Question 1

How far in advance do we need to book your services?

Accepted Answer

Booking accompanists in County Durham as early as possible increases the chance of securing their availability on your event date, particularly during busy times of the year. However, many acts also accept last minute bookings, and we have successfully arranged performances for clients with just a few hours' notice.

Question 2

How much do accompanists cost in County Durham?

Accepted Answer

The cost of hiring musicians in County Durham can vary significantly depending on the type of act. Prices currently range from £120 to £1,029, with an average of £340.

Question 3

What does an accompanist do?

Accepted Answer

An accompanist supports another performer rather than leading. They play behind a singer or an instrumentalist, following that person's tempo, phrasing and breathing, and adjusting in real time if something changes. It is a specialist skill, distinct from playing solo, and the good ones make the person in front sound better without being noticed.

Accompanists are booked for weddings, recitals and concerts, music exams and auditions, choir rehearsals and church services. The common thread is that somebody else is the focus and the accompanist is there to make that work. If you are looking for a musician to perform on their own, you want a solo player rather than an accompanist.

Question 4

What instrument does an accompanist play?

Accepted Answer

Piano most often, but not exclusively. Around half the acts listed here play piano and it is the default for most accompaniment work. Around a quarter offer guitar, which suits folk, contemporary and pop repertoire and is far more portable, and a smaller number play organ, which matters for church weddings and services.

If the instrument matters to you, say so when you enquire rather than assuming. It affects the repertoire that works, what the venue needs to provide, and the price. A guitarist brings their instrument with them, while a pianist depends on what is already in the room unless a keyboard is agreed in advance.

Question 5

When would I need to book an accompanist?

Accepted Answer

The most common reasons are a wedding ceremony, a music exam or audition, a recital or concert, and choir or rehearsal work. In each case you or someone you are organising for is performing, and you need a musician who can support rather than lead.

People also book accompanists for church services, care home and community concerts, school and college performances, and occasionally for rehearsal only, where a singer wants to practise with live accompaniment before an event. If your situation does not fit any of those, describe it when you enquire, because accompanists are used to unusual requests and will tell you honestly whether they can help.

Question 6

Can I book an accompanist for a wedding ceremony?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is the single most common booking in this category. Around two thirds of the acts listed here mention weddings, which is more than mention exams, auditions and recitals combined.

A wedding accompanist typically plays for a soloist or a choir during the ceremony, supports hymns and congregational singing, and often covers the processional, the signing of the register and the recessional as well. Discuss the running order and the music with them early, particularly hymns, since keys and arrangements need settling in advance. Check with the venue or the church what instrument is available, because that decides a great deal about what is possible.

Question 7

Can I book an accompanist for a music exam or audition?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is a well established use. Around one in eight of the acts here mention exam work specifically, including graded music exams, and they will be familiar with the standard repertoire and with how an exam or audition runs.

Book earlier than you think you need to, because exam periods are concentrated and good accompanists get taken. Send the music well ahead of the date, agree whether you want a rehearsal beforehand, and be clear about the grade or level so the accompanist knows what to expect. Confirm whether they will attend the exam itself or only rehearse with you, since that changes the fee.

Question 8

Can an accompanist play for a choir or a group?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Some accompanists here work regularly with choirs and choral societies, both for rehearsals and for performances, and it is a distinct skill from accompanying a soloist. Following twenty or more voices, holding a tempo through an entrance and supporting a section that has drifted all take experience.

If you need somebody for a regular rehearsal commitment rather than a one off, say so at the enquiry stage, because that is a different arrangement and often a different rate. Be clear about how often you rehearse, where, and whether there are performances attached, since availability for a standing weekly commitment is much narrower than for a single date.

Question 9

What is the difference between an accompanist and a pianist?

Accepted Answer

Every accompanist who plays piano is a pianist, but not every pianist accompanies. The difference is in what the job asks for. A solo pianist performs in their own right, sets their own tempo and plays a programme they have chosen. An accompanist follows somebody else, which means sight reading unfamiliar music, transposing on request and reacting to what the performer does on the day.

Book here when somebody else is performing and needs support. If you want a pianist to play on their own, at a drinks reception or during a meal for example, the Pianists and Keyboardists category is larger and is the right place to look.

