nearly every exam I did saying the same as your DD, and it was always OK. (failed the aural tests completely on a couple of occasions and still passed the whole thing).
the pieces are much more important - I'm sure she'll be fine. Fingers crossed!

portonovo · 30/06/2007 21:56

I'm sure it will be fine, like the others have said the pieces make up a large proportion of the marks.

My daughter was in tears after her Grade 5 flute exam when her accompanist gaily told her that she (my daughter) had missed out a whole line of one piece. Cue much misery, but a fortnight later she found out she'd passed with honours.

As to accompanists, we pay £25 for two rehearsals and the exam.

islandofsodor · 30/06/2007 22:48

My husband does this. He charges what he would normally charge for a lesson around £20-£25 per hour.

Original poster
katelyle · 19/07/2007 16:02

Just bumping to say thank you for all the good wishes - they must have worked because she passed. Only just - and she failed her scales, but managed to pass over all! Amazing!

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Original poster
katelyle · 21/07/2007 09:02

I'm bumping this just in case any of the nice people who calmed my jibbering wreckness are on here at the weekend!

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twentypence · 28/07/2007 06:26

My old teacher does it for free for pupils (even though he doesn't teach them that instrument) and charges the exam fee for all the others.

MrsJohnCusack · 28/07/2007 07:01

oh congratulations to DD!

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