Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words): E-Z Play Today

This is one of the most recorded standards in American music, and the E-Z Play format makes it accessible to pianists still building their jazz vocabulary. The melody sits beautifully under the hands, giving students a chance to focus on how swing rhythms and jazz phrasing actually work without fighting difficult voicings.

Romantic without being sentimental, sophisticated without pretense. The melody floats over gentle harmonic movement, inviting you into an intimate conversation rather than a formal performance. There's space to breathe and genuine room for your own personality to emerge.

This edition serves pianists from intermediate through advanced levels who want to build fluency with jazz standards without being overwhelmed by complex chord changes or orchestration. It's ideal for students preparing for jazz combos, wedding receptions, or anyone learning how Great American Songbook material actually functions harmonically and melodically.

• Lean into the swing feel on eighth notes; this isn't a straight classical legato but a relaxed, conversational rhythm that breathes.
• Let the lyric shape your touch and dynamics. The opening "Fly me to the moon" should feel conversational, intimate, not grand.
• Experiment with rubato in the bridge. Sinatra never played strict time there; find where you can stretch and recover naturally.
• Listen to multiple interpretations (Sinatra, Bennett, Chet Baker) and notice how each soloist treats the same melody differently in phrasing and emphasis.

Pair this with other Sinatra-era standards in a pop or jazz-focused recital, or use it as an elegant prelude to a more formal concert. It also works beautifully as a teaching piece in your jazz fundamentals curriculum, where students can learn how American standards balance accessibility with musical depth.

• Swing eighth-note feel and jazz phrasing conventions
• Rubato and expressive timing within a jazz context
• Understanding standard song form (AABA structure)
• Navigating basic jazz chord progressions by ear and sight
• Interpreting lyrical content to shape musical choices