Posted on Jun 17, 2014
Ad-lib piano accompaniment while singing National Anthem during Soldier's Memorial Service. Is this ok?
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Ok so I sing the National Anthem pretty frequently for ceremonies, balls etc. Today I was asked to sing for a Soldier's memorial. During the entire service there was a piano player there who played before and during the service just kinda as he pleased. It didn't seem inappropriate but more like a civilian funeral service. When I came up to sing, half-way through the first verse he decided to join in. It kinda threw me off because I wasn't expecting it. And it wasn't the standard score. But it forced me to change it up a little bit and kinda slowed it down. I just went with it instead of signaling at him to stop. Afterwards everyone said it sounded great so I guess it was ok, but I couldn't stop thinking about it the entire service hoping that I didn't do something wrong. What do y'all think?
Posted in these groups: 
National Anthem
National Anthem
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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Look at me!!! Over here on the piano!!! I'm the main show!!!
Unless you have practiced it, it was musical disrespect.
Unless you have practiced it, it was musical disrespect.
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I am a musician too, so I understand that it can be fun and exciting ad libbing and riffing with other musicians.....but I draw the line at the National Anthem. That is one song that I think needs to be done "straight" without the artistic embellishments that we too often see at major sporting events. After all, it's not about you and how talented you are when you sing the anthem, it's about paying respect to our nation.
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It is one thing if it was rehearsed or at least discussed before hand. But to just join in, even if it is just any song not just the Anthem, during any event is extremely disrespectful. I hope you brought it up to the pianist afterwards, they need to know that it is not respectful to another musician, especially during the National Anthem during a Memorial Service.
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