Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year: E-Z Play Today

Nostalgic and gently melancholic, with the particular kind of wistfulness that standards of this era captured so well. The melody has enough space for genuine singing quality, and the harmony supports a contemplative approach rather than demanding flashiness.

Pianists transitioning from early intermediate to intermediate repertoire who appreciate standards and want to build interpretive skills without tackling complex stride or large voicings. This works especially well for students interested in jazz language or those preparing for music theater contexts.

• Let the melody breathe on longer notes; resist the urge to fill space with extra comping. The song's charm lives in what you don't play.
• Use the standard's moderate tempo to practice consistent pedal changes that enhance harmony without blurring articulation. This two-page format gives you enough material to establish a real practice habit around pedal control.
• Shape the left hand accompaniment as accompaniment, not percussion. Think of it as background vocal harmony rather than a rhythm pattern.

Feature this as part of a jazz standards recital or as a solo moment in a musical theater-focused concert. It also serves as a bridge piece for students moving from classical to jazz repertoire, since it requires musical maturity but not extreme technical demands.

• Phrasing standards repertoire with appropriate legato and rubato
• Balancing melodic line against accompaniment texture
• Pedal control in jazz and popular music contexts
• Interpreting chord symbols in a lead sheet format