Ensemble, accompaniment and sight-reading in a group context
Domain focus
The ensemble and accompaniment section tests listening, balance, cueing and the ability to keep going in a group, including sight-reading with other players.
Rules
- Balance by role: melody forward, accompaniment under it, inner parts audible but not dominant.
- Watch a leader or conductor for entries, tempo changes and cut-offs; breathe or lift the bow with the group.
- In accompaniment, follow the soloist's breath and rubato but maintain the underlying pulse.
- Before group sight-reading, agree tempo, starting note, repeats and who cues each entry.
Worked example
A pianist accompanies a singer. The singer takes a breath before the second phrase, so the pianist avoids a heavy chord there and gives a clear upbeat. If the singer drifts flat, the pianist does not follow the pitch downward; the pianist keeps the tonic reference and reduces pedal so the ensemble can hear the tuning. Reasoning: accompaniment supports the soloist's phrasing while protecting intonation and pulse.
Traps
Playing too loudly because you cannot hear yourself; stopping when another player errs; ignoring page turns and repeats; giving no preparatory beat; following a soloist so far that the ensemble loses the key.