Nancy With The Laughing Face: E-Z Play Today

This arrangement captures the warmth and intimacy that made Sinatra's reading of this song so enduring. The two-page format keeps the focus on melody and harmony rather than technical display, making it accessible for students ready to explore standards with genuine musicality.

Playful and tender, with an easy swing underneath. The song balances lightness with genuine affection, never demanding force or grandeur. There's room to be intimate here.

Pianists developing their jazz and standards vocabulary, whether preparing for formal recitals or informal performances. This works equally well for students exploring Sinatra's catalog or teachers building a songbook-based curriculum.

• Shape the melody with long, connected phrases rather than hitting each note equally. Sinatra's genius was making the tune feel conversational.
• Let the harmony breathe. These chords deserve time to resonate; resist the urge to move quickly through changes.
• Experiment with rubato in the bridge to create space for the lyrical peaks. The piano can follow a singer's phrasing or lead with gentle flexibility.

Slot this into a concert celebrating American songwriting or pairing it with other Sinatra standards. It's brief enough to program as part of a larger medley or as a standalone palate cleanser between heavier works.

• Interpreting swing rhythms and jazz phrasing conventions
• Recognizing and navigating jazz chord changes
• Balancing melody-driven performance with harmonic awareness
• Using rubato expressively while maintaining rhythmic integrity