Problem (feat. Iggy Azalea): E-Z Play Today

Students connect immediately with music they already know, and "Problem" offers exactly that entry point. The five-page arrangement distills a hit recording into accessible piano writing that preserves the song's signature groove and energy without oversimplifying the harmonic sophistication underneath.

The track pulses with infectious energy and swagger. Underneath the confident groove sits an understated musicality that rewards careful listening and playing, mixing clean rhythmic precision with moments of expressive breathing.

Pianists at the early-intermediate level who want to build comfort with contemporary pop arrangements and modern harmonic language. This works equally well for students exploring current music for recitals and for directors seeking accessible pop repertoire that engages today's learners.

• Lock the groove by feeling the beat subdivision rather than counting eighth notes; this keeps the rhythmic interpretation relaxed and current.
• Balance the right-hand melody against any left-hand synth or ostinato patterns so neither overwhelms the other.
• Reference the original recording to hear how the vocal phrasing sits relative to the beat; this guides your articulation choices at the keyboard.
• Keep the tempo steady through the verses where the arrangement often sits lower in the register; momentum prevents these sections from sagging.

Feature this in a pops or contemporary music concert where it anchors a set of recognizable songs. Equally effective as a solo recital piece for a student wanting to program something current alongside classical or jazz standards.

• Reading syncopated rhythms in a contemporary pop context
• Balancing groove-based accompaniment patterns with melody
• Interpreting modern chord progressions and harmonic movement
• Connecting keyboard writing to vocal phrasing and articulation