I've Got You Under My Skin: E-Z Play Today

Cole Porter's sophisticated harmonic language finds its perfect interpreter in this Sinatra arrangement, where the vocal melody translates beautifully to piano. Student pianists get to inhabit one of the most recorded standards in American music while grappling with the rubato and phrasing that made Sinatra's version definitive.

Intimate and sophisticated, this arrangement captures the quiet intensity that made Sinatra's version so memorable. There's a conversational quality to the melody that asks the pianist to sing through the instrument, creating a feeling of confident restraint rather than display.

Pianists comfortable with jazz standards and jazz harmony will find this arrangement accessible and musically rewarding. It works equally well for intermediate to advanced students preparing for jazz competitions, recitals, or simply expanding their standard repertoire.

• Study how Sinatra's phrasing sits slightly behind the beat; this rhythmic flexibility requires a solid foundation in the written tempo before you can effectively bend it.
• Voice the left hand chords to support the melodic contour rather than simply accompanying it; each voicing should enhance the harmonic color.
• Resist the urge to rush through the bridge; the harmonic movement here deserves space and clarity.

This works beautifully on a jazz recital or as a bridge piece between classical and contemporary styles on a mixed program. It also serves as an excellent teaching tool for understanding how great singers interpret melody and how pianists can translate vocal phrasing to their instrument.

• Interpreting jazz standards and understanding swing-era phrasing conventions
• Voice leading in jazz harmony, particularly in four-part chord construction
• Managing rhythmic flexibility and rubato within strict harmonic structures
• Translating vocal musicality to instrumental performance
• Reading and realizing lead sheet conventions common to the American songbook