That's Life: E-Z Play Today

This arrangement captures one of Sinatra's most philosophically rich standards, and the piano reduction makes it accessible for students who want to experience the song's distinctive harmonic movement without needing a full rhythm section. The two-page format is ideal for recitals, student performances, or as a teaching tool to discuss how classic standards work on the keyboard.

Resilient and wry, the piece moves between acceptance and subtle defiance as it tracks life's highs and lows. The music itself has an unhurried sophistication that rewards thoughtful phrasing and invites the performer to live inside the lyrical narrative rather than simply playing through it.

This works for intermediate piano students exploring jazz standards, singers preparing a vocal arrangement with piano support, and ensembles looking for a signature piece that bridges classical training and American vernacular music. Music teachers can use it to introduce students to the harmonic and stylistic foundations of mid-century popular song.

• Shape the melodic line with the same narrative arc Sinatra brought to it; resist the urge to rush through the conversational passages that make this song's storytelling effective.
• Pay attention to the harmonic rhythm in the accompaniment, particularly the seventh and ninth chord extensions that give this standard its sophisticated sound.
• Balance vocal melody against comping figures so the pianist can support a singer without overwhelming the lyrical content.
• Experiment with swing feel in the rhythmic accompaniment to honor the jazz tradition while maintaining clarity in the printed notation.

Feature this in a jazz standards or American songbook concert alongside other Sinatra interpretations or comparable classics from the Great American Songbook. It also serves as an excellent accompaniment for a vocalist in a mixed recital, offering both historical context and straightforward musicality.

• Interpreting jazz harmony and seventh chord voicings on keyboard
• Balancing vocal line with accompaniment figures
• Phrasing and breathing in the context of lyrical storytelling
• Swing rhythm and feel in a standard notation context
• Understanding the formal structure of the 32-bar popular song