Emily: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection gives singers and pianists direct access to 46 of Mercer's most performed standards in a single volume, eliminating the need to hunt through individual lead sheets. The arrangements pair melody, lyrics, and chord symbols on one page, making it equally valuable for a vocalist preparing for a recital, a pianist accompanying in a studio, or a musician teaching themselves standards at home.

These songs breathe with the warmth and sophistication of mid-20th-century American songwriting, ranging from the wistful introspection of 'Emily' and 'Skylark' to the jaunty humor of 'Jeepers Creepers' and 'The Glow-Worm.' Mercer's lyrics invite storytelling and intimacy; the melodies have the kind of natural contour that makes them memorable without feeling simple.

This book serves vocalists preparing auditions or recitals, pianists accompanying singers, and guitar players backing up performers in small ensemble or jazz settings. It's also ideal for anyone teaching themselves standards or exploring American popular song at an intermediate to advanced level.

• Pay attention to Mercer's conversational phrasing and natural speech rhythms in the lyrics; let them guide your rubato and breath placement rather than forcing the melody into strict time.
• Use the guitar chord frames to inform your harmonic interpretation at the piano, especially in standards with jazz changes where chord quality shifts dramatically within a phrase.
• In uptempo novelty songs like 'G.I. Jive' and 'Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive,' articulate the rhythm section crisply to match Mercer's playful wordplay and rhythmic wit.
• Balance lyrical clarity with musical line; Mercer's words are always important, but never sacrifice the shape of a phrase to hit every syllable with equal emphasis.

Program individual selections as part of a jazz or American songbook recital, or use multiple titles from this collection to build a themed evening around a particular composer or decade. Many of these standards work beautifully in educational settings where students are learning to accompany vocalists or exploring the intersection of lyric writing and melody.

• Accompanying singers with chord-based harmony and responsive musical partnering
• Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation (melody, lyrics, and guitar chords)
• Understanding how lyrical phrasing and natural speech rhythm inform melodic interpretation
• Recognizing harmonic language and chord progression patterns in American standards
• Sight-reading popular song arrangements with multiple layers of information on one staff system