The Art of Ballet Accompaniment

Gerald R. Lishka plays for ballet in Los Angeles, California, and surrounding cities. His present affiliations include California School of the Arts—San Gabriel Valley, University of Southern California—Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, and C. Round Ballet Works. He has played formerly at, among others, Interlochen Arts Academy; the American Dance Festival; Indiana University Bloomington; Wayne State University Detroit; National Academy of Arts in Champaign, Illinois; Louisville Ballet; Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica; and Pasadena Dance Theatre. Lishka holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano from the University of Illinois–Champaign and did postgraduate work there and at Indiana University–Bloomington. He is author of A Handbook for the Ballet Accompanist.

Foreword by Kyra Nichols
Preface
Introduction: How I View the Art of Ballet Accompaniment
1. The Ballet Class
2. Advice and Guidance
3. Barre and Center Combinations
4. Suggested Piano Repertory for Barre and Center Work
5. Preparing and Arranging Piano Repertory for Ballet Class
6. Adapting Piano Repertory with Complex Phrasing Challenges: Four Advanced Lessons
7. Improvisation
8. Ballet-Related Accompanying Outside the Ballet Class
Index of Steps