Love, Look Away (from Flower Drum Song): E-Z Play Today

Tender and introspective, with the wistful quality that defines Rodgers' melodic gift. The song carries an emotional directness that rewards sensitive playing and makes the performer feel the weight of the lyric even without words.

Students who want to expand beyond classical repertoire into jazz standards and Broadway music, or pianists looking for accessible yet substantial material that bridges show music into jazz contexts. The simplified notation serves newer players without talking down to them.

• Pay attention to the rhythmic language typical of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Broadway melodies often sit slightly ahead of or behind the beat in ways that differ from purely classical phrasing.
• The standard notation will indicate chord symbols and changes. Use these as anchors for understanding the harmonic progression rather than just reading note-by-note.
• Adjust tempo to match your natural rubato. This ballad benefits from breathing room and shouldn't feel metronomic.

Pair this with other mid-century Broadway selections for a themed recital, or use it as a bridge piece when introducing students to jazz standards and popular song. The compact length makes it ideal for concert programs that need a palate-cleansing moment between larger works.

• Interpreting jazz chord symbols and lead sheet notation
• Rubato and expressive phrasing in a non-classical context
• Understanding melodic structure in Broadway song forms
• Reading and executing articulation in popular music styles