I Love a Piano (arr. Mark Hayes): Choral Instrumental Pak

Hayes knows exactly how to write for choirs at different levels without sacrificing musicality. Each voicing option (SATB, SAB, 2-part/SSA) sounds complete and idiomatic to its range, which means your ensemble gets an arrangement that fits them, not the other way around. The piano part alone makes this worth programming; it's energetic, character-filled, and supports the singers without overwhelming them.

Bright and affectionate, with the ease of a song that's been loved for generations. The arrangement sits comfortably on the voice while the piano dances around it, creating lift without complexity. It feels like a song that makes singers and audiences smile.

Directors with mixed ensembles who need something that swings without requiring advanced harmonic reading. The three voicing options make it accessible to elementary through high school choirs, church choirs, and community ensembles where you might have singers at different levels or shifting voice ranges.

• Lean into the rhythmic vitality of the accompaniment. Hayes writes piano parts that want to propel the music forward, so let that energy shape your choir's phrasing and forward motion.
• Balance the melody with the harmonic color. The part-writing mirrors the text, so singers should feel how their specific line contributes to the overall picture rather than just singing a separate voice.
• Give the SAB baritone line room to breathe. Hayes voiced this carefully for that range, and the arrangement only lands well if the baritones feel secure and supported in their part.
• Consider the text and let it inform dynamics and articulation. Berlin's melody is straightforward, but Hayes's voicing invites subtle shaping that connects the singing directly to what the words are doing.

Program this early in a spring or cabaret concert when you want something that connects with audiences immediately and sets an upbeat tone. It pairs well with other standards arranged for choir, or it can stand alone as a palate cleanser between more demanding pieces.

• Balancing melody and harmony in simple, singable voice leading
• Responding to text through voicing choices and phrasing
• Reading and performing in multiple voicing configurations (SATB, SAB, 2-part)
• Listening to piano accompaniment as an equal musical partner rather than background