Love Is Here And Now You're Gone: E-Z Play Today

This arrangement distills one of Motown's signature pop-soul anthems into a piano part that captures the song's charm without requiring a full ensemble. Students engage with genuine period songwriting and the sophisticated chord progressions that made Motown records so influential on contemporary musicians.

Nostalgic warmth mixed with driving optimism. The song carries the melodic directness and rhythmic ease that made Motown records both radio-friendly and musically substantial, delivered through piano voicings that speak clearly without excessive complexity.

Pianists exploring soul and pop standards, intermediate students ready to tackle period-specific grooves, and music programs programming American popular music alongside jazz and classical works.

• Keep the tempo buoyant and conversational; this song thrives on rhythmic lightness rather than heaviness.
• Pay attention to the lyrical phrasing even in the instrumental sections; let the melody breathe where a singer would pause.
• Balance the supporting figures in the left hand so they enhance rather than overshadow the vocal melody line.

Pair this with other Motown hits in a concert celebrating American popular songwriting, or use it as a gateway piece for students transitioning from classical technique into soul and pop idioms. It works especially well in spring concerts where you want material that audiences immediately connect with.

• Voicing and reharmonization choices specific to soul and pop styles
• Playing rhythmic figures that support melodic phrasing rather than compete with it
• Balancing melody and accompaniment across the full keyboard range
• Interpreting swing and shuffle feels in a pop context