East Bound And Down: E-Z Play Today

Reed's catalog offers students a chance to connect with genuinely fun, unpretentious music that swings. The E-Z Play Today series makes his songs accessible to pianists at earlier stages, letting your students experience the satisfaction of playing recognizable material with real groove.

Rollicking and confident, with the kind of easy swagger that comes from music built on simple, memorable hooks. There's a lightness here that invites you to smile while you play; this is music meant to entertain and make people move.

Piano students in early intermediate to intermediate stages who want to play something with genuine personality and country-rock flavor. Teachers looking to expand beyond classical and traditional pop repertoire will find this a refreshing addition that engages students.

• Lock into the shuffle or shuffle-feel rhythms that give this song its laid-back character; rushing will flatten the groove entirely.
• Keep your touch relaxed through the repetitive sections; this song lives in its grooves rather than dramatic flourishes.
• Pay attention to where the melody sits in the middle register; let it speak clearly without drowning it in accompaniment texture.

Slot this into a casual concert, variety show, or end-of-year celebration where students can showcase their range beyond standard repertoire. It pairs well with other country or Americana selections and gives your program a distinctly American flavor.

• Playing shuffle rhythms and swing feels
• Managing repetitive harmonic patterns with musical integrity
• Balancing melody prominence with accompaniment texture
• Interpreting groove-based music with appropriate touch and phrasing