Modern Woman: E-Z Play Today

This 1982 anthem gives students a chance to tackle a rock song with genuine substance. The E-Z Play format keeps the technical demands reasonable while the melody and groove stay compelling enough to hold an audience's attention in any program.

Confident and driving, with the swagger of a song that announces itself. The melody sits naturally under the fingers while the harmonic movement keeps things from feeling too simple.

Intermediate pianists who want to explore rock and pop repertoire beyond classical arrangements. This works well for students developing confidence with contemporary styles and for programs looking to include recognizable popular music.

• Keep the left hand groove steady and conversational rather than heavily accented; this is a song about attitude, not aggression.
• Find the pocket where the vocal melody sits slightly behind the beat in the verses, then lock tighter when the chorus hits.
• Let the lyrical narrative shape your dynamic arc across the four pages; build energy through the song's arc rather than staying at one level throughout.

Include this in a pop or rock showcase concert, or pair it with other Billy Joel compositions to highlight a songwriter's approach to storytelling. It also serves well as a solo vehicle for intermediate pianists in solo competition or recital contexts.

• Playing syncopated rhythms in pop and rock idioms
• Maintaining steady groove patterns in the left hand while managing melody independently
• Interpreting popular music notation and understanding song structure (verse, chorus, bridge)
• Controlling dynamics and tone quality in a contemporary pop context