It's Easy To Remember (from Mississippi): E-Z Play Today

This standard sits in that sweet spot where intermediate pianists encounter real jazz harmony and rubato without needing years of experience. The three-page length makes it accessible for repertoire building, and the song's inherent charm carries even when the performance is straightforward.

Wistful and conversational, with a melody that sits naturally under the fingers. The harmonic language carries sophisticated color without demanding technical pyrotechnics, creating a piece that feels like a real song rather than an exercise.

Pianists moving into standard repertoire will find this immediately playable while still offering harmonic depth worth exploring. It works for anyone building a jazz or popular music foundation at the intermediate level.

• Allow the melody to breathe. This isn't a piece that demands strict tempo; the title itself invites you to find ease in the phrasing.
• Voice the left hand chords to support the harmonic color. Rodgers wrote with intention here, and small adjustments to which notes land on the beat can deepen the standard's sophistication.
• Explore the relationship between the melody notes and the harmony underneath. Where does the tune sit above the chords, and where does it land within them?

Slot this into a recital exploring American standards, or use it as a bridge between classical and jazz repertoire. It's compact enough to pair with other short pieces and substantial enough to stand alone as an interlude or solo feature.

• Voicing jazz changes smoothly through chord substitutions
• Reading and interpreting rubato in a melodic context
• Understanding harmonic function in popular song structures
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in solo piano settings