First Time Playing with a Pianist? Here's What Every Beginner Flute Student Should Know

Hello, fluters!

Today, I'd like to share some tips for flute students who are preparing to perform a piece with a pianist (or accompanist) for the first time. If you've never played with a pianist before, it's completely normal to feel a little intimidated. After all, you've probably spent most of your practice time developing your flute skills on your own at home. Suddenly, you're in a situation where you're expected to play alongside another musician, listen carefully, and work together to create one musical performance.

One important thing to remember is that ensemble playing is a different skill altogether to flute playing that needs to be practised separately—ideally by playing music with other people whenever you have the opportunity.

Being a strong flute player doesn't automatically mean you'll be comfortable playing in an ensemble.

When performing with a pianist, you're no longer focused solely on your own part. You'll also need to listen, respond, adjust, and communicate musically with another performer in real time. At first, juggling all of these elements can feel a little overwhelming, but with experience and practice it becomes much more natural—and incredibly rewarding.

In this post, I'll share some practical tips to help you prepare for your first rehearsal and performance with an accompanist, so you can walk in feeling more confident and ready to make music together.

Cherished Melodies recital in July 2024, Amanda Pang (piano), Lilly Yang (flute)

1. Listen to a Recording of the Complete Piece

   Before your first rehearsal, listen to a recording of the piece that includes both the flute and piano parts. This helps you become familiar with how the two parts fit together and gives you a better understanding of the overall musical picture. Chances are you've only been practising the flute part at home, so the piano accompaniment may come as a surprise when you first hear it. Listening to the complete piece beforehand helps you know what to expect and makes it much easier to fit your part into the larger musical texture.

   
   

2. Know Your Part Inside Out

   The best thing you can do before rehearsing with a pianist is to know your own part so well that it almost feels automatic. Ideally, you should be so familiar with the music that you're almost playing it from memory. Why is this important? Because playing with another musician requires you to divide your attention. Instead of concentrating solely on your own notes, you'll also need to listen to the pianist, stay together rhythmically, and respond musically to what they're playing. Professional accompanists are incredibly skilled at following soloists, but it makes rehearsals much smoother when the flute part is secure. Being confident with counting long notes and rests, and having an awareness of what's happening in the piano part, will help you avoid accidentally rushing ahead or falling behind.

   
   

3. Write Cues in Your Music Part

   One of the most helpful habits you can develop is writing cues from the piano part into your own music. For example, if you have several bars of rests, make a note of an important rhythmic figure that the pianist plays just before your next entry. If you lose count during a rehearsal or performance, these cues can help you quickly find your place again. Preparing these musical landmarks in advance gives you a reliable backup plan and helps you recover confidently if something doesn't go exactly as planned.

   
   

4. Practise Performing, Not Just Rehearsing

   If possible, rehearse the piece with your pianist over several sessions rather than just once. During these rehearsals, try to play through the entire piece without stopping—even if someone makes a mistake or gets lost. This is known as performance practice. It recreates the experience of a real performance, where you can't simply stop and start again after every mistake. Learning to keep going is an invaluable skill that builds confidence and resilience. You'll also begin to notice the sections that consistently feel less secure. Identifying these "danger spots" gives you a clear idea of what to focus on during your individual practice.

   
   

5. Communicate with Your Pianist

   Although flautists usually stand in front of the pianist during a performance, it's important to remember that you're making music together. Rather than thinking of the pianist as someone who simply "follows" you, think of the performance as a collaboration between two musicians. Help your pianist by making your intentions as clear as possible through your body language. Before you begin, make eye contact and take a clear, confident preparatory breath. These simple gestures communicate exactly when you're ready to start. If the piano begins the piece, turn towards your pianist before the performance starts and acknowledge them with a smile, nod, or brief eye contact to show that you're ready. Despite how experienced accompanists are, they aren't mind readers! Clear communication helps both of you feel more confident and leads to a much more polished performance.

   
   

6. Acknowledge Your Pianist

   Once you've finished performing, don't forget to acknowledge your pianist during your bow. A simple gesture towards them shows your appreciation for the important role they played in the performance. After all, a performance with piano accompaniment is a team effort. Without your pianist, the music wouldn't have come to life in quite the same way, so it's always a lovely gesture to recognise their contribution.

And there you have it! Those are my tips to flute students or flautists who are preparing themselves to play with a pianist for the first time. Happy fluting and I'll see you in the next blog post!