Love Is The Sweetest Thing: E-Z Play Today

Warm, romantic, and unhurried. The melody floats over gentle harmonic support, inviting the player to linger on important moments. There's intimacy in this song; it asks for a conversational touch.

Early intermediate pianists discovering jazz standards and Broadway repertoire. Also works well for students exploring jazz interpretation without the harmonic complexity of a lead sheet.

• Shape the melodic line with rubato. These standards thrive when you breathe with the lyric, so don't lock into metronomic time.
• Lean into the harmonic changes with subtle dynamic shifts. A light touch on the accompaniment lets the changes speak without overwhelming the melody.
• Use the space between phrases. Brief silence or a pulled-back dynamic can make the sentiment land harder than constant sound.

Perfect for a solo spot in a jazz or standards-themed recital, or pair it with other E-Z Play selections for a program that emphasizes accessible yet stylish repertoire. Works equally well in a casual performance setting where emotional directness matters more than technical display.

• Jazz phrasing and rhythmic flexibility
• Voicing interpretation at the intermediate level
• Lyrical accompaniment patterns typical of jazz ballads
• Balancing melody and harmony in a standards context