Do Accompanists use Streaming Audio Services?

Using streaming audio services can be a powerful tool for any accompanist looking to provide performers with rehearsal materials to practice their parts on demand. The hard part is selecting the service that best fits your needs. Google Drive is good for accompanists who want to give access to various people in different ways, but you'll need to come up with a folder nomenclature to organize your music material.

SoundCloud

Spotify

Apple

Amazon

YouTube

Recently, April Alsup expanded her music distribution channel to include several major streaming audio services; Spotify, Apple, Amazon and YouTube, but she still uses Soundcloud for music theater performers looking for rehearsal and/or audition materials because it's easy to use and you don't have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get your practice parts out there for people.

Professional accompaniment services from your friends at www.accompanist.com

With the new Omicron variant sweeping across the country we've seen an uptick of inquiries regarding remote accompaniment capabilities. The staff and contractors at accompanist.com are available seven days a week and we are familiar with the latest teleconferencing tools from Zoom, Google, Skype, Facebook and Microsoft. Just let us know your music genre, instrument ensemble and any accompaniment requirements and we'll make sure to contact you to discuss talent and scheduling options.

"Accompanist.com has demonstrated a unique combination of technology insight, musicianship and professionalism over the pandemic." The Performing Arts Project. 

Looking for an accordionist in the Denver area?

There's been a growing interest in the accordion. The popularity of the instrument has really gained a lot of momentum with younger audiences and we're finding more interest from people in Colorado looking for an accompanist with the ability to read and/or arrange accordion music. The music notation is similar to a piano, but there are a lot of differences too.

The right-hand manual is notated the same way as piano music, but the treble clef is used almost exclusively for piano accordions since the written range extends no lower the three ledger lines below the staff. On the other hand (no pun intended), the Stradella system is always written in the bass clef. Single notes are written in the lower half while the chordal buttons are notated in the upper half. This is in accordance with the official AAA notation notation standard adopted around the world.

April Alsup
Accordion Accompanist

Finding an accompanist with the ability to read and arrange on and for the accordion using universal notation and is familiar with the subtleties of playing in a pit orchestra can be difficult. Please let us know if your latest score requires someone with this skill set. We'd be happy to help.

What is a Sitzprobe rehearsal?

In musical theatre, a sitzprobe (from the German for seated rehearsal) is a rehearsal where the actors sing with the orchestra, focusing attention on integrating the two groups. It is often the first rehearsal where the orchestra and singers rehearse together. It really is a milestone for any Musical production since the entire team is involved. In the early stage of a production the actors usually work  with only an accompanist, who plays a simplified (Piano/Conductor) score with the singers. During the sitzprobe the music director takes over and works with the team as a whole to tweak various parts of the show.

April Alsup working with Sisyphus Music Director

Sisyphus Rehearsal with ensemble

Working on an online musical production?

April Alsup
Verified Spotify Artist

Accompanist.com is a small group of professional accompanists and music production experts based in and around Denver, Colorado. Our specialty is contemporary musical theatre, but we are involved with all sorts of musical production projects. We have embraced online technology and adapted to working remotely in the Age of COVID. We can work with your singers to perfect their skills and/or act as a music director for your productions. 

You can see several examples of a music theatre "radio mix" on April Alsup's Spotify Page, she has lived in Colorado for over 30 years and has long history of working with the various aspects of music production. In 2018, she received 12 award nominations for music theatre excellence including; five off-Broadway awards and seven regional Broadway World Awards.

Looking for an accompanist to tweak your favorite song?

We get asked if we can supply standard music theater rehearsal tracks for music theatre works all the time, but what if you're looking for a custom arrangement? It's really not that uncommon for a singer to transpose a song up or down a few keys or adjust tempo markings for an audition. Directors are always looking to explore creative alternatives if the music calls for it.

2018 WYSIWYG Cast
Director reviewing vocal parts with performers

That's where accompanist.com can help! We are a group of performing arts professionals eager to help you get the most out of on your music theater rehearsal music and we can connect with you remotely using the latest technology and collaboration tools too.

Welcome to the Accompanist website!

April Alsup 
"Book Musical Basics"
Musical Theatre Series Author

We provide accompanists to the music theater industry.

What is an accompanist? ac·com·pa·nist /əˈkəmpənəst/ a person who provides a musical accompaniment to another musician or to a singer.

We enjoy all types of music, but our specialty is contemporary musical theatre. We can work with your singers to perfect their skills and/or act as a music director for your productions.

Our team is lead by April Alsup, in 2018 she was nominated "Best Music Director" by her Colorado theater peers for the area's regional Broadway World awards.

Please let us know how we can help!