Church Roberta Church, Global Methodist Church
Position Accompanist | Part-Time, Non-Exempt
Compensation $10,000-$13,000 annually, based on qualifications and experience
Reports To Pastor for ministry direction, scheduling, and performance; Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) for
compensation and personnel policy
Position Purpose
The Accompanist provides skilled, dependable musical leadership from the piano for Roberta Church worship. In partnership with the Pastor and Choir Director, the Accompanist supports congregational singing, rehearses and accompanies the adult choir, and offers music that serves the message and movement of worship. This is a ministry position: musical excellence is expected, but performance remains in service to God, the congregation, and the church’s mission. Piano proficiency is required; organ experience is preferred.
Essential Responsibilities
1. Worship Leadership
- Provide weekly Sunday accompaniment, including prelude, postlude, offertory, hymns, choir anthem, congregational responses, one praise song when scheduled, and other assigned service music.
- Lead congregational singing from the instrument through clear introductions, steady tempo, appropriate dynamics, confident transitions, and sensitivity to the worship leader and congregation.
- Adapt appropriately during live worship when timing, order, keys, verses, or other circumstances change.
2. Choir Rehearsal and Musical Preparation
- Accompany the weekly adult choir rehearsal and Sunday morning warm-up; learn assigned music in advance and arrive prepared.
- Work with the Choir Director on tempo, phrasing, entrances, balance, rehearsal priorities, and the needs of volunteer singers; provide sectional or individual support when reasonably requested.
- Read and perform from hymnals, choral octavos, full or simplified arrangements, lead sheets, chord charts, and praise-song arrangements.
3. Planning, Communication, and Teamwork
- Collaborate with the Pastor and Choir Director in worship planning. The Pastor retains final responsibility for worship; the Choir Director holds primary responsibility for choral selections.
- Offer practical input regarding difficulty, keys, instrumentation, congregational accessibility, rehearsal needs, and musical fit; promptly report missing materials or concerns.
- Attend staff or worship-planning meetings when requested, maintain accurate CCLI information as needed, and communicate schedule conflicts or preparation issues promptly.
- Build respectful working relationships with staff, choir members, volunteers, soloists, and guest musicians.
4. Special Services and Instrument Stewardship
- Provide accompaniment, when scheduled and available, for Advent, Christmas Eve, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, revivals, patriotic services, funerals, weddings, and other special services. These services are included in annual compensation when the
Accompanist is available.
- Rehearse with and accompany soloists, ensembles, men’s chorus, children or youth musicians, and guest musicians as assigned.
- Monitor the general condition of the piano and organ and report tuning, repair, or maintenance needs. The Accompanist is not responsible for performing maintenance.
Qualifications
Required
- A personal Christian faith and conduct consistent with the mission and ministry of Roberta Church.
- Strong piano proficiency and demonstrated ability to accompany congregational singing, choirs, soloists, and ensembles.
- Ability to read music well, maintain steady tempo, provide clear hymn introductions, follow worship leadership, and adapt during live worship.
- Consistent preparation, dependability, punctuality, discretion, professional communication, and patience with volunteers of varying musical ability.
Preferred
- Church-accompanist experience in traditional or blended worship; organ proficiency; formal music training; and experience with seasonal programs, funerals, weddings, or special services.
Schedule, Time Away, and Substitute Coverage
- The position includes weekly Sunday worship and pre-service warm-up, weekly adult choir rehearsal during choir season, independent practice, and additional rehearsals, meetings, and services as scheduled. Seasonal periods may require additional preparation.
- The Accompanist receives two weeks of personal time off each year, prorated to the approved employment level, including up to two paid Sundays away. Additional Sundays require prior approval and may be unpaid unless otherwise authorized by the
Pastor and SPRC.
- Time away should be requested as early as possible. The Accompanist will assist in identifying a qualified substitute; the Pastor or designee approves all substitutes and compensation arrangements.
Performance and Employment Expectations
- Successful performance is demonstrated by worship music that is prepared, dependable, congregationally supportive, musically appropriate, and responsive to pastoral and choral direction.
- Employment is contingent upon required background and drug screening and compliance with applicable personnel, safeguarding, copyright, and facility-use policies.
- This description identifies primary duties but is not exhaustive. Responsibilities may be adjusted by the Pastor in consultation with the SPRC as ministry needs change.
Pay: $10,000.00 - $13,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
