Doin' What Comes Natur'lly: Lead Sheet / Fake Book

Berlin's rhythmic audacity in this number reveals why singers and pianists keep returning to his work decades later. The syncopated phrasing and conversational lyric give performers room to swing and personalize, making it ideal for students learning how a great melody can accommodate both strict interpretation and spontaneous variation.

Conversational and playful, with a touch of vaudeville flair. The melody sits comfortably in the voice and begs for interpretation; the harmonic framework supports both straightforward readings and creative reharmonization.

Pianists and singers preparing jazz standards, cabaret repertoire, or American songbook collections. Students working on swing styles and the intersection of popular song with jazz idiom will find the lead sheet format inviting.

• Shape the phrases to match the natural speech rhythms of the lyric; resist locking into a metronomic feel even at a steady tempo.
• Pay attention to the groove implied by the piano voicings. If comping, keep the left hand conversational and let the melody breathe above it.
• Experiment with rubato in the opening phrases to establish the character before settling into the groove.

Include this in a cabaret evening, jazz recital, or American song cycle. It pairs naturally with other Berlin standards or works well as a palate cleanser between heavier repertoire in a mixed program.

• Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation
• Swing phrasing and rhythmic interpretation
• Comping chord voicings on keyboard
• Balancing melody with accompaniment texture
• Stylistic flexibility within popular song forms