Marry Me: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures songs that genuinely matter to young singers and pianists right now. The repertoire spans Broadway, pop radio, country, and television themes, so every student finds something they already love to play, which transforms practice from obligation into genuine engagement. The arrangement of 20 current and recent hits in one book creates real programming flexibility for recitals, showcase concerts, and solo competitions.

A snapshot of modern popular music, from the infectious optimism of "Good Time" to the vulnerability of "Falling Slowly" and the anthemic energy of "Don't Stop Believin'." These arrangements preserve the character of songs many students already listen to, making the leap from fan to performer feel natural and rewarding.

Pianists studying contemporary and pop repertoire, singers preparing material for auditions or recitals, and pianists accompanying vocalists in lessons or performances. This book works equally well for solo pianists exploring arranged popular music and for singer/pianist duos who want accessible, current material that resonates with audiences.

• Lean into the character of each song rather than playing by rote. Owl City's "Good Time" reads completely differently than Adele's "Make You Feel My Love," so let the genre cues and chord progressions guide your phrasing and touch.
• Use the fingering grids alongside chord symbols to strengthen left hand independence. The guitar chords give you an opportunity to explore how piano voicings can align with or reinterpret those shapes.
• Balance the melody and accompaniment by experimenting with dynamics. Many of these songs work best when you treat the vocal line as your primary voice and support it rather than competing with it.
• Study the vocal line first if you're learning multiple arrangements in sequence. Knowing what the singer does helps you anticipate phrasing and shape the accompaniment accordingly.

Build a contemporary pop recital around 4 or 5 selections from this book, choosing songs that tell a narrative or showcase different vocal qualities. You might also use individual arrangements as encore pieces or as a bridge between classical and musical theatre programming on a mixed-genre concert.

• Reading lead sheets with guitar chord symbols and translating them to piano voicings
• Balancing vocal melody with piano accompaniment in arrangement
• Navigating varied song structures across pop, country, and rock idioms
• Building fluency with contemporary harmonic language and progressions
• Accompanying singers with stylistically appropriate rhythmic and textural choices