Try A Little Tenderness: Piano Vocal

This arrangement captures the essence of a jazz standard that has enchanted singers for decades, offering vocalists a chance to explore legit singing alongside conversational phrasing. The piano part provides enough harmonic sophistication to keep accompanists engaged without overwhelming singers still developing their interpretive skills. Pairing Bublé's contemporary approach with the songwriting legacy of Harry Woods creates a performance opportunity that feels both timeless and current.

Warm, introspective, and deeply human. The melody settles naturally in the voice, inviting singers to move beyond technical display into genuine storytelling. This is music that rewards listeners for paying attention to the words and the emotional truth underneath them.

Vocalists developing their jazz and standard repertoire, from high school singers exploring beyond pop styles to music theater students building their audition books. Pianists seeking rewarding accompaniment work that requires musical sensitivity and harmonic understanding without extreme technical demands.

• Shape the melodic line through the bridge with particular attention to how the harmony shifts; resist the impulse to sing every phrase identically.
• Work with your pianist on the rubato in the introduction and early verses to establish the intimate quality this song demands.
• Let the lyrics guide your dynamics rather than forcing dramatic shifts; tenderness comes from restraint and specificity in word placement.
• Check the voicing of the jazz chords in the piano part and adjust your vowel resonance to complement rather than fight the harmonic color.

Include this in a winter or spring concert as a solo feature that showcases a vocalist's maturity and interpretive range. It works particularly well on programs that pair jazz standards with contemporary arrangements, offering audiences a recognizable song elevated by thoughtful musicianship. The six-page format makes it manageable for students still building their performance stamina.

• Jazz phrasing and rubato in a standard
• Reading lead sheet symbols and jazz chord voicings
• Balancing legit vocal technique with conversational delivery
• Collaboration between vocalist and pianist to shape tempo and dynamic shape
• Interpretation of lyrics within a harmonic context