Clair: E-Z Play Today

This E-Z Play arrangement captures the sophistication of O'Sullivan's songwriting without requiring advanced technique, making it an excellent choice when you want students engaging with genuinely adult sensibilities. The piece sits perfectly in that sweet spot where accessibility doesn't mean oversimplification.

Introspective and gently melancholic, with moments of warmth breaking through. The piece invites intimate playing rather than virtuosic display, asking the performer to find sincerity in simplicity.

Piano students working through popular standards with melodic and harmonic substance. This arrangement opens doors to 1970s singer-songwriter repertoire for students who might otherwise overlook the era.

• Pay attention to the harmonic shape. O'Sullivan's strength lies in chord movement, so let the progression guide your phrasing rather than rushing through steady sections.
• Balance the melody against any accompanying figures. Even in simplified arrangements, the interplay between right and left hand creates the song's character.
• Consider the emotional arc from beginning to end. This song rewards subtle tempo flexibility and dynamic shaping that reflects its lyrical content.

Pair this with other classic 1970s material for a "Songs of the Decade" concert, or use it in a recital program as a bridge between classical and contemporary popular music. It works equally well as a standalone solo piece or as an opener before more demanding repertoire.

• Interpreting harmonic changes in lead-sheet style arrangements
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in the hands
• Shaping phrases through subtle dynamic and tempo choices
• Reading and realizing simplified yet musically coherent piano voicings