Collaborative Pianists

Student Pianists

St. Olaf has many student pianists to assist with collaborative performances. Student Work Funds are available for pianists who play official junior or senior recitals, student recitals and juries. Pianists do not have to be on Financial Aid to be paid from these funds, however they must complete the necessary paperwork for the payroll office.  Student pianists will be paid according to the following guidelines:

  • The soloist’s teacher must document that the accompanist fulfilled the obligation adequately.
  • The number of accompaniments performed by students CURRENTLY STUDYING piano or organ shall be limited at the discretion of the keyboard teacher, who will have to sign an agreement form for each accompaniment to be performed.
  • The number of accompaniments performed by students NOT CURRENTLY STUDYING piano or organ shall be limited to 5 juries per semester and must be approved by each soloist’s teacher. 
  • If there is more than one accompanist for the same jury, the payment shall be split among all accompanists.
  • Rates:
      • Payment for full recitals is $90 for nine hours of contact time, including rehearsing, performing, and other activities related to the recital, such as studio class, weekly lessons, a pre-recital jury, etc.
      • Payment for half recitals is $60 for six hours of contact time, including rehearsing, performing, and other activities related to the recital, such as studio class, weekly lessons, a pre-recital jury, etc.
      • Payment for student recitals and juries is $10 for 1 hour of contact time and $20 for 2 hours of contact time. The faculty instructor, soloist and ensemble pianist will decide how the allotted time will be distributed (lesson, practice, jury, etc.).
  • Procedure for Payment. To request payment for being a Collaborative Pianist, complete the "Work Authorization Form"

and submit it to the Music Office.  You must also complete both a Student Pianist Payment Form and a Timecard for every performance.  The payment form requires signatures from the soloist’s teacher and the pianist’s teacher.  The soloist’s teacher also mustinitial next to the type of performance completed (jury, full recital, etc.).  Submit both this form and your time card to the music office.

  • Important Dates – Students requiring student pianists for any performances must provide copies of the music to the pianist by the following dates:

Juries:

Fall Semester – November 1

Spring Semester – April 1

Half/Full Recitals:

Fall and Interim Recitals – May 31

Spring Recitals – October 15

Other Performances:

Tour Soloists – May 31

Student Recitals – 30 days before the performance

Continuance and Entrance Recitals – 30 days before the performance

NATS Competition – 30 days before the performance

Staff Pianists

The music department staff pianists, Lori Ronning Folland and John Jensen, play for many official recitals. Their main priority is to accompany juried recitals (including third and fourth year BM Performance and Church Music Majors, fourth year BM Music Education Majors as well as departmental distinction candidates). Students requiring the services of a staff pianist must follow the deadlines listed under Student Pianists 7. All requests are to be made through email directly to Lori Ronning Folland or John Jensen. Their email addresses are ronningl@stolaf.edu and pianojj@earthlink.net. All requests should include the following information:

  • Student Name
  • Class Year
  • Phone Extension #
  • Email Address
  • Performance Date (approximately if date is not set)
    Indication if this recital fulfills a degree requirement. If so, which one?
  • Repertoire to be performed (title and composer)

Staff pianists may also be available to accompany other performances including senior soloists' auditions, continuance and entrance recitals, required student recitals for music majors, level 3 juries, tour soloists' recital, and other performances at the request of applied instructors. Please note that an email request is required in every case.  Students who perform in recitals not required by the College Catalog and who perform with one of the college’s staff pianists may be required to reimburse the college for this service.  Such students should check with the Music Office before requesting the services of one of the staff pianists.

Other Professional Pianists

Students presenting performances required by the Department of Music may be eligible for financial support, on a first come first served basis, to work with one of the accompanists approved by the department.  A list of pianists is available in the Music Office.

The Pianist’s Guide and The Soloist’s Guide

For further information and guidance about accompanying from both the pianist’s and soloist’s perspective, see The Pianist’s Guide: All you need to know about performing with student soloists at St. Olaf and The Soloist’s Guide: All you need to know about performing with student pianists at St. Olaf online at (http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/music/resources/index.html).