The Right Thing To Do: E-Z Play Today

This arrangement captures the emotional directness that defines Simon's songwriting while remaining accessible for pianists building their contemporary music literacy. The four pages offer enough substance to feel rewarding without overwhelming students, making it ideal for recitals or repertoire assignments that center on songs with real lyrical weight.

The piece carries a quiet conviction and emotional maturity, the kind of song that makes you lean in to listen. There's intimacy in the arrangement without sentimentality, and a sense that something important is being communicated with honesty and care.

Pianists in grades 8 and up who want to expand beyond classical repertoire into contemporary songwriting will find this accessible. It works equally well for students exploring music across genres or preparing a mixed recital that values artistic breadth.

• Honor the song's introspective quality by resisting the urge to rush; let the harmonic progressions breathe and carry their own narrative weight.
• Pay close attention to dynamic contrasts, using softer passages to build intimacy before broadening the sound in moments of conviction.
• Balance the melody with support from the harmonic foundation rather than drowning the tune in thick chords; Simon's songs thrive on clarity.

Pair this with other singer-songwriter material for a themed concert exploring personal narrative in pop and rock. It also fits beautifully into a recital that mixes art songs and contemporary compositions, offering students a chance to practice interpreting music rooted in lived experience rather than abstract musical concepts.

• Interpreting contemporary vocal melodies on piano
• Accompanying oneself or others using functional chord progressions
• Shaping phrasing in non-classical contexts
• Balancing melody prominence with harmonic support