Almost Like Being In Love: E-Z Play Today

Sinatra's approach to this Lerner and Loewe standard offers students a masterclass in how to voice a jazz piano arrangement that serves the melody without overshadowing it. The two-page format makes it accessible for intermediate pianists while the harmonic language gives them authentic vocabulary for jazz voicings they'll encounter in the real world.

Wistful and buoyant in equal measure, this arrangement captures the gentle optimism of falling in love unexpectedly. The harmonic movement is warm without being heavy, and there's a conversational quality to how the melody sits in the voicings; it feels like Sinatra is telling you a secret.

Intermediate piano students working toward jazz fluency, music theater performers who want to understand how to accompany themselves on a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein tune, and pianists building a personal repertoire of standards.

• Listen to the original recording multiple times to internalize Sinatra's phrasing and where he breathes within phrases; then apply that sensibility to your own interpretation.
• Treat the left hand as a gentle rhythmic anchor rather than a full harmonic statement; jazz standards from this era rely on restraint and space.
• Pay attention to the lyrical arc of the melody and let that emotional contour shape your dynamic choices, particularly in how you approach the bridge.

Perfect for a standards showcase or jazz-focused recital, particularly when you want something more intimate than a big ensemble number. It also works beautifully as an introduction to jazz piano vocabulary for students who came up through classical training.

• Jazz voicing and reharmonization techniques
• Phrasing and rubato in the jazz context
• Balancing melody with accompanimental texture
• Reading and interpreting a lead sheet style arrangement