Initials (from "Hair"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures the full sonic spectrum of Hair's cultural impact. The piano/vocal arrangements preserve the singability of these iconic melodies while opening up the score to musicians who might never encounter it in a full production context. Directors programming concert selections from this era will find songs that resonate with students and audiences alike, with built-in relevance that requires no explanation.

These songs breathe with the optimism and urgency of a cultural turning point. There's an infectious energy in numbers like 'Good Morning Starshine' and 'Aquarius,' balanced by moments of genuine introspection and vulnerability. The score feels both of its era and timeless, with melodies that stick with you long after the final chord.

This collection serves pianists and vocalists preparing solo repertoire from one of Broadway's most influential scores. It works equally well for music teachers building a contemporary musical theater curriculum, for singers exploring songs beyond the standard jazz or classical canon, and for pianist-vocalist pairs developing collaborative performing skills.

• Lean into the rhythmic freedom of these arrangements. MacDermot's writing allows for rubato and interpretive flexibility that honor both pop sensibility and musical theater tradition. Don't lock everything into a grid.
• Balance accessibility with authenticity. The chord symbols provide a clear harmonic roadmap, but they also invite pianists to voice chords in ways that reflect contemporary jazz and soul music rather than classical piano voicing conventions.
• Consider the lyrical content and social context when approaching these songs. Numbers like 'Easy to Be Hard' and 'What a Piece of Work Is Man' carry thematic weight that shapes phrasing and emotional delivery.
• Use the full 150-page scope of this book strategically. Pairing songs thematically (spiritual songs, love songs, protest numbers) can create unexpected resonance in recital or classroom programming.

Feature individual songs in senior recitals or student showcase concerts to introduce audiences to music theater repertoire beyond the standard canon. Use selections in a thematic concert pairing Hair with other 1960s-70s songwriting, or build a program around songs of social consciousness that span multiple genres. In educational settings, use these arrangements to teach harmonic analysis and contemporary song structure alongside performance.

• Singing with rhythmic flexibility and syncopation in popular music idioms
• Reading and interpreting chord symbols in jazz and contemporary styles
• Balancing melody with harmonic sophistication in theater songs
• Connecting lyrical content to interpretive and emotional choices
• Collaborative skills between vocalist and pianist in learning repertoire together