How Long Has This Been Going On?: E-Z Play Today

This E-Z Play edition strips away unnecessary complexity while preserving the harmonic sophistication that makes the tune musically satisfying. Students get to inhabit a real jazz standard at a manageable level, building confidence on material that actual musicians still perform decades later.

Warm and nostalgic, with a slightly wry edge underneath. The tune floats easily, full of conversational pauses and gentle harmonic turns that feel natural to play once you settle into them.

Pianists working toward jazz fluency who need materials that don't talk down to them. Teachers looking for two-page standards that fit into a single rehearsal or lesson without requiring transcription.

• Let the rhythm section breathe in the intro. These first few measures set the conversational tone; don't rush them.
• Bring out the melody without driving through it. Gershwin wrote this for singers, so your phrasing should honor that vocal quality.
• Listen closely to the harmonic changes in the bridge. They're what give the tune its emotional turn, and they deserve clear voicing.
• Play with a relaxed swing feel rather than rigid tempo. The laid-back character of the lyric should inform your rhythmic approach.

Ideal as a solo piano feature in a jazz or pop showcase, or as accompaniment for a vocalist exploring standards. Works equally well as a repertoire piece for students building a core songbook.

• Reading and interpreting jazz chord symbols (7ths, 9ths, extended harmonies)
• Phrasing melody in the style of a vocal line rather than a purely instrumental line
• Playing swing feel with articulation and touch that suggests lightness rather than mechanical precision
• Understanding how harmonic movement creates emotional narrative across a 32-bar form