Question 10

Does the venue need to provide a piano?

Accepted Answer

This is the question worth settling first, and it catches people out. Most piano accompanists do not travel with an instrument, so unless a keyboard has been agreed you are relying on what is already in the room. Check that there is a piano, that it is in tune, and when it was last tuned.

If there is no piano, or the one there is unusable, ask whether the accompanist can bring a digital keyboard and stand. Many can, though it may affect the price and they will need power and a little setup time. Guitar and other portable instruments avoid the problem entirely, which is worth bearing in mind if the venue is uncertain.

Question 11

Can an accompanist sight-read, and do I provide the music?

Accepted Answer

Yes to the first, and usually yes to the second. Sight reading is a core part of the job and a professional accompanist will handle unfamiliar music competently. That said, sight reading on the day is not the same as a prepared performance, so send the music in advance whenever you can.

You would normally provide the sheet music, in the key you want and in a legible copy. If you need a different key from the printed one, say so early, since transposing at sight is possible but is a genuine ask and some music transposes better than others. If you do not have sheet music at all, mention that at the enquiry stage, because working from a recording is a different job.

Question 12

Will the accompanist rehearse with me beforehand?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes, and it is worth arranging. A rehearsal lets you agree tempos, breathing points, repeats and cuts, and it removes most of what goes wrong on the day. Some accompanists include a short rehearsal in their fee and others charge separately, so confirm which when you book.

For an exam or audition, one rehearsal is normally enough if you send the music ahead. For a wedding or a concert with several pieces, allow more time and hold it near the date rather than weeks before. If a rehearsal is not practical, send the music early, agree tempos in writing, and arrange to arrive with time to run through on the day.

Question 13

Can an accompanist work with a singer?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is the most common pairing. Around a third of the acts here mention working with singers or vocalists specifically, whether that is a soloist at a wedding, a student preparing for an exam, or a performer giving a recital.

Accompanying a singer has its own demands: following breathing rather than a metronome, adjusting to a voice that sits slightly differently on the day, and knowing when to give way. Tell the accompanist the voice type and the repertoire when you enquire, and mention if you need anything transposed, which is common with songs written for a different voice.

Question 14

How long does an accompanist play for?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the occasion rather than following a standard set pattern. A music exam might need twenty minutes including waiting time, a wedding ceremony perhaps forty five minutes across the processional, hymns and recessional, and a recital an hour or more.

Quotes are usually based on total time on site plus any rehearsal, not on the minutes actually played, so a booking with a lot of waiting costs more than the playing time suggests. Give the accompanist a realistic running order when you enquire, including how early they need to arrive and whether there is a gap in the middle, since that is what the price is built on.

Question 15

Can an accompanist perform outdoors?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the instrument. A guitarist or a portable keyboard player can work outdoors without much difficulty, given cover and, for a keyboard, a power supply. An acoustic piano is a different matter and is rarely practical outdoors.

Whatever the instrument, damp and direct sun both cause problems, and sheet music in wind is a real and underestimated difficulty, so clips or a weighted stand are worth arranging. For an outdoor wedding ceremony, confirm the instrument early, since that decision usually settles whether the plan works at all. Agree a wet weather alternative when you book.

Question 16

Do accompanists provide their own equipment?

Accepted Answer

It varies by instrument, and it is worth being specific. A guitarist brings their instrument and, where amplification is needed, usually a small amplifier. A pianist normally relies on the venue's piano, though many can bring a digital keyboard and stand if that is agreed in advance and there is power available.

What almost nobody provides is a music stand for you, seating, or amplification for a singer. If your event needs a PA, for a voice in a large room for example, arrange that separately and tell the accompanist. Confirm what is included when you book rather than on the day, since the assumptions differ between accompanists more than you would expect.

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Accompanists for hire in County Durham

Michael Holmes

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Rachael (Harpist)

Andrew Paton the Highland Bagpiper

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Conan the Piano Guy

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Dean Saunders Piper

Brian (Singer/Guitarist)

Sax Alongside your DJ

Bongo With The Flow

Glasgow Wedding Harpist

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Michael Holmes

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Frequently asked questions

Hire Piano Accompanists in County Durham

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