Let Yourself Go: E-Z Play Today

Carefree and breezy, with that timeless swing-era lightness that made this standard endure. The melody sits comfortably in the hand while the harmony underneath speaks the language of jazz without pretension.

Pianists in their first or second year of jazz study who want accessible arrangements of authentic standards. Also ideal for casual players who love classic jazz repertoire but need notation that doesn't demand years of advanced training.

• Pay attention to the swing feel implicit in jazz standards; even notation that appears straight benefits from slight rhythmic relaxation and conversational phrasing
• Use chord symbols as your guide to comping underneath the melody, rather than treating them as purely decorative
• Balance the lead line with a touch of rubato so the accompaniment breathes with the harmonic movement

Pair this with other E-Z Play standards to build a short jazz piano set for a casual concert or coffee house performance. It also works well as a bridge piece for students transitioning from classical to jazz repertoire.

• Recognizing and executing jazz swing feel
• Reading chord symbols and voicing accompaniment
• Balancing melody and harmony with musical independence
• Interpreting jazz standards with stylistic authenticity