🎶 Vocal coaches react: Why is the national anthem so tough to sing?
Singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a notoriously difficult task, even for seasoned performers.
Broadway vocal coach Tracey Grimaldi told Yahoo Entertainment: “It’s not a song you can sing without really good preparation. It’s an octave and a half, specifically, a range of 12 pitches. You have to know what your first note is, otherwise it’s easy to go off-key.”
That’s especially true when you’re singing a capella (without music accompaniment).
“It’s a really hard song to sing. Everyone knows if you miss a word or a note, which happens because of nerves,” she said. “You can do something a million times in your bedroom, in your shower, but that’s not the same thing as getting out there and doing it in front of everyone.”
“I just wish everybody was nicer to people in general [and] just go, oh well that wasn’t great, then enjoy the game,” said Grimaldi via email. “If it wasn’t great, anyone criticizing her should record themselves singing the National Anthem acapella and post that. If they can do better, they’re hired.”