Temptation (from "Singin' in the Rain"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This excerpt gives you one of cinema's most iconic songs in a practical format that works equally well for a singer preparing for an audition, a pianist accompanying a vocalist, or an ensemble learning a classic arrangement. The piano part sits comfortably on the keyboard while the chord symbols support flexible interpretation—whether your student needs to play from lead sheet notation or work from a fully notated accompaniment.

Temptation captures the film's sophisticated glamour—a sultry, jazz-inflected ballad wrapped in the elegance of 1950s Hollywood production. The melody unfolds with knowing charm, and the harmonic language sits somewhere between Tin Pan Alley refinement and the slightly darker edge of film noir.

This is essential material for voice students preparing standards repertoire, pianists who accompany singers in lessons or recitals, and anyone teaching or learning the musical theater canon. Music theater programs and vocal jazz ensembles will find the chord symbols particularly useful for generating variations and working with different instrumentation.

• Balance the vocal line so it sits naturally above the accompaniment; resist the urge to play the piano part heavily, especially in the verses where the lyric should shine through clearly.
• Establish the song's languorous swing feel by letting the quarter notes breathe slightly—this isn't march time, and the seduction in the melody depends on a relaxed, confident tempo.
• Pay attention to the harmonic movement in the chorus; the chord changes are sophisticated and move quickly, requiring clean voice leading that doesn't muddy the underlying harmony.

Feature this in a recital celebrating American popular song standards, pair it with other "Singin' in the Rain" selections for a thematic evening, or use it to introduce students to the harmonic language of mid-century musical theater. It works equally well as a solo vocal recital piece or as part of a pianist's arrangement of classic film music.

• Interpreting jazz-influenced harmony and understanding chord substitutions common to film standards
• Balancing vocal line with piano accompaniment in a sophisticated harmonic context
• Accompanying from chord symbols while reading a notated melody line
• Sustaining a legit singing technique over a rhythmically sophisticated accompaniment pattern