I'll Be Seeing You (from The Daily Ukulele) (arr. Liz and Jim Beloff): Ukulele

This arrangement captures the quiet melancholy of a timeless ballad in a format that ukulele students actually want to play. The Daily Ukulele series has earned its place in music education specifically because Beloff understands that accessibility doesn't require sacrificing emotional depth or harmonic sophistication.

A wistful reflection set against gentle, walking harmonies. The song carries that particular quality of American jazz standards from the 1930s and 1940s: nostalgic without being saccharine, romantic without being cloying. On ukulele, it becomes intimate and conversational.

Ukulele students who are ready to move beyond simple folk songs into jazz and popular standards. This works well for intermediate players seeking material with real lyrical substance and harmonic interest.

• Pay attention to phrase length and breathing. This ballad's pacing depends on understanding where the melody wants to breathe, not rushing through the harmonic changes.
• Shape the dynamic arc across the full song. A standard ballad like this gains emotional weight when you let quieter moments exist alongside more resonant passages.
• Let the chord changes dictate your touch. Ukuleles respond to how deliberately or lightly you strike the strings; these changes deserve clarity rather than a uniform strum pattern.

Feature this in a recital celebrating Great American Songbook material, pairing it with other standard arrangements that showcase the ukulele's versatility beyond traditional Hawaiian repertoire. It also serves as an excellent solo vehicle for students auditioning for or preparing for jazz ensemble work.

• Reading chord charts and jazz harmony voicings
• Phrasing and dynamic shaping in ballad form
• Translating vocal melody sensibility to instrumental performance
• Understanding harmonic rhythm and where to place emphasis