Voices from the Field: Collaborative Pianist Edition

This "testimonial" form invites our Collaborative Pianist members to share their lived experiences working in the music industy (and working with singers); insights from the rehearsal room, coaching process, and performance preparation. You’re welcome to answer as many or as few questions as you like; share whatever feels meaningful to you.

Collaborative pianists are essential to the vitality of music performance and education. Voices from the Field is one part of a broader effort to highlight and support their contributions, and selected responses may be featured in the series and on a new section of the NATS website dedicated to education and knowledge sharing.

Questions were developed by Membership Growth Strategist Lindsay Kate Brown and Collaborative Pianist Alison d’Amato. Please note that individual responses will not receive replies, but any direct quotes added to the website will have an opportunity to be approved by the contributor prior to posting.

Submission deadline: June 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.

There is a Save option at the bottom of the form so that you can complete this form over more than one session. You do NOT have to answer all questions.

Thank you for sharing your experience and for contributing to the NATS community!

Name

First NameLast Name

Pronouns

Email

example@example.com

Cell Phone Number

Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.

Number of Years as a NATS Member

I acknowledge that I have to be a current NATS Member in order to have my answers considered for inclusion in this project.

In what state / country do you reside?

Primary Affiliations (Places of work, organization, etc.)

Pedagogy & Communication:

1. How have you developed your understanding of vocal pedagogy as a collaborative pianist? Are there particular books, resources, or experiences that have shaped your approach?

0/200

2. When working with singers, how do you engage with technical vocal concepts through a musical lens? What strategies have you found effective in supporting both artistry and technique?

0/200

Academic & Administrative Work:

3. If you have experience in a university or institutional setting, how have you navigated administrative responsibilities as a collaborative pianist?

0/200

4. Have you been involved in building or shaping collaborative piano programs or initiatives? If so, what did that process look like, and what did you learn?

0/200

Audition & Gig Preparation:

5. What is your approach to preparing repertoire with singers for auditions or professional engagements?

0/200

6. Are there pieces or repertoire you find come up frequently in auditions? How do you help singers prepare them effectively?

0/200

7. What strategies or approaches do you use to strengthen sight-reading skills, both for yourself and in collaboration with singers?

0/150

Repertoire & Musical Collaboration:

8. How do you approach working across a wide range of musical styles and genres? What helps you adapt to different stylistic demands?

0/150

9. What has your experience been with contemporary music or newly composed works? How do you navigate unfamiliar or evolving musical languages?

0/150

10. In your work with singers, how do you engage with text and language at the piano? How does the text influence your musical decisions?

0/150

Career Adaptability and Flexibility:

11. Collaborative pianists often take on many roles beyond performing. Can you share your experiences serving as a coach, rehearsal partner, assistant to a conductor, or in other capacities?

0/150

12. How do you approach preparing singers for auditions, recording audition materials, or creating practice tracks? What skills have been most valuable in these roles?

0/150

Networking & Professional Development:

13. How have you built professional connections as a collaborative pianist, particularly if you are not affiliated with a specific organization or institution?

0/100

14. What strategies have helped you find opportunities, collaborators, or a sense of professional community?

0/100

Lifestyle & Sustainability:

15. How do you maintain your mental and physical well-being while managing the demands of collaborative work?

0/100

16. As a collaborative pianist, how do you balance flexibility and support for others with maintaining your own artistic voice and musicianship?

0/100

Any final thoughts?

0/500

Upload any photos you'd love to share with your response! Limit 4

You in performance, you and your students, your studio, a headshot, etc.

Please provide the photographer name and name of institution, school, or affiliation so that we may provide proper photo credits.

I understand that my answers will be reviewed by NATS, and their use in the Voices from the Field Webpage Series is dependent on the results of this review process. In some cases, direct quotes may be used, as opposed to an entire response. In other cases, my longer answers may become part of a summary encompassing other people's answers or my answers to a particular question may not be used at all.

I understand that if a direct quote from me is used in this Webpage Series, I (the author) will be afforded an opportunity for review and approval before publication.

I understand that NATS does not provide compensation, including payment or any other compensation, for my testimony that may appear in the NATS Voices from the Field Series.

I understand that inclusion of my testimonial in the Voices from the Field Series is a member benefit, and I must have an active NATS membership at the time of submission and publication.

I understand that NATS may choose not to use any of my testimony I submitted if the content is in conflict with our mission, is of a controversial nature, or is overly self-promotional.

Permission to Use the Photo: We / I, the aforementioned Owner/Copyright Holder of Photo, hereby give to National Association of Teachers of Singing, it successors and assigns, the right to use and publish these photographs, in whole or part, including alterations, modifications, derivations and composites thereof, on their website, in their printed marketing / PR / display materials, in social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.), in their Journal of Singing, Inter Nos, Intermezzo, or any other journals/magazines NATS may develop, in any fundraising program, in print advertisements or in any media kit which NATS might use to supplement articles written about NATS or vocal education in newspapers, magazines, online, etc. The right shall include the right to combine photos with others and to alter photos by digital means or otherwise, for the purposes set forth herein. In consideration of the printing/production deadlines, we/I hereby waive any right that we/I may have to inspect and approve the finished product or copy that may be used in connection with my photographs. In return, NATS will include photographer credit as well as a credit to the owner of the photos (ie. name of school, university or company) WHERE POSSIBLE when using the photos in printed materials and on our website; however, please be advised that NATS does not use photo credits in the majority of social media postings. I affirm that the photograph(s) submitted are original on my/our part and that we/I am sole owner of such materials, and that neither such materials nor the permission granted hereby infringe upon the right of others.

I understand that NATS does not pay money or provide any other compensation for use of photos.

Signature

Voices from the Field: Collaborative Pianist Edition

Basic Information:

Focus-Based Questions - Answer as many questions as you like!

Final Thoughts

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