Pianists: Our partners in crime

TO STOP OR NOT TO STOP, THAT IS THE QUESTION!!

We've all been there. You have given the pianist your tempo at an audition or masterclass. Suddenly however, they are 3 bars behind. Or someone has just added some benzadrine to their water and presto is their new favorite marking. Or they just....stop playing...for a couple of bars...or play so many wrong notes that Schoenberg is calling them from the grave for new ideas while you search for your key.

You breathe. You try your hardest NOT to look panicked. You resist the urge to conduct. You keep going, but all the while your mind is yelling at you "Just Stop!! Just stop and start over!!" but you know it is DEATH to stop. What do you do??

While you're performing/auditioning: Try to give cues without conducting. Angle yourself to the side so the pianist can see you breathe. If they've stopped playing, keep going, they'll catch you. BREATHE. this sounds ridiculous, but try to laugh at it - this is one of those moments when they can see how truly awesome you are as you work it out despite accompaniment issues. Avoid all dirty looks and knee-jerk reactions to stare down the pianist with that "what's going on?? expression".

After you're done: remind yourself that you LOVE pianists, and of all the coaches and accompanists that have made you sound great. Remind yourself to take your time next time with a pianist to really show them the tempo - especially if your union, like Equity or SAG, grants you a certain amount of time onstage no matter what. I have one bold friend who asked the piano to demonstrate a few bars for her before she started singing, since she had heard the tempi were a little off that day. This is only for the fearless, but if you really need your tempo, ask nicely and be clear.

SMILE at them, even if you secretly want to cut their throats afterwards. Chances are they are very embarrassed at any mistakes they've made, and even if they aren't, you'll look so gracious. Remember, pianists are most often the colleagues we work most intimately with. If you have fun and are nice, how can they resist you? Surely a smile will cause them to hang on your every syllable, to breathe with you and create the most perfect accompaniment ever. And if it doesn't, well, at least you'll look good. Thank them anyway, theirs is a thankless job, and we couldn't do ours without them