Just One Of Those Things (From "High Society"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

Porter's standards represent some of the most rewarding material for student pianists and singers who are ready for jazz-influenced harmony and sophisticated phrasing. The piano arrangements provide excellent grounding in jazz voicings and comping patterns while the vocal line sits naturally in the voice, allowing singers to focus on interpretation and style rather than vocal strain. These songs open doors to understanding American popular music as serious artistic material.

Porter's world is urbane, witty, and unmistakably sophisticated. These songs move with the ease of conversation, yet every harmonic turn and lyrical phrase carries intention. There's an elegance here that never feels stiff; instead, these pieces invite playfulness and personal expression within their carefully crafted structures.

This collection serves pianists and singers with intermediate to advanced skills who are exploring the American songbook and jazz standards repertoire. It works equally well for solo vocalists preparing recital material, accompanists developing their skill with jazz chords, and students studying the harmonic language of early-to-mid 20th-century popular music.

• Pay close attention to Porter's harmonic movement in the chord symbols. Many changes happen quickly, and slight hesitations between chords can disrupt the song's flow; practice moving smoothly through progressions before adding tempo.
• Treat the melody as a conversation with the accompaniment rather than a separate line. Porter's arrangements often weave the piano part into the vocal phrasing, so coordinate dynamics and breathing with what the keyboard is doing.
• Listen to multiple recordings (Sinatra, Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett) to hear how different performers navigate the rhythmic flexibility and phrasing of each song. Porter's music invites personal interpretation.

Program Porter standards as the centerpiece of a jazz or American songbook recital, or integrate individual pieces into a variety concert to demonstrate how classical training applies to popular repertoire. These songs also work beautifully as encore material or in cabaret-style programming where smaller, intimate settings highlight the wit and sophistication of the writing.

• Reading and comping jazz chord progressions and extended harmonies
• Phrasing and rhythmic flexibility across different tempos and styles
• Coordinating vocal line with piano accompaniment in standards-based repertoire
• Interpreting text and translating lyrical meaning into musical expression
• Navigating chromatic movement and unexpected harmonic resolutions