Easy Street: Piano Vocal

This is the kind of song that rewards clear, character-driven singing. The melodic line sits naturally in the voice, and the piano part stays supportive without becoming accompaniment busywork, which makes it valuable for teaching how to balance lyrical singing with harmonic awareness.

The song captures a particular flavor of Broadway charm from the golden age: clever, direct, and grounded in character observation rather than grand theatrical statements. There's a lightness to it that demands precision and clarity from the performer.

Pianists seeking accessible Broadway literature that features clear melodic writing and rewarding harmonic accompaniment, and singers developing their ability to deliver character and comedic timing through song. This works equally well for classroom singing and recital performance.

• Connect the lyrical phrases as conversational speech rather than musical phrases. The wit lives in the delivery, not in how you shape the melody line.
• Anchor the rhythm section feel without letting it drag. This song thrives on a sense of forward momentum, especially in the accompaniment.
• Pay attention to the distinction between spoken and sung rhythms in the text. Strouse often layers these textures, and honoring both keeps the character alive.

Include this alongside other character songs from mid-century Broadway to show students the range of storytelling techniques available to composers. It also pairs naturally with other Strouse material if you're building a Broadway-focused recital or classroom unit on musical theater composition.

• Delivering character and comedic timing within a song structure
• Coordinating independent melodic and rhythmic lines between voice and piano
• Balancing lyrical phrasing with the conversational rhythm of the text
• Reading and interpreting Broadway harmonic language