Posted on Jun 17, 2014
Ad-lib piano accompaniment while singing National Anthem during Soldier's Memorial Service. Is this ok?
6.67K
65
19
2
2
0
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
1
1
0
I Think prior coordination and communication on the part of the pianist would have been appropriate. In the absence of that communication it would be inappropriate to interrupt another persons musical performance. The tempo and the timing could be compromised first of all and the performance could have been sabotaged, albeit unintentionally, but sabotaged nonetheless. Good on you for having the wherewithal and improvisational skills to adjust fire and give the audience what the wanted to hear. That said, I feel you were unfairly hi-jacked.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I think if the piano player and the singer talk about it before the performance, it would be alright. It depends on the person singing though. If they lack experience, then it might be enough to throw them completely off, but if they have been doing it for a while, then it might go well. So, I voted approriate based off you doing it for a while.
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
Good afternoon guys! I go to music school and I want to buy you a piano at home to play it while I have free time! Parents want to look for something unusual and cool) suggest your ideas!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
As far as I know there is a specific way the National Anthem is supposed to be played. Not only that but this guy took it upon himself to jump in during your performance, not cool. This is especially true since you mentioned it was for a memorial service. I understand that there are times where it may be alright to jump in and play along but this was certainly not the time. I applaud you for continuing on and doing what you had to do but he crossed the line.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I'd like to vote inappropriate and as long as the family liked it. As a semi professional musician, I would be pissed! It wasn't his gig to do the national anthem, he was being an ass. He didn't communicate with you, he interrupted you. That would be like going to a conference to see a guest speaker and the prior presenter suddenly interrupting and throwing his two cents worth in while the one you wanted to hear is presenting. However, it was at a memorial service, and what was important was the grieving family and them being happy with the memorial service. But as soon as I got my uniform off, I would've taken that pianist to the tree line.
(0)
(0)
PO3 (Join to see)
I don't think he meant to be an ass, but he did make things awkward for SSG Burns.
(0)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Doesn't matter it was an ass thing to do. That's a musicians rule: You don't play other people's gigs unless they ask you to. He should have been standing for the national anthem away from his piano in the first place if he wasn't supposed to be performing at that time.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google