Christmas Mem'ries: E-Z Play Today

E-Z Play Today arrangements strip away complexity without sacrificing musicality, making Sinatra's timeless holiday material accessible to pianists still building their technical foundation. The three-page length keeps practice sessions focused while the ballad setting allows students to concentrate on the interpretive qualities that made these songs memorable.

Nostalgic and intimate, with the warmth of a classic recording playing softly in the background. The ballad tempo invites deliberate, expressive playing rather than rushing, creating space for the emotional core of the holiday season to emerge.

Pianists in the early intermediate stages who want to explore jazz-influenced holiday standards without tackling complex voicings or extended harmonies. This arrangement works equally well for students learning to accompany themselves while singing and for those building a holiday recital program.

• Shape the melodic line with intentional breath points even though you're playing an instrument; let the phrasing breathe like Sinatra would have sung it.
• Balance accompaniment and melody carefully so the harmonic foundation supports rather than overwhelms the tune.
• Experiment with slight tempo flexibility in the verses to create intimacy, then settle into a steady pulse for consistency.

Pair this with other E-Z Play Today selections to create a cohesive holiday set that showcases student progress without demanding too much from any single arrangement. The piece fits naturally into a December recital or informal gathering where mood matters more than technical spectacle.

• Interpreting jazz-influenced melody within accessible harmonic structures
• Balancing accompaniment texture with melodic prominence
• Applying rubato and phrasing sensitivity to ballad repertoire
• Reading chord changes in popular song notation