Many A New Day (from Oklahoma!): E-Z Play Today

This arrangement captures the infectious optimism of the song without oversimplifying it; pianists get to play genuine musical substance while the piece remains accessible for intermediate players. The two-page format respects rehearsal time constraints, and the tune's inherent catchiness means students will leave your rehearsal humming it.

Bright and forward-moving, with an almost childlike sense of wonder and hope. The melody has a natural lift that makes it nearly impossible not to smile while playing it, and the harmonic language sits comfortably in the ear without ever becoming predictable.

Pianists in the intermediate range who are ready for genuine Broadway repertoire will find this piece both musically rewarding and learnable within a few weeks of practice. Show choir directors looking for accessible solo or rehearsal-piano material will appreciate how straightforward this sits under the hands.

• Lean into the rhythmic lift on the eighth-note passages; let them breathe and bounce rather than laying flat
• Balance the melody against your left hand accompaniment so the tune stays prominent even when both hands have active material
• Keep the harmonic changes clear by slightly voicing each chord's resolution, which helps listeners follow Rodgers' functional harmony

Pair this with other golden-age Broadway selections for a themed concert, or use it as rehearsal piano material when teaching the full show choir arrangement to your ensemble. Its modest page count makes it an ideal opener for a piano recital or a between-pieces transition in a larger program.

• Phrasing in a melodic context with clear musical intent
• Balance and independence between melody and accompaniment
• Interpretation of swing-influenced rhythms in a tonal context
• Recognition of functional harmonic progressions in American songwriting