Goody Goody: E-Z Play Today

Sinatra's signature style opens doors for pianists to explore swing phrasing and rubato in a jazz standard that doesn't demand virtuosic pyrotechnics. The accessibility of this two-page arrangement makes it realistic for intermediate pianists to grasp both the melody and the rhythmic nuance that defines the era.

Witty, confident, and slightly sarcastic. 'Goody Goody' bounces along with the easy sophistication of a pianist who's heard every pickup line at the jazz club and can respond with a knowing smile. The arrangement sits somewhere between casual and polished, never letting you get too serious.

Pianists comfortable with jazz voicings and swing rhythms will find this an excellent vehicle for learning how to accompany themselves while maintaining melodic integrity. It's also useful for teachers introducing students to standards-based repertoire without overwhelming technical demands.

• Listen to Sinatra's original recording multiple times before working on the page. Absorb his approach to phrasing and breath, then adapt those sensibilities to your own playing.
• Treat the rhythm section figures as conversational elements rather than accompaniment. Your left hand should have the same rhythmic personality as the melody.
• Shape phrases by subtle tempo flexibility in longer passages. This isn't strict metronomic playing; it's responsive to the lyrical contour.

Feature this in a casual evening or jazz night concert alongside other standards, or use it as a solo piano interlude between larger ensemble pieces. It works beautifully as a bridge piece that acknowledges the American songbook without demanding a full vocal performance.

• Swing eighth-note feel and jazz rhythmic interpretation
• Walking bass lines and jazz piano voicing conventions
• Phrasing and rubato in the context of a standard
• Coordination of melody and accompaniment as a solo pianist