How High The Moon (from Two For The Show): E-Z Play Today

This E-Z Play arrangement makes one of jazz's most enduring standards accessible without sacrificing its sophisticated harmonic movement. The simplified notation doesn't diminish the song's elegance; instead, it lets students experience the melodic charm and standard changes that define this era of popular song.

Buoyant and optimistic, with a melody that floats naturally over gently swinging changes. The piece has an intimate quality; it sounds like a conversation between two voices rather than a grand statement.

Piano students exploring jazz standards and pop repertoire will find this two-page arrangement a manageable entry point into mid-century American songwriting. Singers preparing for standards repertoire also benefit from having a piano reduction that stays true to the harmonic content.

• Shape the melody with rubato in the opening phrases to capture the conversational quality of the original recording.
• Keep the accompaniment light and transparent; these jazz chords sound their best when not hammered into submission.
• Balance the vocal line (if sung) with instrumental comping rather than playing full block chords on every beat.

Pair this with other standards from the 1950s to create a short set exploring that era's approach to melody and harmony, or use it as a bridge between classical repertoire and jazz during a concert that spans multiple musical traditions.

• Reading slash chords and jazz voicings in a simplified format
• Understanding the form and harmonic structure of a 32-bar standard
• Accompanying a vocalist with appropriate texture and dynamics
• Recognizing and playing rubato in popular music contexts