Jeepers Creepers: E-Z Play Today

A breezy, good-natured swing with nostalgia built into every measure. The tune bounces along with the kind of harmless mischief its title suggests, making it as much fun to play as it is to hear.

Beginning to early intermediate pianists who want to build confidence with standards and familiar material. This also works for anyone adding light jazz or vintage pop repertoire to their playing without needing advanced harmonic analysis.

• Let the melody sing through clearly; this tune's appeal rests on its infectious tune, so resist the urge to over-pedal or blur phrases.
• Keep the tempo brisk but conversational. The swinging character works best when you can hear each note land cleanly rather than rushing through.
• Use any rhythmic wiggle room in the accompaniment to support a vocalist or soloist if this becomes part of a larger arrangement.

Pair this with other golden-age standards for a casual recital set or use it as an encores piece that keeps audiences smiling. It works equally well as a solo feature or as accompaniment for a vocalist exploring classic American songbook material.

• Reading simplified lead-sheet style notation
• Maintaining a steady swing feel
• Balancing melody and accompaniment texture
• Applying basic jazz inflection to a pop standard