Impossible (from Cinderella): Lead Sheet / Fake Book

This lead sheet captures one of musical theater's most iconic moments of hope and transformation. The straightforward harmonic language and memorable melody make it accessible for classroom singers while the dramatic arc provides genuine material for discussing how music reinforces lyrical intent.

The song radiates quiet determination mixed with yearning. There's a quality of almost whispered possibility, where the singer voices something that feels too fragile to speak aloud, yet the melody's arc carries unmistakable conviction. The harmonic movement supports this tension between doubt and hope.

Vocalists exploring the Broadway repertoire, music theater classes seeking authentic material for song interpretation, and pianists needing a straightforward lead sheet arrangement. It works equally well for soloists preparing audition material or ensembles introducing students to classic musical theater songwriting.

• Sing the melody with a legit voice production rather than pop inflection; the song's power lives in its directness and purity of line
• Keep the piano comping light and flowing; resist over-accompaniment that can muddy the lyric
• Find the character's vulnerability beneath the determination; the accompaniment figures should support emotional transparency rather than spectacle

Pair this with other R&H standards to build a concert segment exploring how these songwriters crafted character through melody. It also fits beautifully in programs celebrating transformation narratives, or as a solo feature for vocalists demonstrating legit technique and dramatic sensitivity.

• Legit vocal production and line phrasing in musical theater repertoire
• Identifying and communicating character subtext through song interpretation
• Reading lead sheet notation and understanding harmonic structure
• Accompanying vocalists with stylistically appropriate comping figures