Memory (from Cats): E-Z Play Today

This arrangement captures one of the most emotionally direct moments in musical theater, and the E-Z Play format makes it accessible to pianists still building their technical foundation. Students get to work with a melody that demands real control over dynamics and legato rather than relying on complexity, which teaches the harder lesson: making simple material sing.

Quiet and reflective, with the kind of aching simplicity that comes from memory itself; the melody sits like a confession, intimate and searching. There's restraint in every note, which means every note must matter.

Beginning to early intermediate pianists ready to tackle a song with real emotional depth and pianists accompanying student singers who need a manageable but musically substantial arrangement. Teachers looking for a piece that builds legit musicianship without steep technical demands will find this especially useful.

• Shape the opening phrase with gradual dynamics; resist the urge to let it sit flat at one volume level, as the melody is asking for breath and direction from its first note.
• Listen closely to Streisand's recording and notice where she slightly delays certain words. Use those insights to find natural places where a ritardando or fermata might emerge from the text rather than feel imposed.
• Support the left hand accompaniment with enough weight that it grounds the piece without overwhelming the vocal line you're accompanying or playing through.
• The bridge section needs clarity of touch to distinguish it from the opening; keep that textural shift audible to your audience.

Include this in a student recital when you want a moment of genuine emotional honesty alongside more technically showy pieces, or pair it with other contemporary standards to remind students and audiences that musical theater yields some of the most enduring songs. It works especially well as a closing piece in a program focused on storytelling through song.

• Sustaining legato phrasing across longer melodic lines
• Controlling dynamics to shape a simple melody expressively
• Balancing accompaniment texture with a featured melody
• Translating lyrical content into musical gesture at the piano