School of Ballet Arizona: Year One Recap

In May 2013, I received word about a job as a class pianist at the School of Ballet Arizona. There was a job posting a few months prior to that, but since I didn’t have any experience in ballet accompanying I didn’t apply then. The May posting listed that they were willing to train new pianists, so I jumped at the chance! I observed classes during the summer intensive, then started playing for classes towards the end of the summer, with a regular schedule beginning in fall 2013. Summer 2014 I played for the Summer Intensive, and it was great. It’s been such a learning experience in all the classes - all the teachers have been very patient with my mistakes - and after a full academic year, I finally feel comfortable. Two neat resources I’ve found very helpful: Harriet Cavalli’s “Dance and Music” and an anthology (that Cavalli recommends in her book, actually) called the Scribner radio music library. The Scribner radio music library is a 9-volume set, and I have found usable music in every volume. They are out of print, so you have to find used copies. I think I found my set for around $70 but you can often find it for a bit less depending on the condition.