I'll Be Around: E-Z Play Today

Smith's melodies sit naturally under the hands and reward careful phrasing rather than technical fireworks. The arrangement respects the piano as a solo voice while maintaining the harmonic richness that makes his music engaging to listen to.

The piece carries a sense of gentle reassurance. Harmonically warm and melodically direct, it invites players to focus on nuance rather than speed.

Piano students who want accessible repertoire with real musical substance will find this rewarding. It works equally well for accompanists preparing material for worship settings or singers and for intermediate pianists building a contemporary repertoire collection.

• Lean into the rubato in the vocal melody line; this isn't a strict rhythm, and breathing room will bring out the emotional core of the song.
• Separate your touch between left and right hands. The accompaniment should feel supportive rather than competitive with the melody.
• Listen to the original recording to understand the production's arc, then decide which moments need space and which need forward momentum.

This pairs naturally with other contemporary sacred works in a mixed recital or worship service context. It also serves students building sight-reading fluency with pop and commercial music arrangements.

• Playing vocal melody lines with sensitivity to text and phrasing
• Accompanying techniques in contemporary harmonic contexts
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in the same hand
• Interpreting chord symbols and chord charts