My Romance: E-Z Play Today

Introspective and lyrical. "My Romance" carries the warmth of a 1930s love song without the schmaltz; it's intimate rather than showy. The E-Z arrangement preserves that tender quality while keeping the playing manageable.

Pianists exploring jazz standards for the first time, or intermediate students building a practical repertoire of classic American songbook material. This works equally well for solo study, ensemble reading sessions, or informal performances.

• Shape the melody with rubato in the opening phrase; this standard rewards a singer's sense of line over metronomic precision.
• Anchor the left hand lightly. The accompaniment here supports but shouldn't overpower the tune.
• Let the rhythm section breathe during any ensemble performance. If this accompanies other instruments, resist locking into a rigid tempo.

Pair this with other standards in a jazz or American songbook recital segment. It also serves as an approachable bridge repertoire piece when introducing jazz idiom to classical pianists making the transition to popular standards.

• Swing eighth-note articulation and feel
• Jazz chord voicing interpretation from simplified notation
• Melodic phrasing in the jazz vocal tradition
• Left-hand comping patterns suitable to the standard ballad style