Never Smile At A Crocodile (from Peter Pan): E-Z Play Today

Young pianists connect instantly to music from films they know, and this arrangement makes that connection both achievable and fun. The E-Z Play Today format strips away unnecessary complexity while keeping the character and humor of the original intact, meaning students hear themselves playing something genuinely musical within their first few weeks of study.

Mischievous and sprightly, with an undertone of sneaky amusement. The melody darts around with the quick-witted charm of a story being told in a stage whisper, inviting the listener into the joke while maintaining a rhythmic energy that keeps things light and playful.

Beginning pianists working through their first year of study benefit most from this arrangement. It works equally well for students learning to play by ear from film and theater music, or for young performers preparing for recitals and school performances.

• Keep the tempo bouncy and conversational. This is a character piece built on personality, not precision, so let the rhythm feel natural rather than metronomic.
• Balance the right hand melody so it speaks clearly over any accompaniment. The lyrics are implicit even when sung wordlessly, and the tune must carry that story.
• Lean into the theatrical nature of the piece. Slight rubato in the phrasing makes the difference between a competent performance and one that actually entertains.

Feature this in a spring recital focused on film and theater music, or pair it with other Disney selections for a family concert. It also serves well as an early-year morale booster when students are still building confidence at the keyboard.

• Performing character-driven melody with articulation and phrasing
• Maintaining steady tempo while executing simple accompaniment patterns
• Connecting familiar songs to written notation
• Basic hand independence between melody and left-hand parts