Part Time Lover: Lead Sheet / Fake Book

This funk-soul classic gives students direct access to one of pop music's most sophisticated compositional voices. The lead sheet format lets pianists and vocalists explore Wonder's harmonic language and rhythmic phrasing without oversimplification, making it ideal for jazz study or contemporary repertoire in a classical setting.

Sleek and propulsive, with an undercurrent of playfulness in the lyric and sophistication in the chords. The rhythm feels inevitable once it locks in, and the melody sits conversationally over the pocket rather than soaring above it.

Keyboardists studying contemporary pop and funk repertoire, vocalists building a jazz or soul standards book, and directors programming music that bridges classical training with popular idioms. Work this into settings where students benefit from engaging with recent harmonic language and real-world song forms.

• Lock into the syncopated rhythm of the accompaniment early; the synth bass line drives the groove and demands precision from the soloist.
• Approach the vocal melody's phrasing with flexibility rather than mechanical adherence to the written rhythm, allowing space for the conversational tone the lyric demands.
• Explore the chord extensions and reharmonization possibilities that funk and soul tradition offer; this lead sheet provides the harmonic foundation, not the final word.

Pair this with other contemporary standards in a showcase highlighting how classical musicians connect with modern songwriting. It works equally well as a standalone feature for a pianist or vocalist or as part of a larger set exploring soul and funk composition.

• Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation
• Syncopated rhythmic accuracy in funk contexts
• Improvisation and reharmonization over jazz changes
• Conversational vocal phrasing and lyrical interpretation
• Left-hand coordination in contemporary groove styles